Third time lucky for Crystal Hackett

Consistency was the key as Crystal Hackett clinched her first McMillan Equine Feeds New Zealand Junior Drivers’ Championship at Addington on Friday night.

At her third attempt to win the coveted harness racing title, Hackett finished with 45 points from this week’s five heats at Cambridge and Addington to win by just three points from 2020 champion Kerryn Tomlinson and Olivia Thornley one point further back on 41.

It was the first time since the championships started in the mid 1970s that female drivers have claimed all three places on the podium. Female drivers have also now taken out the seven championships in a row, with Sarah O’Reilly winning four of the last five being graduating to the open ranks this year.

“I’m pretty stoked,” said Hackett to Harness Unhinged’s Nigel Armstrong post race, “to follow in Sarah’s footsteps, she’s been a great friend of mine and my cousin Robbie Close also won it (in 2015) so it’s cool to be on the board alongside him.”

Hackett was a solid points accumulator during the series with three seconds in the five heats.

“After the first day I was second to last.”

Going into the final heat she was equal third on 33 points, four behind Zev Meredith. She clinched the championship when Winnzyback charged home late into second, 10 lengths behind runaway winner and hot favourite Borrisokane. Meredith finished ninth with The Coalman.

In what was the tightest championship in recent years Meredith ended up fourth overall, with Olivia Thornley grabbing bronze on a countback after finishing third with Katherine.

Before the championships Hackett spoke of her keenness to win the Championships saying it was something “every junior driver wants to tick off.”

Now she’s not only achieved a career goal she’s also booked a spot at the Australasian Young Drivers’ Championships in December.

Final points McMillan Equine Feeds NZ Junior Drivers’ Championships :

Crystal Hackett 45
Kerryn Tomlinson 42
Olivia Thornley 41
Zev Meredith 41
Sam Thornley 38
Seth Hill 38
Max Hill 37
Monika Ranger 34
Carter Dalgety 33
Wilson House 30
Riley Harrison 28
Emily Johnson 19

For complete race results, click here.

by Dave Di Somma, for Harness News Desk