Despite the heat all golf events are still popular with the majority of players out early to beat the heat.

Last Thursday Forbes and Parkes vets opened the 2018 season with 12 holes here in Forbes. 

Winner was Peter Barnes with a very good 28 points on a count-back from Greg Webb, a player who is sure to be one to watch during 2018.

Mark Toohey enjoyed the outing despite scoring only 12 points to take the Bradman Award.

No nearest the pins, however balls were given out to 22 points.

Those to collect were 

There were 35 players last week, in the Mick Miller Shield , Forbes 162 points, Parkes 140. Thursday's play will be in Parkes, 10am tee off.

Despite the Christmas break last Tuesday's competition attracted just under 20 players with the winner Dennis Culley on 34 points from Ken Sanderson and Barry Shine, both scored 32 points.

For the record, the final Tuesday 12 hole competition for 2017 had Brain Clarke winning with 27 points from Barry Parker on 26 points and Dave Rhodes 25.

The Tuesday competition will now be played every week with ball toss at 9am during the summer months for playing partners.

Remember, everyone is welcome to play Tuesday just turn up and enjoy a hit in the fresh of the morning in a very social atmosphere.

If you like music don't miss the Elvis Shows at the Golfie Hotel on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, all part of the Parkes Elvis Festival.

Coming up

Midweek 18 hole comp has started. Visitors welcome. See pro shop for details.

Pennants 2018.  List will be placed in the pro- shop. If you would like to play please add your name. 

Tuesday golf summer tee off time is 9am. Tuesday ball toss is 8.45am. All are very welcome. Just turn up, No AGU handicap required. 

For more information about Forbes Golf visit www.forbesgolf.org.au 

-by Short Putts Mate

Showing all his renowned toughness, champion jockey Greg Ryan, riding Artistic Beauty, on Sunday won the Gilgandra Cup for the tenth time despite having a heavy fall earlier at the meeting.

For 100 metres after the start of the third race, Never Tardy buckjumped and after losing an iron Greg Ryan crashed to the turf.

Alighting from the ambulance and walking to the jockeys room, Ryan  was clutching his shoulder and in obvious pain.

After a short break ,Ryan chose to fulfil his engagements for the rest of the day including Artistic Beauty in the $35,000 Gilgandra Sporting Club Gilgandra Cup,1600 metres.

Patiently ridden, Artistic Beauty settled midfield but was ready to challenge when heads turned for home.

Breaking clear, Artistic Beauty ($3 equal favourite) won by two lengths from Try ‘N’ Run A Amuk ($3 equal favourite) and Nissile (Serg Lisny, $11).

Cameron Crockett from Mudgee trains Artistic Beauty and in 2017 his father Max Crockett trained the Cup winner, Lancelot.

Part owned by 102 years old Jeff Perry from Dubbo and trained at Dubbo by Peter Nestor, the highly consistent mare Danish Lace was a brilliant winner of the 1100 metres Vic and Maud Foran Memorial Town Plate, sponsored by Gilgandra Newspapers.

Taken to the early lead by apprentice Kaylee Kirkwood,Danish Lace ($2 to $1.65 favourite) shot away in the straight to win by over 6 lengths from Sammi Jain (Tony Cavallo, $26) and Cyclone Andy (Tony Cavallo, $91).

From 33 starts Danish Lace has recorded eight wins and 14 placings..

Completing a good day for the Peter Nestor stable, Legerity (Tony Cavallo, $2.60) broke the 1200 metres track record when leading throughout to win the Gilgandra Toyota Class 2 Plate by nearly four lengths from Eagles Dare (Ken Dunbar, $16) and Cosmic Reign (Mathew Cahill, $2.30 fav.).

Gilgandra trainer Bryan Dixon has his team going well and won with Dizzy Spell and Sugar Lane on Cup day.

Coming from a long way back, Dizzy Spell (Chelsea Ings, $9.50) arrived in time to beat Amare (Tony Cavallo, $8) by a head with Maddison Gardens (Clayton Gallagher, $5.50) third, in the David Baker Earthmoving-Inland Petroleum Maiden Handicap,1300 metres.

Sugar Lane (Jake Pracey-Holmes, $10) burst through the pack close to home to win the Armatree Hotel Benchmark 55 Handicap (1100 metres) from Rehanaat (Tiffany Jeffries, $51) and Roulette Belle (Eleanor Webster-Hawes, $21).

Trained at Dubbo by Garry Lunn and part owned by Ross Coxsedge from Gilgandra,last start Scone winner Nightspun backed up for a strong win in the Gilgandra Services-Coo-ee Cup,1800 metres.

Nightspun (Alena Skerritt, $4.40) took the lead at the 500 metres and outstayed Bel Attrait (Michael Hackett, $8.50) and Austin (Mathew Cahill, $1.80 fav.).

Other winners at Gilgandra were Kezaam (Alena Skerritt, $5.50) trained at Dubbo by Darren Hyde and the David Smith, Mudgee trained Bel Diablo (Jake Pracey-Holmes, $1.70 fav.).

Racing at Wellington on Sunday.

-by Colin Hodges.