After a year of travelling overseas, he made  a last minute decision to head south and he was rewarded by being crowned the 200m champion at the famous meet.

Eschebach was also a semi-finalist in the 133rd Stawell Gift, over 120m, won by young Victorian Luke Versace.

It was a packed program for Eschebach, who also competed in the 70m sprint.

Eschebach said his campaign had been a big success, especially considering his preparation.

“I wasn’t even going to enter, I didn’t think I’d be much of a show,” he said.

“I was just coming down to have a run to be honest.

“I entered the 70m, the Gift and the 200m and to come away with the 200, I really didn’t expect it.”

Eschebach had only been back in training for the last six weeks after seven months travelling through Asia and Europe on a holiday.

In March, Eschebach entered the Raymond Terrace gift in preparation for Stawell and ran almost seven metres slower than he did yesterday.

Eschebach ran 21.02 seconds in the semi-final into a headwind and followed that with a 20.52 in the final, a personal best.

“I managed to go about five metres quicker in the final than the semi,” he said.

“We ran into a headwind for the semi but it died off a bit for the final.

“Both my arms and legs started cramping as I crossed the finish line, that was a bit of a funny feeling.”

The 2013 Stawell Gift finalist said he was thrilled with his campaign.

“To come down here and win anything is unreal,” he said.

“I would have liked to have run a bit better in the Gift but I’m very happy with my run in the 200m.”

Versace took out the Stawell Gift final and the $40,000 winner’s cheque in a photo finish from Gus Carty-Cowling off the front mark of 10m.

Versace ran a winning time of 12.27 seconds in a dramatic final with backmarker and 2008 Gift winner Sam Jamieson third.