"BLACKIE AND NAT" --- THIS AND THE FOLLOWING SHOT "KIMMO.H." TELL IT BEST OF ALL..
This shot is not just an image,this you can feel.It radiates joy.From the camera of Cindy Hurley.....Harnesspix@aol.com or Phone 3861 9019..FANTASTIC..
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July 31, 2006
KIMMO HAMALAINEN --- CHAMPION --- ITALY --- 2006..
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THE DRIVERS --- WORLD AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIPS..
All 14 drivers,on the grass for one of many group photos.Eventual winner,KIMMO HAMALAINEN,is is in white with blue cross.
Photo courtesy of Claudia Van der Lans.(Netherlands cheer squad).
July 30, 2006
eUNSUNG HERO PROFILE...ANTHONY COLLINS..
Today's centre piece is a 19 year old lad from the southern Downs city of Warwick.ANTHONY COLLINS,whose initial interest in light harness stemmed from,would you believe it,watching the trots at country shows,was inducted into the game thanks to Pat O'Shea,the Toowoomba gallops caller.The trail then leads via Lawson Cockburn,to an ad for a mini-trotter in the Gatton Star,to Bev and Bill Mckiernan,and thence to the race track.Success followed,with the high point being victory in the MINI POT OF GOLD at the Rock in1999.
A.C. has ambitions in the race calling sphere,with his career target set in a similar vein to John Tapp.Full time race caller with a hefty stable of standardbreds in the immediate background.To this end he has called many races at the Rock,his style loosely based on Newcastle's Mark McNamara.
90 SECONDS WITH ANTHONY COLLINS.
COLOURS--- Red and Yellow Quarters Black Sleeves.
Fiirst winner driven..BARON VON LASER.(the Rock)
First winner trained and driven ..REGAL DRUM (Gold Coast).
Best horse trained and driven..MYOLA TIARA.
Best horse seen..ATITAGAIN.
Best trainer seen..Julie Weidemann.
Best driver seen..Scott Neaves.
Good mate..Gordon McRae rates way up there.
View of the game.."We publicise the wrong aspects of the game---negatives rather than positives..
Best thing..The level of support given to young trainers and drivers.
There you have ANTHONY COLLINS...He has the ambition and is showing the skills to take him where he wants to go..A.C. is every chance!
July 24, 2006
WORLD AMATEUR DRIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS KIMMO HAMALAINEN TRIUMPH OF THE FINNS
World Championship results. (1) KIMMO HAMALAINEN 66 points.. (2) ALESSANDRO RASPANTE (Italy) 62 points..(3) VIRGINIE BOUDIER CORMY (France) 60 points..Australia's COLIN REDWOOD finished 11th ,and,we will give his impressions of the competition when he returns home shorly.
KIMMO HAMALAINEN is a worthy winner,he has all the attributes of a professional while in the sulky,but sees the light harness sport,as just that---A SPORT..
July 22, 2006
THE FLYING FEET OF IL TENORE...1.55.7.
IL TENORE returns to scale after the Breeder's Classic at Gold Coast.
This and all other feature photos from Mark Bonsall at MARSHALL STUDIOS Phone..07-5545-3095.
WORLD AMATEUR DRIVING CHAMPIONSHIP ITALY--LEADER BOARD GOING TO THE LAST DAY>
H.GELFAND---Canada..(48).
I.JESSEN---Denmark..(47).
K.HAMALAINEN---Finland..(47)..
A.RASPANTE---Italy..(41).
M.DE SOETE---Belgium..(40).
M.BIASUZZI---Italy..(40).
K.THO SEETH---Germany..(39).
F.HANDELAAR---Netherlands..(38).
J.MAIER---Austria..(33).
V.BOUDIER CORMY---France..(31).
T.HOLMGREN---Sweden..(30).
C.REDWOOD---Australia..(29).
L.FROCIONE---USA..(24).J.BENNET---New Zealand..(19)..
IT will all be decided today.COLIN REDWOOD looks to have the task ahead,but in this style of competition,a big finish is possible.The format devised by the Italians points to exactly that;'the first can be last" at the end of the day.News as it comes to hand..
July 18, 2006
HE JUST HAS TO BE ON THE FRONT PAGE --- "BLACKS A FAKE" -- SUPERSTAR..
If Colin Redwood gets to drive a horse in Italy with about 20% of "BLACKIE'S" ability,he will think all his Christmases have come at once..
July 15, 2006
ALL ROADS LEAD TO ROME...WORLD AMATEUR DRIVERS CHAMPIONSHIP ROME AND NAPLES JULY 19 to 22...
" BIGGER THAN BEN HUR".The only quote that covers the 'GENTLEMAN WORLD DRIVERS CHAMPIONSHIP---ITALY 2006".
The Italian amateurs under Cesare Meli have bought together a star studded field of drivers,to compete for the World Crown.Bulk $euros have ensured quality horses.LET THE GAME S BEGIN.
Australia will be ably represented by Bridgewater(Victoria) famer/trainer,COLIN REDWOOD.Aged 69,REDWOOD slides neatly under the European age limit for drivers,which is 70 years.Licenced since 1954,CR has driven 60 winners and trained over 200 since taking on the second licence in the mid-1970's.
COLIN REDWOOD has concentrated on the trotters throughout his harness career.He wil be very much at home with the Italian squaregaiters.He needs only to draw reasonable horses and reasonable barriers to be right in the firing line..
The field of drivers follows.Scroll down and check right hand column..
July 14, 2006
MAURIZIO BIASUZZI.. ITALY..
