IT was all eyes on the local boy at cluBarham on Tuesday afternoon as Jye McNeil rode to victory in the Melbourne Cup.
Many of those present had a connection with the McNeil or Hull families and were anxiously following the big race.
“I think everyone in the club would’ve had money on him,” Joyce Craig from Barham said.
There were 64 people at the club’s Melbourne Cup lunch this year and whether they’d backed Jye’s ride, Twilight Payment, or not, they generally seemed thrilled with the young jockey’s win.
“It’s the best thing that’s happened today,” Audrey Carter from Barham said.
Jan Fullford from Myall was beside herself over the win but regretted she hadn’t laid a bet.
Lesley Safe from Koondrook was thinking of Jye’s grandparents, Bev and John Hull.
“They would’ve been over the moon. It’s just a shame they couldn’t be there,” she said.
Away from the screen, there were plenty of entries for the Lady of the Day competition, which was taken out by Bev Grant from Tocumwal, with Barham identity Ruth Arthur runner up.
Ms Grant said she hadn’t known what to wear and brought five dresses with her for the visit.
“My girlfriend chose this one and lent me her fascinator,” she said.
Ms Arthur had bought her dress in India, and was very attached to it.
The Best Headpiece winner, Jan Canobie from Wakool, got her orchard-adorned fascinator in Echuca.
cluBarham’s Cam Langley said this year’s lunch event had gone well.
“Everyone seemed happy and there was great feedback on the food.”
COVID-19 restrictions saw the club for the first time serve a sit-down meal for the occasion.
On the menu was chicken, salmon and strawberries Romanoff.
