WHICH sporting club boasts the fastest player in the Upper Hunter – the Brumbies, the Cats, the Devils, the Eagles, the Heelers, the Mustangs, the Rams, the Thoroughbreds or the Tigers?
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We’re about to find out when the Muswellbrook Race Club (MRC) hosts the inaugural Footy Codes Sprint on Sunday, March 24.
The contest, which is offering $2000 in prizemoney, will be a “curtain-raiser” to The Country Championships Wild Card meeting at Skellatar Park on the same day.
And, MRC general manager Duane Dowell can’t wait to see who’ll prevail over the 100m distance.
“We’ve already had a positive response [to the concept],” he said.
“Upper Hunter rugby league, union, AFL and football clubs are all invited to participate.
“Their representative, who can be male or female, will wear their applicable playing gear with either footy boots or running shoes.
“But, they’ll be competing for $1000 (to the club) and $300 (to the individual).
“Second and third placegetters will pocket $250 (club) and $150 (individual), and $200 (club) and $100 (individual) respectively.
“On top of that, all participating clubs will receive 10 general admission tickets to Muswellbrook Cup Day (Friday, March 29), as well as 20 [general admission] tickets for the Country Championships Wild Card Day.
“Just contact the MRC on 6541 1699 to organisation a nomination form.”
Dowell admitted he hoped the Footy Codes Sprint would become an annual event.
“Especially, if we retain the Country Championships meeting in future years,” he said.
“It’s well-placed before the start of the footy season for all codes to celebrate the launch of their seasons.
“The Country Championships promotes a bit of a tribal following for each race club’s horses – and I see that this will promote the same type of following for each footy club’s representative sprinter.
“There’ll definitely be bragging rights up for grabs.”
Dowell said everything was falling into place for the Wild Card fixture on March 24.
“It’s a great day of racing,” he explained.
“The horses that run in one of the preceding regional races but are yet to qualify for the Final in Sydney, on Saturday, April 6, will have the opportunity to vie for the $50,000 prizemoney on offer as well as the coveted two remaining places in the Country Championships.
“The event is being promoted as a family-friendly race day with plenty of free entertainment for the kids, including jumping castles and a water slide.
“There’ll also be Fashions on the Field and TAB promotions, ‘Hidden Horseshoe’ giveaways, Lions café, bar facilities, music and lawn platters in the grounds, great coffee with Caffe Mobilita and the Parade Ring Pavilion, with lunch options available.
“It also launches a week-long festival culminating in the Muswellbrook Cup on Friday, March 29.”
Gates will open from noon.
