Jodi Quinlan was last night awarded the 2006 Harness Racing Weekly Vin Knight Medal at a gala function at Melbourne's Crown Palladium.
The pocket dynamo scored a commanding victory in the prestigious award which honours excellence in horsemanship at Victoria's metropolitan class meetings.
When voting went in-camera at the end of May Quinlan enjoyed an 18 vote buffer over 2003 & 2004 winner Gavin Lang with 2005 medallist Chris Alford sitting third.
When the votes for the final three months were counted last night, the 31-year-old from Parwan had extended her winning margin to 22 with a final tally of 87.
Alford finished hard late in the season to claim second placing with 65 votes, whilst Lang was 10 votes in arrears of him in third position.
Quinlan, who finished third on the metropolitan drivers premiership and also trained several 'metro' winners, polled at 13 meetings throughout the season and was the leading vote getter on six occasions.
She pocketed a $5000 solid gold medal, together with a trip for two to the 2006 New Zealand Cup Carnival, in recognition of her achievement.
In other awards distributed throughout the HRW-administered function, Kate Thompson was named the 2006 Young Achiever of the Year.
In a memorable season, Thompson, 22, became the first female to drive a Hankook Tyres Hunter Cup winner when About To Rock saluted in the world's richest handicap.
World champion reinswoman Kerryn Manning was named the Most Improved Trainer, whilst Tony Pullicino was awarded the title of the Most Improved Driver.
Manning enjoyed a stellar 12 months rocketing to equal eighth on the State trainers premiership with 68 winners and a strike rate unmatched by any in the top ten.
Kyabram stalwart Ian Purdey was named Volunteer of the Year, honouring 36 years of commitment to the sport in the Goulburn Valley.
Inter Dominion winner Jim O'Sullivan was also inducted into the Harness Racing Weekly Hall Of Fame in recognition of his achievements over more than three decades.
