33rd NSW Mini Trot Championships were held over the Easter weekend with a record 187 ponies nominated to contest the event at Tamworth Showground. 133 registered drivers travelled from 12 NSW affiliated clubs as well as Victoria, Queensland visitors and a guest driver from New Zealand.
Photo: HRNSW CEO John Dumesny with Champion of Champion runners Velvet Little Star Bobby Bouche and Chesters Lad
45 Heats were conducted Saturday to determine the final fields in our Finals and Consolation events.
Final in the Midget division, Maureen Mordue Memorial, saw the Riverina pony Chesters Lad driven by Charlie Harris taking out the event from Fireblaze driven by Caitlyn McElhinney from Shoalhaven club with Newcastle Maitland driver Chloe Formosa bringing Midnight Express home for third.
Photo: HRNSW Shetland winners Bobby Bouche driver Jimmy Cunningham Attendant Ashleigh Jackson
Shetland Final sponsored by Harness Racing NSW was a popular win for Jimmy Cunningham aboard Bobby Bouche from Capital Club defeating the grey Pocket Watch driven by Brooke Harris from Riverina with Queensland visitor Awesome Wind taking out third for Zac Davis.
Garrard’s Horse and Hound sponsored Pony Division was a commanding win to Velvets Little Star patiently driven by Menangle Park Club driver Grace Panella. Local Tamworth hope Mr Fantangle finished a gallant second for retiring driver Rory Brown while Bye Bye Rusty took out third for Caitlyn McDougall from the sunshine state.
Photo: Top of the straight in Champion of Champion events with Bobby Bouche (right) and Velvets Little Star down (left)
Feature event on the Sunday was the Champion of Champions contest which saw the three divisions winners handicapped on their Meters per Second in a run off. Chester Lad held a handy lead into the straight but Bobby Bouche was picking up ground but with around 50 metres to go Grace Panella had driven a tactical drive on Velvets Little Star to run away and win the event by 5 meters from Chesters Lad (Charlie Harris) a neck in front of Bobby Bouche (Jimmy Cunningham).
Photo: Winner Maureen Mordue Memorial Midget Division Chesters Lad driver Charlie Harris attendant Ashleigh Jackson.
When asked if she was going to follow her sister Lauren into the senior trots Grace Panella stated she was not going to follow Lauren she was going to beat her.
HRNSW CEO John Dumesny was on hand to announce Tamworth Showground would now be known as Tamworth Paceway and the venue would become the home of NSW Mini Trot Championships in future years.
Photo: Champion of Champion winner Grace Panella
Photo: Garrard Horse and Hound Pony Division winner Velvets Little Star driver Grace Panella attendant Ashleigh Jackson.
Photo: Pony Division winner Velvets Little Star driver Grace Panella