The Seppelt Salinger Great Western Cup Day is a major event on the Western Victorian calendar, held at the Great Western Racecourse (venue of many a past VERA ride), every Australia Day weekend.
This year marked the running of the inaugural James Boag's Boat Regatta, where teams consisting of four runners decorate their wooden boat and then race it down the home straight for a share of $7000 in prizes, plus, more importantly, the promise of "legendary status".
As a promotional, social and fun exercise, a number of VERA riders and supporters entered two teams. Up against teams such as The Flintstones, The Wiggles, The Amcal Drug Runners, The Pollywaffles, The Stubby in a Cubby, The Giant Chook, and The XXXX Fishing Trip, the VERA All-Stars and the VERA A-Team certainly had their work cut out for them. Not daunted by having to face challenging tasks, the endurance teams donned their bibs and commenced decorating their two boats, with cut-out horses exquisitely painted by Steve Blackhurst, and an assortment of endurance arrows, signs, slogans and ribbons.
Watched by thousands of spectators, and broadcast live on the large screens around the venue, the regatta heats were held between the third and fourth races, and the VERA teams did us proud by both placing a gallant third in their respective heats (without destroying their boats!). The final was won by The Wiggles in their Big Red Car, just pipping the Giant Chook. Subsequent celebrations certainly upheld the spirit of "to complete is to win", and a fantastic time was had by all. The VERA ladies formed their own "punters club" for the final races, and for the princely investment sum of $2 each, they managed to each take home $5 by the end of the day.
A huge thank you goes to Marcia and Sandy Horton who looked after all VERA participants with their gate entries and a fully catered trackside double marquee. Also a big thanks to Tony and Camille Thorneycroft who co-ordinated the teams, banners and decorations. And of course a big pat on the back to our brave endurance runners: Greg May, Marty De Groot, Vanessa Smith, Jarrod Robinson, Jo Murphy, John Horton, and Rachael and Kevin Saunders.
Brockie
This was such an amazing Day. To arrive at a Country Race Track, and be swallowed up in the magic of festivity, fun, happiness, a real carnival atmosphere. People, there were thousands of them, tranquility, the trees, the mountains, this place had the lot. AND THE BAR, this B-DOUBLE folded out into a two story BUILDING with a dance floor, huge movie screen, absolutely awesome. The drive up was a breeze, with freeway from Melbourne to the beautiful town of Great Western.
To our Team Members, a huge Thankyou. The effort you all went to on such short notice was tops. Marty and Jen came up from Gippsland to help, Marty some how found a berth in Boat 2 and for a man turning fifty, soon, did an amazing job. Greg May was another late starter, Greg and Georgie rang on the Friday to say they could come up and Greg found himself with an oar as well.
The Promotional side of this for our sport was fantastic, The Ideas ,Chat ,Fun , and 'Just' being able to chill, and share time with those who had time to come and do care. That is what this day is about. We never made a dollar for VERA, 3rd in the heats, didn't matter we were beaten by a 6 mtr chook, or The Flintsones were road hogs, or the wiggles, now in all fairness who could beat the wiggles in the red car.
THE GREAT WESTERN RACE TRACK WOULD MAKE AN IDEAL RIDE VENUE, CLINIC/SEMINAR AND SOCIAL RIDE BASE, A.G.M, or we could combine the lot into one awesome weekend. Think about it, cause we are.
Sandy and Marcia thank you so very much for allowing us a little peak at some fun stuff you get up to.
TT
Thanks Sandy ,Marcia, Tony ,Camille and the Great Western Racing Club for the great day, hospitality, fun and friendship enjoyed by us yesterday. Not only did we all have a great day especially the girls (I am pretty sure all us blokes became designated driver early in the piece) but it was encouraging the amount of people asking what endurance riding was all about. Would be great in the future to be able to have information sheets to hand out to people etc . I myself only became aware of our sport after answering a hand written ad in my local bakery from someone wanting a hand to train his horses. Lets all stick together and help our sport grow or risk imploding .
Cheers Greg and the one and only amazing pyjama wearing Georgie!
Many thanks firstly to Marcia and Sandy
Horton and Tony and Camille Thorneycroft, for arranging this fun filled social
day.
This day turned out as wonderful and successful as intended, to bring
awareness of our sport from another dimension. In addition a gorgeous sunny
day, to enjoy a wine and good food, in a relaxed atmosphere with riding
colleagues and partners. My strapper/long suffering hubby.... who has
previously felt quite isolated not knowing many people at rides, was
introduced to a kind and chatty bunch, and feels much more enthused about
perhaps renegotiating his position in team Charles (LOL). For myself too,
really lovely to get time to chat with other VERA members, without having to
yell every 2 seconds to my horse to stand still or shut up.
We had 2 teams run in the race heats (4 people carrying a wooden boat, dressed up most fabulously as horses with VERA gear, awards etc all over by TT and team), 'A' team, came close, lack of strategy and laughing too much likely letting us down. 'All stars', on the other hand were simply never gonna be better... LOL (that's a dig at my gorgeous strapper of-course). Note, we were 3rd (a v close nearly 2nd) from 4, they 3rd of 3!!! sorry Admiral Greg, that is an 'L' in flat racing but we all did complete!!!!!!! And in our endurance spirit we all hence had smiles on our faces. Well done to the 'Wiggles', who had strategy and speed - a deserved win of $3000 prize money. The ladies of the day all had a win on the races - well done us.
And of course all looked beautiful to boot. And TT, what a handsome and lovely man you are - I say it publicly as you and Camille never cease to amaze me the warmth and kindness you exude! Great idea, much fun had, and an inspiration to do more of the same perhaps with some stalls selling VERA gear etc...who knows, the world is after all our oyster.
Again thanks to all the folk yesterday involved... I for one sure needed such a lovely day.
Rach
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