Durden and Drum beat their rivals to claim championship glory

Craig Durden and Personal Drum wrapped up victory in their respective categories of the inaugural JJ Houlahan Jumps Championship with their win in Saturday's $200,000 Dominant Hiskens Steeplechase at Moonee Valley.

The final feature jumping event of the 2005/06 season saw Personal Drum account for Busby Glenn in a slogging finish with Iggy back in third place. Spectacular Storm filled fourth placing, while Dawson Road was fifth.

Durden entered Saturday in equal second place in the jockeys category, 10 points astern commanding leader Willy Harnett, but the 12 points he collected for winning aboard Personal Drum, combined with Harnett going pointless after finishing outside the top five aboard Sissano, thrust him to a two-point victory.

Personal Drum recorded a similar success in the horse category. He entered Saturday six points behind Manzeal, but powered to a six-point win after collecting 12 points and watching Manzeal finish down the track.

Points are allocated on a 12-8-6-4-2 basis to the first five across the line in all JJ Houlahan Jumps Championship events.

The Hiskens served to help Robbie Laing enhance his standing as the leading trainer. The eight points he picked up for second placing with Busby Glenn took him to 104 points, well clear of Eric Musgrove, who took his total to 56 points with the six points he claimed for Iggy's third placing, while John Wheeler (38) finished in third spot, just clear of Personal Drum's trainer Chris Hyland (36).

RVL

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