The Association Challenge is with out a doubt Queensland's most famous Teams Tournament… and has long been regarded as the ‘Challenge which stops a State'. The Association Challenge is certainly the highlight of the Winter Carnival and includes a field of both City and country entrants all looking for a place in bowling history.
Held on the first long weekend in June, millions of Australians from all walks of life stand still to watch a single Challenge that lasts no more than a couple of Days. With over 14 years of history, the Association Challenge now draws over 1,000 people to the Challenge every year.
Past Association Challenge Cup Winners:
1993 Gold Coast
1994 Toowoomba
1995 Gold Coast
1996 Gold Coast
1997 Gold Coast
1998 Brisbane
1999 Brisbane
2000 Brisbane
2001 Gold Coast
2002 Gold Coast
2003 Gold Coast
2004 Rockhampton
2005 Caboolture
2006 Gold Coast
2007 ???????
Sunshine Coast 3 to 1
Almost at evens, with a decent amount of starters and with some stallions on board they are really the team to beat. A good showing of late with some younger horses really hitting their straps, you'd be crazy to exclude them from the top 3. Sir Chris Quail (Official Ball Carrier to the Mayor of North Queensland) and King's Knight Warren Sutherland to lead the pack from the front…look for a strong finish 3 furlongs from home…
Gold Coast 7 to 2
Only a few horses making the trip to this track from a month ago, only 3 of that quality pure bread… With only a few starters from last year this team could pull off anything. With a combination of heavy and dry track specialists a team to be reckoned with. Missing last years stud, they have called on an old Nag to lead them home…Sir David Turnage will be looking for a young stable mate I am sure for this event… Watch this team if there is a betting scandal or shenanigans as there is a stallion who has been known to pay his own way…
Brisbane 4 to 1
Not popular crowds favorite either, a totally up hill battle for any Stable…The Brisbane stallions don’t have a good record in this comp and I don’t see things changing now. A few trips to the glue factory likely after this race, odds may blow out in the ring closer to the date…With a couple of stable mates visiting this track again only one has good form… COURT JESTER Tony Hamilton found this track a little tough going last start with a new set of hoofs, may find it better going second time round…with King's Knight Steve Hampson back after a lengthy spell, might just find this track a little tough going like he did in the stud field…Hamilton’s stable mate Rafton might just find this track a little easy going...Look for Hampson at the finish looking for more ground to cover…
Caboolture 6 to 1
Lucky for this team we are not doing greyhound odds as this team would be able to provide the bunny…Little Shetland Pony DREWY and Sir Phil Wilkinson will look to lead by example and look for this pack to be a closer nit outfit for this run… McCloskey a known dry tracker could be better for his second outing…Look for Alford to be in the mounting yard earlier than expected and to be bringing it up the rear close to the finish…Meads and Drew may very well be the key to this stable providing a strong showing on track…
Rockhampton 7 to 1
With a huge majority of horses running in this event you'd imagine one of them would have the ability to fall over the line… With only two to three really good chances, their shear number of starters brings their odds right down. Worth a chance;
Hervey Bay 7 to 1
Suited this class and distance and rates among the leading hopes…Looks ideal and will go close… Look for this outfit to be steered by an old handler to get them across the line…Great blood lines in this stable…With any outstanding performances will be followed by urine samples…
Bundaberg 10 to 1
With a home track advantage this stable could provide interference before the finish line…With a mixture of both Stallions and Geldings a rail draw keeps them in contention… Capable of anything with blinkers on…Loves it here and I am sure can bounce back from there last start…Looking for more ground and this will suit…Likely improver…
Ipswich 25 to 1
A neighboring stable to the Brisbane camp have kept things quiet of late. A few horses making the trip but their lack of performance and results have seen their odds blow out. Maybe a chance of a place but nothing short of a miracle is needed to have one of these fillies win an all stars jumper…
Toowoomba 40 to 1
I'm not even sure if any horses are running in this event, better odds than those Kingaroy Men though…
Kingaroy 50 to 1
With only 1 recognised horse attending this event their odds are a little high. But don't let the lack of numbers fool you, a solid performance last race and should feature in the finals here. Prefers a dry track, we'll have to see what condition the track is in on the day.
