by Mac Henry
Northern Southland Trotting Club stalwart Robert Wilson won out in the category of Achievement of the Year, at the annual Southland Harness Awards held on Sunday night at the Ascot Park Hotel in Invercargill.
Wins by Another Delight, Eagle Galleon, Spotlight The Valley, Major Vibes and Machie Mach gave the licence to train holder 13 for the season, more than doubled his career tally, and qualified Eagle Galleon for the Four-Year-Old Ruby.
A breeder, owner and administrator, Wilson joined the Northern Southland Club about 40 years ago, is a former president, has been a life member since 2010, and a key figure in many of the progressive moves in harness racing administration at both a club and provincial level.
Others in line for the award were trainer Brett Gray, Southern Harness Racing Inc chair Kevin McNaught, and Bruce Stewart, Riverton Club president, designer of Diamonds Day and master of the Southern Harness website.
Awards Results were:
PERSON AWARDS
- Achiever of the year, sponsored by PGG Wrightson Standardbred – ROBERT WILSON
- Contribution to Harness Racing
Peter Drummond – long-time breeder, owner and trainer, committeeman of Winton club, starter at Winton workouts and lawn keeper at the race course.
Doug Stewart – committeeman of Wyndham club and life member for past four years, successful breeder, owner and trainer, caretaker at Young Quinn raceway for 14 years.
George Youngman – more than 40 years involvement in industry including as an owner, many years as assistant starter and starter at Southland racemeetings, starter at Gore workouts for 35 years. - Leading trainer – Brett Gray
- Leading UDR trainer – Tony Stratford
- Leading driver – Nathan Williamson
- Leading UDR driver – Gordon Lee
- Leading ‘licence to train’ trainer – Robert Wilson
- Leading Junior Driver – Sheree Tomlinson
- Leading driver of trotters – Arthur Skinner Memorial trophy – Nathan Williamson
- Award of Excellence – Keiran McNaught – New Zealand Cadet of the Year.
HORSE AWARDS
- Horse of Year – DARK HORSE
- Leading female stake earners, Standardbred Breeders Association Trophies
Two-year-old filly – Repartee
Three-year-old filly – Seaswift Joy
Four-year-old and older mare – Dark Horse - Most points from races run in Southland
Two-year-old colt or gelding – Simply Dreaming - Most points from races run anywhere in New Zealand – Robin Dundee Club awards
Three-year-old filly – Venice Beach
Three-year-old colt or gelding – Young Conqueror - Most points from trotting races run in Southland – Caduceus Club of Southland award – Spotlight The Valley
- Shard Farm award: fastest mile rate by a Southland filly or mare on a Southland track – Betta Go Fernco, 1:54.9. Ascot Park
BREEDING AWARDS
- Broodmare of the Year CHICAGO BLUES
- 1:58 pins (trotters two minutes) for horses raced by members of the Standardbred Breeders Association
Betta Go Fernco, Delight My Soul, English Rose, Kayteeoh Denario, Luciano, Nerve Of Steel, Paramount King, Pat’s Delight, Pay Master, Pegasus Merrily, Rakarolla, Share The Road, Sheezacullengirl, Somejoy, Sweet Loress, The High Roller. - Group Certificates for members of the Standardbred Breeders Association who are breeders of group race winners
Clark Barron – Bettor Joy, Mark and Debbie Smith – Mach Shard
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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