Equestrian

Turnbulls Win Five But Hewitt Wins Diggers

April 30, 2021 By editor

WINNERS: Connections of Robert Lee Memorial winner SUBSTITOOTH who was very impressive in its victory against a strong field.

Steve, Josh and Nathan Turnbull may have taken five of the eight races at Forbes Showground on ANZAC Day at the Diggers Cup meet but it was Bernie Hewitt with two wins including the Forbes Diggers Cup that had tongues wagging.

Trained and driven by Hewitt, “Make Mine Memphis” the $1.75 pre-race favourite was always going to be hard to beat and despite the best efforts of Dazzle Me NZ and Maximus Red, the bay gelding won a short head over the two-kilometre journey.

Make Mine Memphis ran the first quarter in a solid 32.7 on what was a good track before splitting the field in the second quarter with a scintillating 28.8!

The Turnbull family meanwhile had a day to remember with five of the eight winners coming from their stable. Steve was the most successful of the trio with three wins and it could’ve been more had he had some luck in the others.

Saint Julien was arguably the pick of his chargers with the $1.15 favourite storm-ing home in the last quarter in 28 seconds – the fastest split of the day to knock off Royal Feeling and Promise to Rock back in third.

Saint Julien pocketed $1,852 for the win in the Forbes RSL Sub Branch Les Findley Memorial and the horse is only going to get better.

Next race meeting is this weekend as part of the Diggers Cup week in Forbes. Gates open midday Sunday May 2 for the Tab Carnival of Cups in what should be a tremendous day of harness racing. Entry fee is $10 for adults with children Under 16 free. Bar and TAB facilities will also be available.

Feature races are the Forbes Diggers Harness Racing Club Final and Jack Honan Memorial Final.

See you trackside!

Forbes Members Perform Well At Home

April 1, 2021 By editor

SUCCESS: Forbes Pony Club member Jake Tomlinson had a successful event including a first place last weekend.

Training has paid off for Forbes Pony Club members last weekend at the Forbes Showjumping competition with multiple placings won amongst strong classes of competitors attending from Canberra to Cobar.

President Laurie Norris said that he was very proud of all of the club competitors and that the stiff competition and tough courses they faced could only improve their jumping.

Jake Tomlinson and Ellie Glasson were placed first and sixth respectively in the 90cm in the “big ring” and in the slightly smaller levels Rachel Garland was first in the 45, 5th in the 60 and a 3rd and also secured a 1st in the 70. Rachael Morgan placed 4th in the 70, Tess Worland 3rd in the 70 and 5th in the 80 and Jemma Hodder 5th in the 70. Amy Richardson was 4th in the 80 and 2nd in the 70 and Chelsie Farmer 1st and 2nd in the 80 and 5th in the 90.

Of particular note was the 70cm on Sunday where all five placings were taken out by Forbes Pony Club riders. “Big congratulations to everyone and to all riders who represented our club so proudly.”

Local Riders Set To Shine In Showjumping Weekend

March 26, 2021 By editor

LEAP: Freya Hooper goes through her paces with her horse at a recent Forbes Pony Club event.

The huge weekend of show jumping coming up this week at the Forbes Showground will feature strong representation from local Forbes Pony Club riders.

Pony Club president Laurie Norris said that the club members had been working hard training in preparation for the event and are really looking forward to doing their club proud.

“We have over ten members registered to ride at levels from 45cm to jumps over a metre,” Mr Norris said.

“Professionally run events such as Forbes Jumping give our club members a chance to compete against strong fields and to improve their show jumping”.

Forbes Pony Club meets regularly and membership has grown significantly over the last twelve months to over thirty riders aged from four to sixty years. New members are welcome at any time.

“Please come along and see not only our own great riders, but some of the best show jumpers in Australia” says Mr Norris “with hundreds of riders at the showground this is set to once again be a spectacular event”.

Horse Racing Col Celebrates Big 50

February 26, 2021 By editor

50TH CALL: Col Hodges, binoculars and race guide in hand calls his 50th Bedgerabong Picnic Race Club Cup. INSET: Col Hodges has been an institution in racing circles in the Central West for half a century and shows no signs of slowing down.

In an era where the term legend is bandied about at will, a legend of the country horse racing scene reached a significant and more than likely unmatched milestone recently.

Col Hodges, who began doing phantom race calls at school as a nine-year old, is celebrating his 50th year as a race caller and 50 years since he called his first Bedgerabong Picnic Race Club Cup. The spritely 71 year old shows no signs of slowing down.

