Winning the feature event at the annual Coonamble Carnival is nothing new to Charmaine Roberts and Shayne Stiff, but winning it on the final weekend of January was a first in 2022.
The couple collected their fifth win the Maiden Gold Final – this year sponsored by Ned Australian Whisky – with Kip Keeping, the fastest of the five heats winners from last Wednesday, clocking 17.61s to take out the $12,000 to the winner final.
The win adds to Charmaine and Shayne’s previous four successes in the event having won the race in 2005 with Princess Keeping, in 2009 with Ace Keeping, in 2013 with Maloo Keeping, and then again 2016 with Canya Touche.
To add to a successful carnival, Charmaine also trained the winner of one of Sunday’s other features the Tvati Coonamble Cup, with Ruby Keeping netting Charmaine another $4,000.
The carnival is traditionally held on the long weekend in October, but was cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19 and then met a similar fate in 2021. It was decided then by event organiser and Greyhound Racing NSW board member Kevin Gordon, club President Graham Pickering and this committee, to stage a one-off event around the Australia Day public holiday in January.
“It was great to have the carnival back on,” Charmaine said. “Numbers were a bit down and I think the worry of it being so hot kept a few people away – as did COVID I’m sure – but it all went well and the weather actually wasn’t too bad.
“Congratulations to the club and particularly to Carl Molloy who did an amazing job with the track. I don’t think I have ever seen it in better condition, and of course thanks also to all sponsors and GRNSW for the support.
“I think one thing which shouldn’t be forgotten too is that the people of the town appreciate the carnival each year and they said they missed it not being on. Everyone needs to fill the car and have something to eat, and a place to stay, and I know speaking to locals that they did appreciate the carnival being held.”
Charmaine admitted that they did hesitate when deciding to go to Coonamble, and while Shayne stayed for the duration, she commuted up and back from Dubbo on race days.
“We cut our teeth at Coonamble, and it’s a real honour to have won the maiden final again,” said Shayne.
“There was a different atmosphere this year but the racing was good, and the prizemoney as always was great. Charmaine walked away with $16,000 yesterday from those two feature race wins.”
Kevin Gordon said all the feedback he had received from participants was very positive, but made it clear this January carnival was a one-off.
“From the club’s perspective it was great to still support the participants even though it was a reduced carnival,” he said. “It was well supported and they still got full meetings on Wednesday night, Friday night and then 15 races on the Sunday.
“The feedback I have received from participants over the weekend, they have all said it was fantastic and they really loved it.
“I can guarantee it will be back on the October long weekend this year. This was a one off. We lost it two years ago, and then lost it last year, and I said to Graham what can we do, and we thought while the weather will be hot, I think COVID is behind us … and that was how it looked at the time, so let’s try January.
“The weather turned out quite good, but COVID I think had an impact on the turnout.”
Graham Pickering said the Carnival, while different, was very successful.
“We had a lot of people worried about the weather but the hottest it got was 33 yesterday afternoon, and we put a lot of measures in place with an eye on the heat, such as air conditioning and cooling tubs for the dogs.
“Our numbers were down, but the racing was still very good, and I was talking to the steward Craig Easey while we were waiting for the last lot of dogs to be swabbed yesterday and he asked if I had had any complaints. I said no and asked if he had. He said no too. That’s surely a good sign.
“And one of the big successes was the new semaphore board which we had put in ready for the October carnival last year. Everyone loved it and being able to see the sectionals was a bit hit with everyone especially in the maiden races.”
