By Duane Ranger
Kumeu amateur driver, Danny Blakemore has been selected to represent New Zealand in the inaugural Säästöpankki Challenge in Kaustinen, Finland in early July.
Tapio (‘Tappi’) Hoikka, the organiser of the event said the ‘Challenge The Champion’ series would comprise of six international drivers and five from Finland. Included in the field is last year’s European champion, and Finland hero, Mika Forss.
“The series will begin with two races on July 7 just after lunchtime and then another two that same evening.
“We do this for the love of harness racing and horses in general. The fact that all the drivers come to Finland on their own expense tells the story. I believe we will have a very memorable event with a great atmosphere to top it all off,” Hoikka said.
“After the event we will take the participants to a Finnish lake setting for a sauna to enjoy the evening,” he added.
Blakemore was delighted to be selected for the Series. He said he would again be wearing the New Zealand colours with great pride.
On March 13 last year Blakemore won the inaugural Isle International Amateur Driving Championship at Florida’s Pompano Park. He was New Zealand’s sole representative.
It was that victory that got him selected for the Finnish series.
“I’m honoured to be chosen to represent New Zealand. It’s very hard to get into the Europe harness racing scene and I hope this is the start of more to come for our amateurs. It keeps New Zealand on the map.
“I will be racing against professionals and I think there is monetary prizes up for grabs. If that is the case, because I’m an amateur, I will be donating any winnings I might happen to get to Kidz Kartz again,” Blakemore said.
“All the races are trotting events,” the 53-year-old added.
Northern Kidz Kartz benefited US$3,000 when Blakemore won last year’s Isle International Amateur Driving Championship.
Points in that Series were: Blakemore, NZ (41 points); Dein Spriggs, USA (36 points); Enrico Columbino (Italy) and Michael Gutsche (Germany) dead-heated for third (31 points).
Blakemore will be taking his wife Maryann to Finland and then will holiday in that country, Sweden and Norway thereafter.
“I’d like to get a drive in those countries but nothing has been arranged as yet. I have driven in Wales, California, New York and Florida and have won races in all of those places except New York.
“I love amateur driving. If I was a professional I wouldn’t be getting the great driving opportunities that have come my way,” he said.
Blakemore said even though Kaustinen would be experiencing summer in July he didn’t expect temperatures to get above 14 degrees.
For the record Kaustinen is has a population of 4,281 and is about 450km (5.5 hours) from Finland’s largest city and capital – Helsinki.
The competitors are:
Mika Forss (champion), Finland; Dein P Spriggs, USA; E-P Mäkinen, Finland; Tuomas Pakkanen, Finland; Claes Sjöström, Sweden; Danny Blakemore, New Zealand; Johann Preining, Austria; György Horvath, Hungary; Santtu Raitala, Finland; Veera Vekola (female), Finland; Tommi Ala-Nikkola, Finland; Jaume Bassa, Spain.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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