Dexter Dunn has bragging rights over some of his older and younger counterparts until next year - but after that he might be waiting a while before he is invited back.
Dunn (24) held on to his lead after the fifth and final heat of the youth versus experience drivers series at Waikouaiti yesterday, despite Maurice McKendry finishing strongly with a win on Queen Kenny in the feature trot.
Dunn's fourth placing on Mr Mayfly in the same race left him with 47 points, one ahead of McKendry.
The cut-off for the youth team is 25, and Dunn is preparing himself for a quarter-century without a chance to race in the series after 2015, as members of the experienced team have to be 50 or older to be considered for an invite.
''One more year, hopefully, then I'll have 25 years on the sideline, but that's all right,'' Dunn said during the presentation of the Greg Brodie Drivers' Challenge trophy.
Dunn also received $2000 for his victory, and could not resist a dig at the older drivers before he left.
''Maybe the old fellas might want to bring their glasses next year so they can see out there and go a bit better.
''It might be walking sticks by then too.''
Dunn was consistent throughout the five races, gaining a second and a third along with his fourth in the last race, and opening up the series with a win on Veecewah.
The Red River Hanover mare was having just her second start back as a pacer after 31 starts as a trotter.
Her trainer, Alex Milne, of Edendale, was pleased for his son Grant, who owns the 8yr-old and has done a lot of the work with the mare at Forbury Park since she returned to pacing in the past few weeks.
''I reckoned she was good enough to win as a trotter and she had done that and after that, she didn't really want to trot early,'' Milne said.
''So the last resort, it was back to the hopples.
Veecewah started her career as a pacer and climbed through the grades with three wins in the 2010-11 season, although that success may not have helped, as she struggled in the c3 grade.
''The trotting might have done her some good, though - it's given her a chance to get used to racing without the pressure,'' Milne said.
''For c3 pacers it was hard on her and she had lost the will to win.''
Results. -
Team Youth 218 points beat Team Experience 181 points. Individual driver standings: Dexter Dunn, 47 points, 1; Maurice McKendry, 46, 2; Samantha Ottley, 40, 3; Matthew Williamson, Amanda Turnbull, 38, 4; Allan Beck, 36, 6; Ricky May, 30, 7; Jim Curtin, 29, 8; Craig Ferguson, 28, 9; Nathan Williamson, 27, 10; Lance Justice, Tony Herlihy, 20, 11.
