Narrabri celebrates 2020 Melbourne Cup Day in style

The Melbourne Cup well and truly had a different feel about it at trackside this year, with the race that stops the nation running behind closed doors for the first time in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

But, as usual, Tuesday’s event was celebrated in style in Narrabri with several venues including the Narrabri RSL Club and the Crossroads Hotel hosting social functions which were attended by an abundance of locals who were dressed up to the nines. The RSL’s function was a charity fundraiser for Friendly Faces Helping Hands.

The Lloyd Williams-owned Twilight Payment won the 3200-metre annual race to earn Irish trainer Joseph O’Brien his second Melbourne Cup crown. The eight-year-old gelding ran a near-perfect race, leading almost the entire way.

That victory created a lifetime memory for jockey Jye McNeil who was riding in his first Melbourne Cup on the day.

Zenna Pearsall, Summer Brown and Cynthia Smith at the RSL Club. Zenna Pearsall, Summer Brown and Cynthia Smith at the RSL Club.

Andrew Coleman and Jessie Bennett at the Crossroads Hotel. Andrew Coleman and Jessie Bennett at the Crossroads Hotel.

Trish Allison and Cecile at Narrabri RSL Club. Trish Allison and Cecile at Narrabri RSL Club.

Rachel and Patrick Legg and Liz Briggs at the Crossroads Hotel. Rachel and Patrick Legg and Liz Briggs at the Crossroads Hotel.

Fran Cramsie, Jim Maher and Susan Rowland at Narrabri RSL Club. Fran Cramsie, Jim Maher and Susan Rowland at Narrabri RSL Club.

Barbara and Ray Pitkin (Batemans Bay) with Ben, Bree and Wyatt Kennedy at the Crossroads Hotel. Barbara and Ray Pitkin (Batemans Bay) with Ben, Bree and Wyatt Kennedy at the Crossroads Hotel.

Joan Griffiths, Jean Fairless, Trish Mackereth, Kerry Cook, Tania Stove and Melissa Richardson at the Friendly Faces Helping Hands fundraiser lunch held on Melbourne Cup day at the Narrabri RSL Club. Joan Griffiths, Jean Fairless, Trish Mackereth, Kerry Cook, Tania Stove and Melissa Richardson at the Friendly Faces Helping Hands fundraiser lunch held on Melbourne Cup day at the Narrabri RSL Club.

Tamara and Ken Coates at the Crossroads Hotel. Tamara and Ken Coates at the Crossroads Hotel.

Retha Botha and Paula Ryan at Narrabri RSL Club. Retha Botha and Paula Ryan at Narrabri RSL Club.

Lyn Large and Judy Chaffey at the Narrabri RSL Club. Lyn Large and Judy Chaffey at the Narrabri RSL Club.

Kathy Hanslow and Linda O’Hara at Narrabri RSL Club. Kathy Hanslow and Linda O’Hara at Narrabri RSL Club.

Mavis Edwards and Kerrie Sanders at Narrabri RSL Club. Mavis Edwards and Kerrie Sanders at Narrabri RSL Club.

Norma Hill and Joy Geal at Narrabri RSL Club. Norma Hill and Joy Geal at Narrabri RSL Club.

Onus Salmon and Kerrie Heiler at the Friendly Faces Helping Hands Fundraiser held at Narrabri RSL Club. Onus Salmon and Kerrie Heiler at the Friendly Faces Helping Hands Fundraiser held at Narrabri RSL Club.

Gwen Crawford, Jenny Wallis, Barb McInnes, Rae Hall and Sandra Magann at the Narrabri RSL Club. Gwen Crawford, Jenny Wallis, Barb McInnes, Rae Hall and Sandra Magann at the Narrabri RSL Club.

Rosemary Constable (Gunnedah), Anne Rush (Boggabri) and Barbara Spence at the Narrabri RSL Club. Rosemary Constable (Gunnedah), Anne Rush (Boggabri) and Barbara Spence at the Narrabri RSL Club.