“When I attended my first race meeting at 14 at Bedgerabong Picnic Races – 57 years ago, seeing the horses galloping down the straight was one of the most exciting things I had ever seen,” said Col.

“I’m an animal lover first and have called trots longer than horse racing as well as greyhounds in my time but my first horse race was Gooloogong Gallops in October 1970 – one race won by Minibill.”

“Easter 1971 I called my first race meeting.”

Bedgerabong and Forbes remain close to his heart and he has called for over 40 race clubs and does over 100 race meetings a year.

“From Bathurst to Broken Hill and Cowra to Coonamble,” said Col.

While at this stage he’s not thinking about retirement Col says that when he starts to slip that’s when he will “pull the pin.”

“I admire the people involved in this industry, they are great people and animal lovers and gives me more pleasure than calling any race.”

Until this legend of the track draws a close on his illustrious career, I for one can’t wait to see Col up there in the tower named in his honour in 2022. Binoculars in hand, form guide blocking the February sun and the horses bursting out of the barriers like hounds from hell. Must be Bedgerabong…

A Great Day Despite Challenges

January 22, 2021 By editor

Benjamin Parslow of Can U dig filling out the form on the rainy day of races held by the Forbes Jockey Club.

Forbes Jockey Club (FJC) held its first race meeting of the 2021 calendar year on Saturday, 2 January, to the backdrop of COVID-19 protocols and gloomy wet weather. Yet despite this, FJC Secretary Lys Cunningham lauded the day as a success.

“It was a big effort to get this up considering how difficult 2020 has been for everyone,” said Lys.

“I cannot thank our volunteers, patrons, punters, owners, trainers, jockeys, officials, the board and sponsors enough.

“It has been a massive team effort to get this going and fortunately the rain didn’t stop us,” Lys said.

The first race J&C Newcombe Class One Maiden Plate was taken by Matt Cahill on Same Old Scene coming from behind at the death to pip Dizzy Dylan with Down Stage third.

Race two was one for the girls with Heni Ede sensational on number four Sizzleonthebridgen ahead of Penny Bonitas and Hot Fancy Boult in the Peter Maher Shearing Services Benchmark 58 Handicap over 1300 metres.

The heavy showers may have softened the track but it did not dampen the spirits of Heni Ede though, who got the chocolates again in the third race, Darlington Irrigation Maiden Plate to make it two in a row with a fabulous ride on number 12, Zenyasa with number seven, Big Apple Burt second, and Fire Shadow back into third.

The Nicholson Petroleum Benchmark 50 rounded off a nice day for the lady jockey’s with Nyssa Burrells awesome on Jawsome. Looking Alive came in a gallant second ahead of early fancy Billy Bent Ear and Great Excitement fourth.

The day was a great success especially for new FJC President Randal Grayson, was extremely pleased especially considering the challenges the industry and broader community have faced the last year or so.

By Dane Millerd

Pony Club Celebrates Successful 2016

February 2, 2017 By editor

THE PRIZE WINNERS… Pictured at the back (L-R) are Prue Baker, Katie Townsend and Laura Pritchett. In the middle are Ellie Glasson and Scartlett Francis, and in front are Stirling Francis, Brooke Kelly, Indigo Francis and Regan Molloy.

The Forbes Pony Club celebrated its success in 2016 on Sunday. Club President, Lisa Glasson said it was a very successful year with four member representing NSW: Katie Townsend for show jumping; Lizzie Wythes and Brooke Kelly for show riding and Ellie Glasson for combined train- ing. The club also hosted a two-day Gym- khana, while the Zone Gymkhana was hosted in Forbes where almost 60 riders from the Central West competed. You can register as a rider, volunteer or member at the Forbes Pony Club Grounds, Forester Street on Sunday at 9am.

Red Bend Rides Through Rain At Coonabarabran

June 16, 2016 By editor

A total of nine riders from Red Bend entered the North West Equestrian Expo at Coonabarabran for Secondary Schools encompassing Years 7 to 12 competing in various events over five wet and muddy days. Friday competition saw the holding of Dressage for One Day Event and Novice Freestyle dressage as an Exhibition event across two arena’s. Lizzie Wythes competed in the Novice Freestyle and finished 6th in her arena.

Sunday competition results which also included events from Saturday for Combined Training – Dressage & Show Jumping, Eventing – Dressage, Show jumping & cross country. Prue Baker, Forbes – 9th CT5. Katie Townsend, Eugowra – 4th D Grade Eventing, Division 1. Emily Phillips, Forbes – 9th CT2 Division 1. Jack Turner, Parkes – 8th D Grade Eventing Division 1 Kristen Grady, Parkes – 9th CT3 Division 2 Lizzie Wythes, Parkes – 5th CT5 Dana Wales and Jack Turner from Parkes also competed in the Working Horse Challenge, which is made up of a number of challenges for both handler and horse.

Monday events consisted of individual Dressage and Show Jumping competition as well as Sporting events. Lizzie Wythes 5th Dressage Prelim 1:2. Katie Townsend 4th Age Show jumping Monday’s evening entertainment was the Teams Barrel Race and is great to watch and everyone had a great time. RBCC had two teams entered and consisted of Katie, Prue, Kristen, Emily, Grace and Jack. Each rider posted some great times either the fastest or slowest. Our fastest competitor was Katie.

Tuesday’s competition was Show riding and Team Penning. We had five riders compete in their prospective Show riding classes, Prue, Katie, Grace, Jack & Lizzie with Team Penning consisting of Kristen, Dana & Emily who were unfortunate not to place but definitely had great fun.

Results for the show riding were; Grace Ross – 3rd Show Pony, Prue Baker was unfortunate not to place but was in her rider class finals, Lizzie Wythes – 1st Open Show horse, Rider class, Champion Ridden Lightweight & Champion rider.

Horse Talk

September 24, 2015 By editor

Friday 11 September saw Forbes Pony Club members take part in the local Forbes Show. With brilliant sunny weather and all horses and children presented to a high standard, we congratulate all who participated in such a wonderful local event.

The results for the Forbes Pony Club Riders from the pony club ring are as follows:
Best Presented Rider under 7yrs –
1. Rider: E. van der Struik
2. Rider: I. Francis
Best Presented Rider 7yrs and under 9yrs –
1. Rider: H. Jacobson
Best Presented Rider over 13yrs –
2. Rider: G. Ross
Led Rider any Age –
2. Rider: I. Francis
Rider under 7yrs –
1. Rider: E. van der Struik
Rider 7yrs and under 9yrs –
3. Rider: S. Francis
Rider 9yrs and under 11yrs –
2. Rider: L. Jacobson
Rider 13yrs and under 15yrs –
2. Rider: P. Baker
Rider 15yrs and under 17yrs –
2. Rider: G. Ross
3. Rider: E. Phillips
Rider 17yrs and under 25yrs –
1. Rider: E. Turner
Pony Club Mount under 12.2hh –
2. Tim Owner: E. van der Struik
3. George Owner: H. Jacobson
Pony Club Mount over 14hh & n/e 15hh –
3. Picaso Owner: K. Townsend
Pony Club Mount over 15hh –
2. Will Owner: E. Phillips
3. Rudy Owner: P. Baker
Pair of Pony Club Riders under 13yrs –
2. Riders: J. Hodder & S. Francis
Pair of Pony Club Riders 13yrs & over –
1. Riders: E. Phillips & G. Ross
Pony Club Handler 7yrs & under 9yrs –
3. Handler: H. Jacobson
Pony Club Handler over 13yrs –
2. Handler: G. Ross
3. Handler: K. Van Dyk & K. Town

Lottie does Forbes Proud at Interschool Equestrian Titles

July 2, 2015 By editor

Lottie Jacobson, a 10-year-old Year Five student at St Laurence’s Primary School, Forbes, recently turned in a fine performance at the State Interschool Equestrian Championships, which were held at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre (SIEC) in Horsley Park. She gained a fourth place in the primaryschool division of the Combined Training, plus a second and fifth in her dressage tests. These results have qualified Lottie to represent NSW at the National Interschool Equestrian Championships, which will be held at SIEC from September 28 to October 3, when
more than 2000 school-based 5-18 year olds will gather for competition on the site that hosted the equestrian events for the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Lottie lives with her proud parents, Nils and Sarah Jacobson, on a property at Garema, where she has room for her horse Dandy, known in competitive circles by the more formal title of Samson Fine and Dandy. Dandy is a 14 year old Arabian riding pony that Lottie has been riding for about three years. Lottie has been riding since she was four,
and has been competing for the past four to five years as a member of the Forbes Pony Club. The club will be celebrating its 50th anniversary later this year with a special dinner on November 7. Guest speaker, hopefully,
will be David Cameron, a former club member and current Australian show-jumping champion. For further information, please contact Sarah Jacobson on 0497 635 965 or Muz Francis on 0417 969 932.