Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) has announced that female trailblazer Kerryn Manning will represent Australia at the 2007 World Drivers Championship.
The 30-year-old, who last year assumed the world record for the most career wins by a female driver, will be the first reinswoman to compete in the prestigious series.
To be jointly held in Australia and New Zealand from November 1 to 9, the Championship will feature a representative from both host countries together with Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Italy, Netherlands and the USA.
It will feature 20 harness races, the first 12 of which will be conducted in Victoria before the event crosses the Tasman for its conclusion in New Zealand.
“I’m delighted to announce that Kerryn Manning will represent Australia at this year’s World Drivers Championship,” HRV Chairman, Neil Busse, said. “Her selection is testimony to an amazing career that has been littered with many great achievements.”
“Kerryn has already driven close to 2400 winners despite her tender age and last year she capped her remarkable career by becoming the world record holder for the most wins by a female driver.
“Kerryn was the first female to win the Australian drivers’ premiership, a title that she then held for five straight years from 2001 to 2005.
“Despite decreasing her number of drives last season to concentrate on a blossoming training career, Kerryn still finished third in the national drivers’ title, whilst jumping to seventh on the Victorian trainers’ premiership.
“On behalf of the Board and the harness racing industry, I would like to congratulate Kerryn on her selection and wish her the best of luck for the Championship. I’m sure she will represent herself and her country with great pride and distinction.”
Manning, who has signs erected in her honour at the entry points to her hometown of Great Western, also holds the Australian record for most wins in a season (371 – 2002/03), plus she shares the national record for the most wins at a single meeting, having piloted six winners on three separate occasions.
She will join Geoff Webster, Grant Dixon, Brian Hancock, Lance Justice and Chris Alford as those to have represented Australia in the past decade and will be hoping to become the nation’s first World Champion since Ted Demmler who triumphed in 1987.
