IDHRC - 2006 Australasian Young Drivers Championship

Inter Dominion Harness Racing Council
Australasian Young Drivers Championship

Inter
Dominion
Harness
Racing
Council

2006 Australasian Young Drivers Championship 2006 Point Scores

(left to right): Peter Bourke (IDHRC Dep. Chairman),
Jay Abernethy, and Robert Marshall (IDHRC Chairman),
after the Presentation Ceremony

James Abernethy (NZ NI)
Winner, 2006 Young Drivers Championship

New Zealand North Island representative Jay Abernethy is the 2006 Australasian Young Drivers Champion. Jay drove consistently throughout the series winning three of the nine heats and accruing 89 points.

Danielle Hill (South Australia) was second on 76 points with Gavin Smith (New Zealand North Island), who also won three heats, third on 68 points. Other competitors were Ryan Bell (Western Australia) 66, Matthew Craven (Victoria) 58, Johnny Cox (New Zealand) 54, Joel Pengilly (New South Wales) 54, Steven Doherty (Queensland) 38, Gareth Rattray (Tasmania) 36 and James Rattray (Defending Champion, Tasmania) 35.

Associated Links

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2006 Points

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Winners All Time

The innovative format for the series was a success. For the first time, the Championship, which was conducted by Harness Racing Tasmania , was held in two States – Victoria and Tasmania. Two heats were conducted at each of the three Victorian venues, Bendigo , Kilmore and Maryborough, followed by three heats at Tasman Park (Launceston) and the final heat at Hobart on Wrest Point Inter Dominion Grand Final night.

One of the Kilmore heats was declared a no race when three horses fell shortly after the start. Fortunately, none of the drivers were injured in the incident, which occurred after a horse broke and shifted inwards.

Scratchings resulted in Steven Doherty and Matthew Craven missing a drive each while Danielle Hill missed two. Five points were allocated to the drivers for each scratching. Hill’s scratchings were from barriers one and two and one was a pre post favourite.

All drivers were a credit to themselves and the States they represented. The Series would not have been possible without the support of Harness Racing Victoria , the Fremantle Trotting Club, Australian and New Zealand controlling bodies and the Kilmore, Bendigo , Maryborough, Launceston and Tasmanian clubs. Renown Silverware crafted special medals for all participants and placegetters. Outstanding support from owners ensured all races had ten acceptors.

I thank everyone who has assisted with the conduct of the event. Harness Racing South Australia will conduct the 2007 Australasian Young Drivers Championship during the 2007 Inter Dominion.

Kevin Neilson
Chief Executive Officer
Harness Racing Tasmania

2006 Point Scores

Driver	Heat 1 Bendigo 27 Mar	Heat 2 Bendigo 27 Mar	Heat 3 Kilmore 29 Mar	Heat 4* Kilmore 29 Mar	Heat 5 Marybgh 30 Mar	Heat 6 Marybgh 30 Mar	Heat 7 Launc 31 Mar	Heat 8 Launc 31 Mar	Heat 9 Launc 31 Mar	Heat10 Hobart 2 Apr	TOTAL
Jay ABERNETHY (NZ NI)	3	12	5	N	16	6	7	17	6	17	89
Danielle HILL (SA)	11	6	17	O	5	5	3	12	5	12	76
Gavin SMITH (NZ SI)	16	17	1		1	1	17	4	2	9	68
Ryan BELL (WA)	1	7	6	R	3	16	12	6	8	7	66
Matthew CRAVEN (VIC)	8	9	12	A	2	5	4	9	3	6	58
Jonny COX (NZ)	4	3	9	C	11	3	1	5	16	2	54
Joel PENGILLY (NSW)	5	4	3	E	6	8	9	7	11	1	54
Steven DOHERTY (QLD)	5	2	2		4	11	2	3	5	4	38
Gareth RATTRAY (TAS)	6	5	7		5	2	6	1	1	3	36
James RATTRAY (def Champion))	2	1	4		8	4	5	2	4	5	35

* Stewards declared Heat 4 a "no-race" - no points allocated.

Point Score for Ten Starters.
1^st – 17 points; 2^nd – 12 points; 3^rd – 9 points; 4^th – 7 points; 5^th – 6 points; 6^th – 5 points; 7^th – 4 points; 8^th – 3 points; 9^th – 2 points; 10^th – 1 point.