Skipem – 1984 Invercargill Cup winner

On Sunday 19^th December the Invercargill Harness Racing Club will host the 79^th running of the Invercargill Cup.

We look back at a past winner.

The 1984 edition of the Cup was taken out by local pacer Skipem (Nordel Skipper) trained by Allan ‘Stumpy’ Blackler.

In the hands of Alex Milne, the five year old led from the 2200 metres, holding on to beat Fern Bay by a length with the favourite Starline seven and three quarters of a length back in third.

The winning time 4-19.5 and Skipem paid $27.45 and $7.90.

Allan raced the gelding in partnership with his father Doug. Skipem was out of Gem Forbes, a daughter of Star Gem which was loaned to Doug by Jack Duncan in return for grazing.

Allan was a well known sportsman in Southland and played 37 games for the Southland Rugby team including matches against France, the All Blacks on their internal tour and two Ranfurly Shield games.

His first appearance for the province was in 1965 against Auckland when he marked legendary All Black Mac Herewini.

Other winners on Cup Day that year were Three Gees (Tony Stevens), My Kyla (Chris Carroll), Passe Partout (Colin McPherson), Window Star (Henry Skinner), Game Traveller (Gerard O’Reilly), Malaz (Henderson Hunter), Variety Fair (Doug McNaught), King Farouk (Alex Milne), Tenstrike (Alex Townley) and North Fleet (Robin Swain).

On course the tote handled $160,252.00 (down $82,379 from the previous year) and $197,671.00 off course.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink