TWEED sprinter Aaron Stubbs has taken the first step to claiming his second Australia Post Stawell Gift, by winning impressively during Saturday’s heats session.

Coming off 4.75m, the 2009 Stawell champion motored down the tough 120m course to win in 12.5 seconds.

“I missed the start slightly and that always puts a lot of pressure on you but I managed to get up, and considering the start the time was good,” Stubbs said.

Stubbs lines up in tomorrow morning’s semi-finals, which will decide which six men progress to the afternoon’s final.

Also through to the semis are Gold Coast beach sprinters Mitchell Williams and Paul Cracroft-Wilson. Williams is the $5 equal second-favourite after clocking 12.29 and Cracroft-Wilson (12.32secs) is rated a $10 chance.

Victorian Ben Weaver has been installed as the $3.50 favourite after setting the fastest heat time – a sizzling 12.26 seconds – off his 8m handicap.

Stubbs won the 2009 Gift and $40,000 in prize money off 7.25m and last year, off 4m, he just missed out on a place in the final after flashing home for the closest of seconds in his semi.

The 2009 Gift win was just one of many highlights that year for Stubbs. Earlier in the summer, the then 18-year-old was the “boy wonder” of the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships in Perth.

The speedster won the under-19 and open beach sprints and then anchored Kurrawa to victories in the under-19 and open beach relays.

But there was one more momentous occasion to come for Stubbs – he ventured to Grafton racecourse in July to “sport silks” against a racehorse on Ramornie Handicap day.

Stubbs ran 115m in 12.4 secs and Bonboniere Lady covered 200m in 13.1 secs, giving Stubbs victory by three horse lengths over the fast-closing equine.