Harness Racing Victoria honoured its media last night at the annual Hall of Fame and Media Awards night.
Sky Channel’s Gareth Hall took out the inaugural Trots Media Personality of the Year title for his television coverage of the sport on Sky Racing.
“When I was growing up the media personalities I looked up to were covering harness racing like Adam Hamilton, Dan Mielicki, Billy Hutchison and Michael Guerin just to name a few,” Hall said via a video recorded message from the Sky studios.
Hall also recognised the trots participants and the horses, his passion and enthusiasm for the industry clearly evident.
Tony Logan took out the Meritorious award for his extensive coverage over the years in papers around Horsham like the Wimmera Mail Times and the Weekly Advertiser.
Bridget Cook from Cranbourne Harness Racing Club won the Rising Star Award.
Cook said she loved being involved in the trots industry and added she always felt very welcome.
Cook also won Best News Story for her article Tomren Chases Dream in Hunter Cup.
Sky Racing won the Best Coverage Television award for its trots program, In The Gig, which Seryn Adams accepted on behalf of the Sky team.
A newcomer to trots media this year, the Onefortysevenseven Podcast hosted by Brett Coffey and Shannon Nixon captured the Best Coverage Radio/Podcast title for the year, the hosts tweeting about it shortly afterwards.
Best Coverage Print went to Paul Courts, whose efforts in reporting all facets of the industry were recognised. Courts wrote across various platforms in 2014-15.
Best Coverage Social Media went to Desiree Pettit, who runs the Harness Breeders Victoria social media feeds.
Pettit’s constant coverage of the industry – with a breeding slant – is very popular among all followers.
The Best Photograph award went to Stuart McCormick for his picture of Chris Alford and Larry Eastman embracing after their Victoria Derby win (see photo on article), while Best Feature Story for the year went to the Sky Racing Team again and host Gareth Hall for his wonderful Farewell Smoken Up yarn.
All winners receive $500 and a trophy, with Media Personality of the Year Gareth Hall picking up $1500 for that particular honour.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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