HORSES AND HATS – Doncaster Bowling Club

 

There were four distinct parts to the evening held on Monday 6 November 2017.

First eating, drinking and conversation. Plates of food to share, happy hour drinks to buy, hot sausages cooked up by Maurice Ryan to eat, accompanied by lots of gossip.

 

Second the Hat Parade.

There were five categories. All entrants paraded down a make believe catwalk/runway on the arm of a gentleman. Fran Broadfoot and Sandy McDonald were the judges, and after serious deliberation the winners were:

Most Elegant Hat….June Crouch, who was pretty in pink.

Most Original Hat made by wearer…..Lyn Goodman, in her 1 hour Bird Cage creation.

Most Floral Hat……Anna Pouki, surrounded by yellow and orange daisies.

Largest Hat……..Carol Dodd, wearing big and black.

Best Couple…..Carol and Neil English, dressed by the ‘House of Carol and Bandy.’

All received a sash and a long stemmed yellow rose.

 

Third, our inhouse turf guru, Brian Morris, gave his talk on this years Cup horses. ” Yes, it is a lottery. But with a field of 23, 14 of which are  international and of these 7 have had no Australian starts, therefore these horses are not used to a crowded field. So anything could happen. Only 1 favourite has won in the last 11 years.” 

 Brian’s choice was Red Cardinal and for the outsider Libran.

Lots of tickets were then sold for the phantom cup call. Thanks Brian Garrett for again organising this. Winners were June Crouch and John McPhee, Chris Strobel and Mary Rutherford, and John Broadfoot and Ian Golding.

Next tickets were sold and drawn for the Melbourne Cup Sweep…..see notice board on Wednesday for these winners.

Fourth, it was time for the INAUGURAL BOWLING CLUB MELBOURNE CUP RACE.

The rules were read out, which were;  1. All jockeys must ride their horses, that is galloping not running.  2. All jockeys must have the horse between their legs.  3. No jockey is to cut off other riders.  4. No jockey is to use abusive language to other riders.  5. The judges decision is final. The track layout was described and the heats were called. There were toey jockeys bumping each other at the starting barrier. One entrant became unshod, the jockey not the horse! This state of affairs caused false starts and disqualifications.The starter had to blow his whistle many times . Stallions raced together and so did the Mares. The winning 6 year old stallion had his race all mapped out. If he could lead in the first straight against his 8 year old rival he would be home and hosed. This ploy worked and he won.

Stallion winner….Tim Fewster.     Mare winner…..Anna Pouki.   Runners up  were John Bennett and Joan Scane ,  they all received a gold cup and a medal.

So many laughs, so much fun. Thankyou Beth and her Social Committee for the updated take on a Cup Eve function…….Lyn Goodman.

Photos by Dinesh and Lyn, and then edited by Champa Balgovind.

More photos in the Photo Gallery…So click here