A busy year for the Canterbury and Southland Harness Horse Cadet Scheme was topped off with two very enjoyable and successful evenings celebrating the achievements of the cadets both inside the classroom and on the track throughout the past year.
The Canterbury Cadet Scheme held their annual Prizegiving at Sixty6 on Peterborough. Greg O’Connor was, as always, a superb compere. His intriguing questions to the award recipients illustrated their developing confidence with public speaking.
This year thirteen awards were up for grabs highlighting just how much support the Canterbury Cadet Scheme receives and the depth among the junior harness racing enthusiasts.
Amongst the prizes handed out was the Wayne Francis Memorial Award; this is awarded to the senior cadet who has displayed outstanding leadership qualities throughout the year and was won by Josh Whittaker.
The prestigious Darren J De Filippi Trophy is awarded to the trainee who has shown integrity, professionalism and has been well presented with good manners.
This year the trophy went to the Ben Hope who was thoroughly deserving of this award, Ben also picked up the Canterbury Standardbred Breeders Association Junior Cadet of the Year Trophy.
Picking up another notable award was Benjamin Laughton- he has shown all-round diligence and excellence throughout the course of the year and took home the Globe Lodge Trophy.
The 2017 Overall Top Graduating Cadet of the Year was presented with the Les Woods Memorial Trophy.
Sam Payne, employed by Ken & Tony Barron was this year’s leading cadet. Since a young age Sam has been a regular on the racing scene, always willing to lend a hand around the stables with a smile on his face.
Throughout the year Sam has displayed a high level of knowledge and skill both on and off the track whilst consistently producing high quality work. Sam was also awarded the Canterbury Cadet Committee Scholarship that will fund him to travel to Australia for further work experience which we know he will make the most of.
To wrap up the evening we were privileged to have one of, if not New Zealand’s most successful jockey David Walsh as our guest speaker. David was a very passionate and knowledgeable speaker who entertained the crowd with his honest anecdotes from his very long and illustrious career.
Ascot Park Hotel played host for the Southland edition of prizegiving where Julie McEwan-Franks stepped into the role of MC ensuring the evening ran smoothly whilst keeping it light-hearted and entertaining. Among the array of awards presented on the night was the Robin Dundee Club Trophy; this award recognises the female cadet who has the potential to promote the Harness Racing Industry and was won by Ellie Barron who is employed by her father Clark Barron.
The Elite Racing Products Driving Excellence Award was this year won by Sheree Tomlinson- a most deserving winner, Sheree claimed her first Group 1 winner over Cup Week on Amaretto Sun in the trotting Dominion.
The Southland Harness Racing Awards Committee Junior Cadet of the Year was won by Hillary Clemmer who works for Brendon McLellan. Hillary has come to the South all the way from America and has displayed excellence in all subjects covered; she always demonstrates a high level of skill and knowledge in every aspect of the course and is an integral part of the classroom.
The Southland Harness Racing Awards Committee Graduating Cadet of the Year was won by Kieran McNaught. Kieran, who also works for Clark Barron, is a professional and intelligent cadet who also won the 2017 Cadet of the Year Grand Final back in July- becoming the first Southerner to do so. David Walsh made the trip down South and was again a fantastic guest speaker, sharing with the audience many light hearted moments from his forty years in the saddle along with some tips for the younger generation on what they can do to ensure they become successful in their careers.
A huge thanks must be extended to all of the sponsors who kindly donated trophies and prizes. Without this generous and on-going contribution award evenings would not be possible to run.
The following day in Invercargill a practical driving day was held at Ascot Park Raceway, always a crowd favourite amongst the cadets.
Senior drivers Nathan Williamson, Clark Barron, Kirk Larsen and Brendon McLellan along with Stipendiary Steward Liam Tidmarsh and Starters Ben Ward and Neil Popham were all in attendance, eager to pass on their knowledge to their younger counterparts. The Cadets spent a busy afternoon practicing standing starts, driving behind the mobile, general race etiquette and whip technique.
To finish off the day discussions were held around race form, race-day conduct and then race replay videos and incident tapes were analysed within the group; including the rules and regulations surrounding these.
The practical driving day is a session that always provides huge benefit to the cadets, especially the newly licenced trial and junior drivers. Big thanks must also go to Warren and Jason Broad for their part in the smooth running of the day.
The Northern Drivers & Trainers Association Level 3 Cadet Awards was held at the conclusion of their final class of the year. The prize giving was followed by a BBQ and refreshments and proved to be a fitting end to a very successful year. An encouraging sign for the industry has been the steady growth throughout the year of the Northern Level 3 Cadet Class. Their talent and enthusiasm has created a great atmosphere within the classroom.
See all prize winners here
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