Please don't take offence it's all a bit of fun...
Held on the first long weekend in June, millions of Australians from all walks of life stand still to watch a single Challenge that lasts no more than a couple of Days. With over 14 years of history, the Association Challenge now draws over 1,000 people to the Challenge every year.
Past Association Challenge Cup Winners:
1993 Gold Coast
1994 Toowoomba
1995 Gold Coast
1996 Gold Coast
1997 Gold Coast
1998 Brisbane
1999 Brisbane
2000 Brisbane
2001 Gold Coast
2002 Gold Coast
2003 Gold Coast
2004 Rockhampton
2005 Caboolture
2006 Gold Coast
2007 ???????
Sunshine Coast 3 to 1
Almost at evens, with a decent amount of starters and with some stallions on board they are really the team to beat. A good showing of late with some younger horses really hitting their straps, you'd be crazy to exclude them from the top 3. Sir Chris Quail (Official Ball Carrier to the Mayor of North Queensland) and King's Knight Warren Sutherland to lead the pack from the front…look for a strong finish 3 furlongs from home…
Gold Coast 7 to 2
Only a few horses making the trip to this track from a month ago, only 3 of that quality pure bread… With only a few starters from last year this team could pull off anything. With a combination of heavy and dry track specialists a team to be reckoned with. Missing last years stud, they have called on an old Nag to lead them home…Sir David Turnage will be looking for a young stable mate I am sure for this event… Watch this team if there is a betting scandal or shenanigans as there is a stallion who has been known to pay his own way…
Brisbane 4 to 1
Not popular crowds favorite either, a totally up hill battle for any Stable…The Brisbane stallions don’t have a good record in this comp and I don’t see things changing now. A few trips to the glue factory likely after this race, odds may blow out in the ring closer to the date…With a couple of stable mates visiting this track again only one has good form… COURT JESTER Tony Hamilton found this track a little tough going last start with a new set of hoofs, may find it better going second time round…with King's Knight Steve Hampson back after a lengthy spell, might just find this track a little tough going like he did in the stud field…Hamilton’s stable mate Rafton might just find this track a little easy going...Look for Hampson at the finish looking for more ground to cover…
Caboolture 6 to 1
Lucky for this team we are not doing greyhound odds as this team would be able to provide the bunny…Little Shetland Pony DREWY and Sir Phil Wilkinson will look to lead by example and look for this pack to be a closer nit outfit for this run… McCloskey a known dry tracker could be better for his second outing…Look for Alford to be in the mounting yard earlier than expected and to be bringing it up the rear close to the finish…Meads and Drew may very well be the key to this stable providing a strong showing on track…
Rockhampton 7 to 1
With a huge majority of horses running in this event you'd imagine one of them would have the ability to fall over the line… With only two to three really good chances, their shear number of starters brings their odds right down. Worth a chance;
Hervey Bay 7 to 1
Suited this class and distance and rates among the leading hopes…Looks ideal and will go close… Look for this outfit to be steered by an old handler to get them across the line…Great blood lines in this stable…With any outstanding performances will be followed by urine samples…
Bundaberg 10 to 1
With a home track advantage this stable could provide interference before the finish line…With a mixture of both Stallions and Geldings a rail draw keeps them in contention… Capable of anything with blinkers on…Loves it here and I am sure can bounce back from there last start…Looking for more ground and this will suit…Likely improver…
Ipswich 25 to 1
A neighboring stable to the Brisbane camp have kept things quiet of late. A few horses making the trip but their lack of performance and results have seen their odds blow out. Maybe a chance of a place but nothing short of a miracle is needed to have one of these fillies win an all stars jumper…
Toowoomba 40 to 1
I'm not even sure if any horses are running in this event, better odds than those Kingaroy Men though…
Kingaroy 50 to 1
With only 1 recognised horse attending this event their odds are a little high. But don't let the lack of numbers fool you, a solid performance last race and should feature in the finals here. Prefers a dry track, we'll have to see what condition the track is in on the day.
Please don't take offence it's all a bit of fun...
