Blake Fitzpatrick.
Talented reinsman Blake Fitzpatrick had his first taste of the new Australian Driving Championships at Globe Derby in South Australia and loved it. Fitzpatrick was one of the two New South Wales representatives in the series and finished in sixth position overall but was happy with his performance.
"I was really happy with how the night went and I thought it was a very good result when everything was taken into account," said Fitzpatrick.
"It was never going to be an easy series to win especially when you are competing against the best in Australia and a lot of it comes down to which horses you draw in the heats."
Fitzpatrick believes the series will continue to get bigger and better each year.
"South Australia did a fantastic job, John Lewis the CEO of Harness Racing South Australia ensured all of the drivers were all well looked after and the CEO of Harness Racing Australia Andrew Kelly was there too, I think it is something that is going to build every year."
"I think the series can become the pinnacle for a driver in the sport, it is something you can aim to be selected in every year and I would love to be able to win it one day."
Globe Derby has been a happy hunting ground for the Fitzpatrick in the past. He drove Selby Bromac to victory in the SA Cup giving him his first Grand Circuit winner as a driver.
"I'd been back a couple of times since winning on Selby Bromac but Saturday night must have been well publicised because the crowd was bigger than normal from what I am told."
"There has been some talk about the winner becoming the Australian representative at the World Drivers' Championships going forward and I think there is a lot of merit in that idea."
