Teen reinswoman swaps footy boots for sulky success

Seventeen-year-old reinswoman Kirra Langelaar made the decision to switch from rugby league to harness racing two years ago, and is now celebrating the first win of her driving career.

Langelaar steered Our George Boston (Betting Line) to victory at Bathurst (September 3) when the six-year-old gelding, trained by Nathan Turnbull, finished strongly up the sprint lane to grab a narrow half-neck win in the BCIT Solutions Pace in a sharp 1:52.9 MR.

The result marked “George’s” 18th career win and Langelaar’s breakthrough success at her 45th drive.

“It felt amazing honestly, because I really didn’t expect the win that day,” Langelaar said.

“He is a good horse, but it was in a bit of a harder field than he has been racing and he didn’t draw well.

“None of my family was there to see the win, but after the race, my phone was blowing up! It was great.”

Langelaar has settled in quickly to The Lagoon lifestyle at the Turnbull stable complex near Bathurst, working for Amanda Turnbull.  But her path to harness racing was anything but traditional.

“I had no background at all – I just grew up riding horses. We were on some acreage and my mum managed a riding school,” Langelaar said.

“I was very lucky that sometimes I could ride the horses who were mucking up and that taught me a lot,” she explained.

Her interest in riding faded when the family moved to the Hunter region, but a new connection sparked her harness racing journey.

“My mum became friends with someone who did harness racing and then I went out to help Bevan Pringle a couple of times. Then I started with Grace Panella and that’s when I really kicked off when I was about 15.”

A versatile sportswoman, Langelaar also enjoyed success in rugby league before choosing to commit to the trots.

“I played NRL since I was really young and we made a couple of grand finals. In the end it was NRL or horses and I ended up giving up NRL. I started an apprenticeship with Grace when I was 16 and that was when I quit footy.”

Langelaar moved to Bathurst earlier in the year, and it’s given her fresh opportunities.

“It’s definitely a dream here with the whole family setup of the Turnbull stables and the opportunities that gives me.

“Everyone out here is really good and I get plenty of feedback and advice on what I did right or what else I could have done in the moment,” she said.

Living in a staff house with other young workers, she’s embraced the lifestyle and challenge of racing.

“My parents didn’t know much about it at first, but once I showed them the world of harness racing and how much I enjoy it they’ve been really supportive ever since,” she said.

“I’m definitely more interested in the driving side than the training side, but I do love seeing what works for different horses in the training side of things too. I’d like to outdrive my claim, however long that takes, and then see where that takes me.”

From Terry Gange for Harnesslink