The Melbourne Cup might be the Race That Stops the Nation but Race 5 The Sandy Hollow (Yabby) Cup 120cm certainly stopped Sandy Hollow last Saturday.
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The 2014 Annual Yabby Races drew a big crowd to the Tourist Hotel Beer Garden for a five-race program that raised more than $1300 for the Sandy Hollow Primary School, Community Hall and rescue helicopter service.
Widden Wrangler, purchased in the Calcutta for just $70, proved too strong on the day making good his getaway to the edge of the white laminated circular piece of chipboard mounted on two beer tables.
Bogged In Mud, Warrego Waka, Flooded In and Giants Creek Bandit were quick out of the old sawn-off grouting bucket, but Widden Wrangler powered home to take the Cup.
Only hours earlier organisers were wondering if they’d be holding their annual fundraiser at all, with yabbies hiding in dams around the region enjoying recent rains and not wanting to take the bait.
Persistence paid off and by 10am Tourist Hotel owner, James Cowan, was breathing easier as a dedicated local burst through the pub door with a bucketful of racers from dams on Worondi Creek Road.
Racecaller and evening entertainer, Ricky Powell, said the field was difficult to call.
“When the yabbies come in like that you’ve got no background on them so it’s tough and you do need to back it up with a lot of experience,” he said.
“Race Four the Western Waters Group 2 HCP 120cm there was some controversy there, I got second and I should have got first so that was hard to take,” Mr Powell said.
Katie Cowan, who is a member of the management team at the Tourist Hotel, kept a vigilant eye on fundraising and said the Sandy Hollow community is very committed to its school and local organisations.
“Everything that is raised here today by the community goes back into the community and that makes the event really important,” she said.
“We might have names on the yabbies like Bogan’s Chick and Sewerage Tom, and we have to remind the kids to keep their fingers away, but it’s all about a fun community day for everyone,” Ms Cowan said.
Sandy Hollow’s Yabby Races were started four years ago by former Tourist Hotel licensee, Ben Wallace, who was there at the weekend.
“We did it to get more funds for the school and other organisations and it’s good that James, the new owner, has kept it going because little communities need their funds.
“There’s a bit of hardship around and the chopper always needs money and the hall is a lifeline for the community because it’s where people meet and have their events,” Mr Wallace said.
Just in case you’re wondering, no, the yabbies didn’t end up on the dinner table. They were returned to their dams for a well-earned rest.