Mini Trotting – 130 competitors & 175 horses

The 2018 NSW Mini Trotting Championships at Tamworth Paceway on the weekend has been hailed as one the best instalments of the annual harness racing event after 130 young divers and 175 horses competed in it.

Barry McColl, Harness Racing NSW youth development officer, said Tamworth had “done itself proud” in hosting the roving event for a second consecutive year.

He said a decision on where the 2019 championships would be held was yet to be decided but he applauded the “family orientated” nature of the Tamworth event, with the Paceway turned into a tent city for the two-day happening and competitors also coming from Queensland, Victoria and New Zealand. 

Joanne Shepherd, promotions and facilities manager at Tamworth Paceway, said it was one of the biggest events visitor wise at the Paceway since Harness Racing NSW purchased the venue in April last year.

She said: “We had quite a lot of spectators, which was good. Hopefully that will encourage the young kids. All the kids represented themselves so well as far as sportsmanship and helping each other went … It was a really good kids event.”

The winner of the midget final was Mason Beresford, driving Pay The Aces, with Isabella Cassar (Chase Em Ace) second and Sam Haslem (Fire Storm) third.

The winner of the Shetland final was  Kyle Wahlstram (The Dark Horse), with Jayla Beresford (Nidya) second and Keeley Cunningham (This Is Larry) third. 

The pony final was won by Harry McNamara (Cariadus Material Girl), followed by Phoebe Betts (Golden Studleigh) and Michaela Locke (Eddie Allstar).

Reprinted with permission of The Northern Daily Leader