This Friday evening will see the 2018 edition of the Lizzie of Rosslands Kidz Kartz Rising Stars Drivers Series wrap up at Alexandra Park.
Fittingly held alongside the triple header Group One meeting at Alexandra Park, the Lizzie of Rosslands challenge will find the winner of the 2018 Kidz Kartz Driver of the Year, showcasing the tremendous growth and contribution Kidz Kartz is making to harness racing nationwide.
The annual series sees 12 drivers from New Zealand and Australia compete over six races at Cambridge and Alexandra Park.
The competitors and their clubs are: Isabella Cassar age 15 (Newcastle Maitland, Australia), Jake Bigeni age 14 (Penrith Nepean, Australia), Zev Meredith age 15 (Franklin), Lillian Bouzaid age 17 (Taranaki), Kendra Rogers age 12 (Waikato), Sophie Woodhouse age 15 (Otago), Natasha Kyle age 16 (Southland), Sam Thornley age 16 (Canterbury), Navana McLachlan age 14 (Kumeu), Nathan Darby age 14 (Franklin), Katelyn Veacock age 13 (Kumeu) and Jordyn Bublitz age 14 (Waikato).
The first round of heats were held at Cambridge Raceway on Wednesday night, with ponies provided of similar abilities from the Northern Kidz Kartz clubs.
The results of the first heats were:
Race 1 – 1st Zev Meredith; 2nd Nathan Darby; 3rd Sam Thornley
Race 2 – 1st Sam Thornley; 2nd Jake Bigeni; 3rd Jordyn Bublitz
Three further heats will be held at Alexandra Park, and presentations to the winner will be made afterwards.
This year will be the final time the series will be known as the “Lizzie Of Rosslands Series” with the new name next year to be the “Kerry and Helen Hoggard Memorial Rising Stars Drivers Series”.
The Hoggard family have been supporters of the series and Kidz Kartz from the very start and Marilyn Hoggard feels now would be a good time to change the series name to remember the contribution that her late husband Kerry and daughter Helen made.
Kerry was one of the most widely respected and enthusiastic supporters of harness racing in New Zealand and raced stock under the Rosslands Stud banner with Marilyn and Helen. He was also heavily involved with HRNZ Board.
Helen loved harness racing and was a keen student of the stud book. She was very involved in the selection of yearlings which included former Jewels winner, Lizzie Maguire.
Helen was a big supporter of Kidz Kartz and generously purchased a pony for Franklin Kidz Kartz in Cossack, who is still racing today with the club.
Kidz Kartz would also like to thank their other generous sponsors during the series: Dunstan Feeds, Breckon Farms, Kendayla Park, Chaff Chaps, Woodlands Stud, Taranaki Kidz Kartz, Tui Ribbons, PhotoForce Photography – with further thanks to Alexandra Park and the Alexandra Park starting crew, Cambridge Raceway and their starting crew, Aaron White and Magness Video ltd.
Good luck to all competitors, and well done to our Kidz Kartz clubs nationwide for the hard work and dedication given to supporting our next generation of industry participants.
For more information please visit the Lizzie Of Rosslands Kidz Kartz Rising Stars 2018 page on Facebook.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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