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Gunbower set for lift-off

THE Gunny Gold Cup is a go for tomorrow.

Four years since the hugely popular picnic meeting was last held – a victim of COVID and flooding in the interim – club president Vicky McGillivray says this week’s torrential rain is not expected to have any negative impacts.

Other than saving the club the cost of putting basically the same 30mm of water on the track across the week, of course, and that’s hardly a negative.

McGillivray said there was little chance of rain today and the Bureau of Meteorology hasd declared Saturday a zero per cent rain risk.

“And with the number of people we are expecting, we could not ask for a better forecast,” she said.

“Well, if things could get a little warmer than the projected 18°C that would make things perfect.”

The $30,000 Moama Bowling Club Gunbower Gold Cup will be the highlight of the day – for the first time since 2019.

Another highlight will be the Jack Styring Memorial, a fitting salute to the legend who called his first Gunbower Gold in 1952 and his last one in 2012.

That 60th consecutive call saw him make the Guinness Book of Records for the most consecutive race calls and was part of the decision to award him an OAM for his contribution to the Australian racing industry.

Styring died in February last year a week shy of his 93rd birthday.

He was to have been honoured with this one-off race in 2020 – but then the floods came.

“We are doing everything we can to make 2023 a spectacular success as we return to racing at Gunbower,” McGillivray said.

The club’s courtesy buses will run from various pick-up points in Echuca and Moama, then along the highway at Torrumbarry.

From the other direction they start in Kerang, then move on to Barham, Koondrook, Cohuna, Leitchville and finally Gunbower.

To book your seat on the bus text your name, pick up location and number of people to 0438 060 359.


GUNBOWER GOLD CUP SHUTTLES

Saturday, October 7

The shuttle bus timetable is as follows:

Echuca pick-up and drop-off points:

The Border Inn at 10.30am

The Caledonian at 10.40am

The American at 10.50am

The Torrumbarry Hotel at 11.15am

Gunny Pub at noon

Kerang, Koondrook, Cohuna and Leitchville pick-up and drop-off points:

Royal Hotel Barham at 10.30am

Koondrook Pub at 10.40am

Woolworths Carpark Kerang at 11am

Cohuna IGA rear Carpark at 11.20am

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