General News
17 July, 2024
Lithgow saves best 'til last to claim Cloncurry Stockman's Challenge
The Chinchilla horseman qualified in eighth position for the final.
With his wife and three kids cheering him on, Chinchilla horseman Daniel Lithgow produced the performance of the week to secure the Cloncurry Stockman’s Challenge Classic on Saturday.
In what was his first trip to the iconic North West event, Lithgow and his four-year-old mare Trinity Catcanplay were in eighth position heading into the final, albeit just 2.25 points off the lead.
A solid dry work performance had the duo up to fifth spot and a stunning wet work run – judged to be an 89-pointer, saw them put a gap on their rivals to finish in first place.
The next best wet work in the final was 83.5 points.
“I think I just got the best cow,” a modest Lithgow told North West Weekly on Sunday morning as he prepared to make the drive home.
“This is a very special win ... this was the first year of really making an effort to get to some of the challenges.
“This is the first time we’ve been to Cloncurry and we’ve had a great time.”
The winning mare, affectionately known as “Goldie” is owned by Deb Austin, who purchased her at a Toowoomba sale earlier this year for $52,000.
Lithgow said it had proven to be a good investment after Trinity Catcanplay secured a cheque for $40,000 on Saturday.
“She’s a mare that we had for a bit as a two-year-old and then she got sold and the new owner Deb sent her back to me when she bought her,” the trainer/rider said.
“It was decent money but some of the best bred horses are going for in excess of $100,000 now.”
Lithgow said he should have had two of the three horses he took to Cloncurry in Saturday’s final.
“I was having a really good run on Somerset Onetime Divine and bombed our during her dry work,” he said.
“It was my fault; I was enjoying it too much and I mucked up her chances.”
This year, more than 50 per cent of competitors at Cloncurry were from the North West region.
One of the highlights came in the Encouragement Challenge, which saw Krystle Davies finish first and second on Imitation and Playgiarisum respectively, while teenager Emma Locke ran third and fifth with two of her horses.
Davies, who was born in Mount Isa and grew up on The Nobbies, a cattle station north of Cloncurry, said it had been a great week for her family.
Not only did she taste success in the saddle, but eldest daughter Haley Parker, 10, finished second in the junior draft. She also rode Playgiarisum in that event.
“It was my third going to the Challenge,” Davies said.
“It all came together this week.”
However, the highlight was not on horseback.
She said it was great seeing her girls socialising with other kids and picking up some entrepreneurial skills.
“It was a massive week for them as we’ve been here since Sunday (July 7) and normally I teach them via Distance Education.” Davies explained.
“This week they have been able to catch up with friends they would normally see on a screen ... Haley and some other girls even started helping muck out yards for others.
“They had five-dollar notes falling out of their pockets. I kept telling them they had two yards here to muck out but they weren’t interested in that!”
Another highlight on the program was the win by Madison Hall in the Jim Magoffin Memorial Ladies Campdraft.
It is an event that carried the name of Hall’s great grandfather.
Three generations of women in Magoffin’s lineage have now won the event – daughter Dallas Daley, granddaughter Jaye Hall and now great granddaughter Madison.
Teamed up with her beloved horse Somerset Bushranger, Hall scored 178 points to narrowly beat Emily Thomas (176) on Token Tuneup.
CLONCURRY STOCKMAN’S CHALLENGE HONOUR BOARD
Curley Cattle Transport Classic Stockman’s Challenge
Winner: Daniel Lithgow (Trinity Catcanplay)
Runner-up: Baylee Evans (One Roan Lena)
3rd: Morgan Webb (Nebereena Neon)
4th: Emma Webb (Western Acres)
5th: Ben Hall (Kneipps Style)
6th: Claudia Spencer (Speltas Red Ruby)
7th: Morgan Webb (Oberne Spinnastorm)
8th: Claudia Spencer (Sandalwoods Red N White)
9th: Leah Read (Halosprings Romero)
10th: Andrew Stallmann (Rathcool Yowie)
Elanco Restricted Open Draft
Winner: Ben Hall (Chisums Cash)
Runner-up: Ben Stanger (Hunter View Con Maze)
Jim Telford Open Memorial Draft
Winner: Ben Stanger (Stanger Comet)
Runner-up: Jaye Hall (Calesi)
MMG Rookie Challenge
Winner: Darcy Dayes (Sweet Justice)
Runner-up: Peter Hills (Makenn Onhelofaduck)
AJ McDonald Memorial Encouragement Challenge
Winner: Krystle Davies (Imitation)
Runner-up: Krystle Davies (Playgiarisum)
3rd: Emma Locke (Nickelback)
4th: Lachlan Woods (Coongoola Luna)
5th: Emma Locke (Cherish)
Ron Wall Memorial Derby Challenge
Winner: Josh Smith (Conduit)
Runner-up: Phil Monaghan (Blood Royal)
Ernest Henry Mining Open Challenge
Winner: Leah Reah (Chiconis Stylish Girl)
Runner-up: Rob Carn (Sneaky Blue Duck)
Jim Magoffin Memorial Ladies Campdraft
Winner: Madison Hall (Somerset Bushranger)
Runner-up: Emily Thomas (Token Tuneup)
Granada Maiden 4 Maiden Draft
Winner: Emma Chandler (C Bar K Little Radar)
Runner-up: Harry McCormack (Lightjack Harmony)
McMillans Pastoral Juvenile Draft
Winner: Cheyne Jessup (Mustbe Raven)
Runner-up: Charlie Iraci (Dolly)
Melinda Downs Junior Draft
Winner: Savannah Hawkins (Little Miss)
Runner-up: Quentin Snelling (Billy Jean)
Nutrien Mini Draft
Winner: Hayley Southern (Nine Tailsosmart)
Runner-up: Sophie Robertson (Little Miss)
Hastings Deering Juvenile Challenge
Winner: Bella Southern (Batman)
Runner-up: Chloe Lough (Tassas Dandy Doll)
Keys Cattle Co. Junior Challenge
Winner: Amelia Robertson (April)
Runner-up: Haley Parker (Playgiarisum)
Southern Cross Austereo Mini Challenge
Winner: Hayley Southern (Nine Tailsosmart)
Runner-up: Sophie Robertson (Little Miss)
Paraway Pastoral Novice A Draft
Winner: Wyatt Young (Hardwired)
Runner-up: Emma Webb (Sandytate Glory)
Cloncurry Shire Council Novice B Draft
Winner: Ben Hall (Halls Acclaim)
Runner-up: Ashleigh Fairbrother (Wyena Vivid)
Riverina Futurity Draft
Winner: Claudia Spencer (Titanium Blue)
Runner-up: Joshua Smith (G Im A Playboy)
Mick & Inga Connolly Rising Star
Winner: Zeb Pearce
