THE 2014 Clawfield Cup was held in the manicured grounds of the Laggan Hotel, Laggan, last Saturday with a crowd of more than 150 gathering to be part of one of the largest yabby races in the State.
Organised by Adrian and Billie Willis on behalf of the Crookwell Soccer Club, the yabby races were first run in 2012, as a replacement for the popular Binda Picnic Races cancelled that year due to a wet track.
The winner of the 2014 Clawfield Cup was an awkward yabby named Dr Claw bought by the Crookwell Rugby Club syndicate for $210.
Dr Claw triumphed - with the help of trainer, Isabelle Medway, Crookwell - through three rounds before taking out the title leaving runner-up, Footscray, wondering what he had done wrong.
Yabby prices this year had also increased considerably.
Punter and part owner of the Crookwell Rugby Club syndicate's yabby Dr Claw, Rowan Medway, Crookwell, said two- to four-score yabbies were up in market value by 43 per cent on the 2012 event.
"On the day you have to remember though, don't take it to heart and don't get too serious about it all."
Just as with that other "Cup" run further south each November, it was a well-dressed crowd on the day with fashions on the field won by Robyn Duncombe and Robert Slater, both of Crookwell.
People travelled from as far as Sydney and Wollongong to be a part of the event.
The Clawfield Cup will become an annual event held at and supported by the Laggan Hotel, on the third Saturday of November each year.
