MITAVITE TOP END PURSE SERIES

September 6th saw the final rounds of the Mitavite Top End Purse for 2008, a highly contested Novice Series.  After rounds at Hughenden, Julia Creek, Winton, Saxby and Cloncurry competitors at the Richmond Campdraft had one last qualifying round to post a score, then the 4 best scores from the series were taken into the final on Saturday afternoon.

Coming into the Richmond round several well known names were in the hunt including Jaye Hall, Evan Acton, Ben Hall, Mitchell Gollan and Tony Kendall.  Mitchell Gollan was a sentimental favourite, having a seemingly unassailable lead in the 2007 series when EI abruptly ended the season.  He scored an 84 in the qualifying round, putting him among the top contenders in 3rd place going into the final.

Jaye Hall looked to have a great chance with the qualifying round to boost her scores, but bad luck struck and she failed to post a score on Special Request, out of her 1999 Mitavite Series winning mare Request. Evan Acton and Quick posted a solid 83, while Ben Hall and Danny ran out a 73.  That left Evan and Ben tied at 337 points each in the lead, with the final round score to be added to find a winner.

The final round was full of surprises, not the least of which was Evan Acton and Quick failing to post a score.  Jaye Hall completed a good round for an 82, which took her to 413 points.  Mitchell Gollan and Two Rock were ultra consistent, posting 85 and a total score of 419.  It all came down to Ben Hall and Danny, they needed to score and score well.  It was no surprise when Ben ran out a 90, he sure knows how to post those 90+ scores.  It was a great run and gave him a total of 427 points and a winning margin of 8 points. 

Thanks to all the competitors in the series, only the top 17 made the final round, but all the others who travelled far and wide to contest the event deserve our praise too.  It’s an arduous campaign to compete at the minimum 4 events, particularly with the cost of travel.

And our thanks to all those who make these events happen, the series committee, the series secretary Sally Stevenson and all the committees and volunteers at all the Campdrafts involved in the series.  It’s great to be back again!!

FINAL STANDINGS

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