Queensland champions crowned

Grant Dixon was named Queensland Trainer and Driver of the Year at the Racing Queensland Harness Awards last night.

Star pacer Avonnova has started one of the biggest weeks of his career on a high by claiming the Queensland Horse of the Year title at the Racing Queensland Harness Awards at the Hilton in Brisbane last night.

The 8 YO gelding, who will contest the Queensland Pacing Championship this Saturday night, was voted the sunshine state’s number one horse for the 2013-14 season following an astounding 11 wins from 19 starts on Queensland soil.

Claimed after an event in Goulburn last October, the Ian Gurney owned and trained Avonnova also finished second in the Blacks-A-Fake and third in the Sunshine Sprint behind Im Themightyquinn on both occasions.

In the 2YO category, A Good Chance got the judges’ nod, while Charming Allie was the 3YO Horse of the Year after a stellar season for Queensland Owners of the Year Solid Earth.

Goldstar Invasion was the big winner in the trotting arena by claiming the Queensland Square Trotters Association Horse of the Year, while Frank Bennett and Gary Whittaker won the Trainers and Drivers Premiership respectively.

Another Queensland star who had reason to celebrate was industry stalwart Grant Dixon, who took out the Queensland Trainer and Driver of the Year awards after another great season both at home and interstate.

With a stable headlined by the likes of Majestic Mach, Supreme Mach and Majestic Major, Dixon claimed his third consecutive J.D.Watts award for Australian Trainer of the Year in 2013-14 with 260 winners nationwide. Narissa McMullen and Trent Moffatt also had reason to celebrate with wins in the Concession Driver and Claiming Driver of the Year awards.

On the club front, Nathan Dawson dominated the Marburg Drivers Awards, while his father Glenn took out the Trainer of the Year and Take Seven was awarded Horse of the Year.

Kylie and Vicki Rasmussen made it a family affair during the Albion Park leg of the awards by claiming the Drivers and Trainers Premierships respectively, while Ideal Tact was the flagship club’s Mare of the Year. Avonnova was the club’s Horse of the Year.

At Redcliffe, Dixon was in the winner’s circle again when he claimed the Trainer of the Year while Mathew Neilson was Driver of the Year and Courageous Kiwi and Empyrean won Horse of the Year and Mare of the Year respectively.

One of the evening’s highlights was the induction of three new members to the Queensland Harness Hall of Fame with superstar Mr Feelgood, long-time race caller and Albion Park Harness Racing Club Chairman David Fowler and administrator Tony Price all truly deserving inductees.

Meanwhile, Brendan Barnes and Madi Dux celebrated their seasons by winning the BOTRA Rising Stars awards and race caller Chris Barsby was named the BOTRA Pegasus Award winner for his service to the industry.

Ends

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