The university student travelled through the night on the cheapest flights available from Perth just to make it to the start line on Saturday afternoon at Brad Haddin Oval.

The true charm of the race was tangible as she was swamped by screaming teammates who knew how significant the $8500 prize money was for the future teacher.

"I now own my car, which is this horrible three grand little thing but it's mine and I'm not paying it off any more," Phillips said.

"I can't tell you how nice it will be not to have those repayments coming out."

Phillips often travels far and wide for race meetings, having won the Keilor Gift in Victoria last year but she said this win was by far her sweetest.

"I'm so excited for the rest of this season now. I've proved to myself here today that I can do this and I'm really excited to see what else happens in the future," she said.

The Notre Dame University student started just two-and-a-half metres ahead of Olympian Lauren Wells in the handicap race, reeling in the rest of the runners.

"I just ran, there were no tactics involved I just put my head down and tried really hard and I didn't expect this today at all," Phillips said.

"I heard my teammates screaming and I looked over and they said 'you won', and that's when I realised."

In the men's event Luke Eckford made the most of his 12.75m starting handicap and held off a fast finishing field to claim the $8500.

The Woolworths employee from Maitland said he felt the back-marker Will Roberts chasing him down.

"Towards the end I thought the red jersey [Roberts] was going to get me but I held him out," Eckford said.

"Hopefully this season I can travel to a few more races with the $8500."

At just 17, Roberts' run from his starting position of just 5.75m proved he will be a dangerous entrant in future races.

"I had a little slip out the start but I was happy I came home strong," Roberts said. "It was a bit of tough mark but I enjoyed it and I proved I could do it."

Roberts, too young to receive his cheque from the ceremony at the local pub, was assured by officials it would be sent to his home in Western Sydney.

Phillips' Perth teammate Evan Jarvis looked as though he would make it a winning double for the crew from the west but a torn hamstring in the closing minutes relegated him to sixth.

QUEANBEYAN GIFT

Women: 1st Julia Phillips (7.5m), 2nd Grace Brennan (10.25m), 3rd Andrea Thompson (9.25m).

Men: 1st Luke Eckford (12.75m), 2nd Will Roberts (5.75m), 3rd Dominic Mah (7.5m).