18-Hour Coonamble Trek Pays Dividends For Pickard

TOWNSVILLE to Coonamble is 1600km but for Carol and Greg Pickard it is a working holiday that has paid dividends for the past two years.

Not that Carol was able to join “the party” this year after having a knee reconstruction back in August.

Husband Greg took off on the 18-hour trip with five dogs and on Monday landed victory with Slippery Witch (Fernando Bale-Waddling Witch) in the Multicam CNC Routers Final (530m).

Greg and Carol won the Rambet Cup Final with Whisky Diva at the famous Coonamble last year.

“It's something Greg and I have wanted to do for a while,” said Carol.

“We had heard so much about what a great carnival it is and that's why we both went last year.”

Carol has 13 dogs in training in Townsville.

“Greg has been so wonderful while I have been recovering after the knee reconstruction,” she said. “And, we have had a lot of help here while he has been away.”

Greyhound racing thrust Carol and Greg together.

“We met at a greyhound meeting years ago,” said Carol.

“My father and grandfather had greyhounds in Cessnock for years.”

Greg spent 22 years in the Air Force, but after leaving that, the Pickards moved to Darwin where they became greyhound owners.

“We got to know Jamie Hosking while in Darwin,” said Carol.

“We have a daughter and grandchildren in Townsville so moved there a few years ago to be close to them and started training again.

“We have dogs in Brisbane with Jamie now and he sends dogs to us as well.”

Greg's Coonamble trip was successful from day one winning with Gatting Ball also.

Slippery Witch's Multicam Final victory also saw kennelmate Moonlit Bay finish third.

They were joint favourites in the final at $2.50.

Greg was “taking it easy” on his way home from Coonamble on Tuesday and Carol was expecting him late Tuesday night.

Already, Carol is making plans to be part of the trip south in 2024.