2003 Horsham Drivers' Series

25 March 2003
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Queensland visitor Mathew Neilson upstaged an elite line-up to secure top honors in the 2003 Noel Smith Memorial Invitation Drivers? Championship at Horsham on Monday afternoon.

Neilson (pictured second from right) claimed the 14th annual series on a countback, after finishing tied with defending titleholder Daryl Douglas on 25 points.

He won the opening race of the series with $10.00 chance Mintmarke, then partnered $26.00 outsider Bobby Rob into second position in race two. A sixth placing on Nugget Miller in the third and final race was enough to claim victory.

Neilson, who was invited to contest the series for the first time, received a commemorative trophy and Sprint 2000 race sulky for his efforts.

Ironically, the Sunshine State visitor was also presented with three nights? accommodation at Ocean Plaza Resort at Coolangatta.

Douglas finished runner-up after being narrowly denied a third consecutive victory in the Championship, while Chris Alford was third.

The auspicious wooden spoon trophy was won by Tasmanian Barry Rattray whose debut in the series yielded a ninth and two eighth placings for a total of eight points.

The Noel Smith Memorial Invitation Drivers? Series is dedicated to the memory of the late Noel Smith who passed away in June, 1994.

He was a former president and delegate for the Horsham Harness Racing Club who 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.

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Final Points: Mathew Neilson 25, Daryl Douglas 25, Chris Alford 23, Kerryn Gath 21, Jodi Quinlan 17, Geoff Webster 15, Gavin Lang 14, John Caldow 13, Darren Hancock 11, Barry Rattray 8.

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To access the Horsham Harness racing Club?s homepage, please click here: www.harness.org.au/horsham

 

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