19
May, 2004
Horsham Harness Racing Club?s Noel Smith Memorial
Invitation Drivers? Championship achieves a notable milestone in 2004.
The Series will celebrate its 15th
anniversary next Monday afternoon, May 24.
Named in honour of the late Noel Smith, the
Championship has been conducted annually since 1990.
Each year, it brings together an elite line-up of
reinsmen and women who compete for a Challenger race sulky, donated by the
Horsham Club.
In keeping with tradition, the 2004 Championship
will operate as a points score and comprise three races ? for pacers assessed
C0, C1 and C2-C3.
Each event offers a lucrative $6000 stake.
This year?s invited drivers include Daryl Douglas
and Gavin Lang (pictured), both three-time winners of the highly
sought-after Series.
They will be joined by South Australian visitor
Geoff Webster and leading Victorian drivers John Caldow, Grant Campbell, Brian
Gath, Kerryn Gath, Lance Justice, David Murphy and Jodi Quinlan.
Last year, Queenslander Mathew Neilson became the
first interstate driver in the history of the Championship to taste victory.
Nominations for Horsham?s May 24 program close with
Harness Racing Victoria at noon today.
Noel Smith was a past President and delegate of the
Horsham Harness Racing Club.
He made an enormous contribution to harness racing
in Victoria through his tireless work with the South West Zone, and the
Metropolitan and Country Trotting Association.
He was recognised with a Distinguished Service Award
by Harness Racing Victoria in March, 1994 but sadly passed away in June of the
same year.
Noel Smith Memorial Invitation Drivers? Championship
Past Winners:-
?
1990,
Gaita Pullicino
?
1991,
Gavin Lang and Jim O?Sullivan
?
1992,
Gavin Lang
?
1993,
Graeme Lang
?
1994,
Chris Alford
?
1995,
Brian Gath
?
1996,
Gavin Lang
?
1997,
Brian Gath
?
1998,
Daryl Douglas
?
1999,
Gaita Pullicino
?
2000,
John Caldow
?
2001,
Daryl Douglas
?
2002,
Daryl Douglas
?
2003,
Mathew Neilson
