The Nathan Williamson-trained trotter’s six wins last season enabled her to clinch the title over pacing contenders Bettor Ops and Seaswift Joy.
Dark Horse also won the aged mares award for both pacers and trotters.
As a 4yr-old, the squaregaiter won five races in Southland before completing her season with a third placing at the Harness Jewels behind Wilma’s Mate, and a listed-level win at Addington.
Her six victories all came with Williamson in the sulky and helped him run away with the Southland driver of the year title. He had 44 wins, ahead of Brent Barclay on 31.
Williamson was runner-up in the trainer of the year category with 21 wins, five wins behind Brett Gray who won the trophy with his 26.
Sheree Tomlinson’s 24 victories, which placed her finish third on the national junior drivers’ premiership, enabled her to win the province’s junior driver’s title.
Pint-sized Western Australian superstar Chicago Bull’s continued success across the Tasman resulted in his dam, Chicago Blues, gaining the broodmare award.
Sly Shard, the dam of six winners including one of the country’s leading 2yr-olds from last season in Mach Shard, was also recognised. In the age-group categories, Repartee took the fillies’ title and Simply Dreaming took the male section for 2yr-old pacers, while Seaswift Joy won the 3yr-old fillies award and Young Conqueror the male 3yr-old award.
Industry stalwarts Peter Drummond, Douglas Steward and George Youngman were all recognised for their long service with awards for their contribution to harness racing. Later in the night, the achievement award — formerly the personality of the year award — was won by longtime northern southland breeder-owner-administrator turned trainer, Robert Wilson.
• New Zealand representatives Dexter Dunn and Mark Purdon made indifferent starts to the World Drivers Championships in Canada over the weekend.Dunn sits in seventh position in the 11-driver series and Purdon 10th after the first day of competition yesterday.
Dunn managed a second placing in the first heat, which would be the Kiwis’ only top three-finish on day one at Century Downs racecourse.
United States driver Mark Miller from Canadian James MacDonald and Australian Shane Graham.
The series will continue tomorrow at Mohawk where the next four heats will be conducted.
- Jonny Turner
