By Matt Markham
He’s regarded as one of the best trainers of a standardbred in the world and now Mark Purdon will get the chance to show his driving prowess on the world stage.
Purdon was announced at Saturday night’s Harness Racing New Zealand Awards Evening as the New Zealand representative at next year’s World Drivers’ Championships to be held in Canada during August.
The news came as both a massive honour and shock for Purdon.
“I’m really excited to have been given the opportunity to represent New Zealand,” he said.
“Mixing it with some of the best drivers in the world will be a great experience and one that I’m already looking forward too.”
Purdon has never been chosen to the New Zealand representative before but as the winner of close to 1,500 races in New Zealand and with an impressive resume’ of big race victories across Australasia, there are few better qualified candidates.
Harness Racing New Zealand boss, Edward Rennell, said Purdon was a worthy candidate to fly the New Zealand flag in Canada.
“Mark has been a leading driver here in New Zealand for an extended period of time as well as a being a 10-time winner of the trainers’ premiership either on his own or in a partnership,” Rennell said.
“Last season (2015-2016) he was the leading UDR driver in the country and second on the stakes schedule behind Dexter Dunn.
“Mark has made a contribution to the industry over an extended period and recognising his contribution through selection as New Zealand’s representative is well warranted and deserved.”
New Zealand will have a strong chance in the series which runs from the 12th to the 19th of August with Dexter Dunn gaining automatic entry into the series as the defending champion following his victory in Australia at the last World Drivers’ Championship.
New Zealand has a proud history in the series which was first contested for in 1970.
Kevin Holmes (1978), Robert Cameron (1983), Tony Herlihy (1985), Maurice McKendry (1991), Mark Jones (2003) and Dunn last year are Kiwi winners.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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