by Michael Howard
The Women’s Cancer Foundation was the big winner when Liam Pickering knocked off Craig Hutchison to claim the first Top Of The Trots title.
The drivers fantasy competition, which saw the Off The Bench hosts trade drivers throughout the Victoria Trots Country Cups Carnival, was broadcast throughout country Victoria during the 2016-17 season.
Come the competition’s end, Pickering stood tallest on 1539 points, finishing with drivers Chris Alford, Greg Sugars, Gavin Lang, Zac Phillips and Josh Aiken in his stable. Hutchison led the competition for much of it, benefitting from Mark Purdon’s triumphant Summer Of Glory and Kate Gath’s outstanding season, but ultimately he amassed only 1441 points, 98 shy.
“It was a pizzling,” Pickering said. “Hutchy you got cocky after 18 weeks in front in a row and then when the real whips were cracking at the end, what do you think happened? He choked on a biscuit and old mate came through.”
Hutchy said he was “outwitted”, pointing the finger towards some dubious/genuis trades made by Pickering in his absence, which included pinching leading drivers Greg Sugars and Gavin Lang.
LISTEN IN AS HUTCHY AND PICKERS WRAP UP THE TOP OF THE TROTS
Women’s Cancer Foundation parton and Aldebaran Park principal Duncan McPherson was on hand to accept the $5000 cheque from Pickering.
“It’s outstanding,” Mr McPherson said. “Women’s Cancer Foundation and what we do through Harness Racing Victoria, we put teal pants on all the girls right around the country this year and raised just under a quarter of a million dollars and awareness.
“All those funds go to research nurses working in the labs and the hospitals in the comprehensive cancer unit. That’s been the drive since I lost my wife in 2010 and the girls in teal pants and the support from Harness Racing Victoria and you boys has been outstanding. It goes a long way.”
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