In every pond,there will be a bigger fish.The bigger fish in this case,is MAURIZIO BIASUZZI."MAURO" as he is called is chasing his third World Championship,having already won the laurels in Australia in 1999 and Austria in 2005.
The career figures are staggering for a hobbyist.Thirty years competition has netted 1201 wins and 1833 places including the 1999 DERBY with ZAMBESI BI and the GRAN PREMIO NATIONALE with EQUINOXE BI.
The truth is,MAURO has great talent,and knows how to use it.He rates 110 plus in any driving company..
ALESSANDRO RASPANTE .. ITALY..
A mere lad at 33,ALESSANDRO RASPANTE is the host nation's number two representative.The lightly framed business agent,rides "monte" and takes part in amateur athletics as well as a busy schedule in the sulky.
Busy is as busy does,and Raspante has racked up 829 starts with a win percentage in 2005 of 38.6%. 2005 was a vintage year,bringing victory in the Italian Championship,conducted in Milan.
MARC DE SOETE .. BELGIUM..
The hopes of the Belgian trot fans,rests on the shoulders of MARC DE SOETE.The high profile amateur earns his daily bread in a lucrative small business,selling harness and tack to his fellow trainers and drivers.
Licenced since 1984,MARC DE SOETE has been up victory lane on 289 occasions.At 42 years of age ,he will add plenty more to this total---maybe at this carnival.
HOWARD GELFAND ... CANADA..
HOWARD GELFAND is a wholesaler of household furniture by day. By night,or weekend afternoon,he transforms into that most passionate of devotees,an Amateur Trot Driver.
HOWARD has "been round" as they say,on 252 occasions,for an impressive score of 30 wins,33 seconds and 43 thirds.
He is 44 years of age,and,probably,at the top of his game.With a bit of luck,anything can happen..
IVER JESSEN ... DENMARK..
IVER JESSEN is a factory worker with what appears to be a consuming passion for the trotter.Licenced in 1993,IVER has faced the starter 820 times for 49 wins,65 seconds and 72 thirds.To keep himself occupied between driving engagements,IJ works a team of 6/7 racehorses and looks after a small band of broodmares and foals.
IVER JESSEN was amateur Champion at Billund race track near his home base in 2005 and was runner-up in the Danish titles in 2003 and 2004.He is described as a "positive and very good" driver.His record supports this all the way..
KLAUS THO SEETH ... GERMANY...
A son of the soil,KLAUS THO SEETH is firstly a farmer,and,secondly,a breeder and trainer of trotters.Twice German Amateur Champion,(2002 and 2005) ,feats which he achieved with horses bred on the home farm,Klaus was also European Champion in 2005,the series being conducted in the Netherlands.
A wealth of practical horse experience and 41 career wins sees KLAUS THO SEETH in this up to his ears.
VIRGINIE BOUDIER CORMY...FRANCE
The sole lady in the field,VIRGINIE was born in 1972.She obtained her amateur licence in 1994.She has driven 135 winners,lifetime.
We are looking at an average of 13 winners per season since day one,in France,where the standard of horse and competition is incredibly high.Where your horse may be disqualified for "trotting unattractively"
VIRGINIE BOUDIER CORMY will handle herself,and the opposition,with considerable skill,in the competition to come..
KIMMO HAMALAINEN...FINNLAND..
Born 1970,and a manager by profession,KIMMO HAMALAINEN has been licenced for 20 years,and has driven only 13 winners.
DON'T BE FOOLED...HAMALAINEN just hasn't driven in many races over the years.Given ,(as is always required) a reasonable complement of horses and barrier draws,KH is capable of giving this event a big,big, shake.His efforts as Finnish Champion in 2003 and 2004,and better than mid-field finishes in the European Championships of 2004 and 2005 provide food for thought..
TOMMY HOLMGREN ... SWEDEN..
IF you were in Sweden ,and you were looking for TOMMY HOLGREN,you would head straight for JAGERSRO.TOMMY has been Champion Amateur at JAGERSRO on five ocassions,most recently last year.He knows something of high speed,having been the man in the sulky when LIZZIE LEE BROOK ran a world record.
TOMMY HOLGREN'S resume includes race wins in many European countries,and, he puts back into the sport he loves by occupying a directors chair at,(you guessed it),JAGERSRO..Which,incidentally,is the third biggest harness operation in Sweden.
FRED HANDELAAR....NETHERLANDS..
Another "gun" driver,is 15 times Dutch Champion,FRED HANDELAAR.Twice Champion of Europe,in 1993 and 2000,the genial banker has been on the WORLD podium a number of times and was beaten by only 1 point in Austria 2005.
Possessed of a very good pair of hands,and an excellent judge of pace,FRED will be aiming at the top spot in this Championship.If he draws the right horses and reasonable barriers,he WILL do the rest.You don't drive 481 winners by being a mug.
JOHN BENNET....NEW ZEALAND..
Not so long on experience,having been licenced in 2004,JOHN BENNET has managed to greet the judge on 13 occasions,9 of these in the current season.Coming,as he does,from a land of highly motivated and successful horsemen,the 47 year old carpet layer will not be letting the home side down.
He will prove to be the typical Kiwi --- determined!
LON FROCIONE.....USA..
Enter LON FROCIONE.Considered to be in the top flight of American amateur drivers,the 68 years young FROCIONE,has driven 186 winners since gaining a licence in 1959.,returning nearly $750,000.With that to think about,consider the fact that he has had even more success as an owner.1991's richest 2year old,SPORTSMASTER,raced in the FROCIONE interests,earning $727,563,taking the WOODROW WILSON Final in the process.
LON FROCIONE is in business as a food distributor,but finds time to be a director of the USTA and is very active in promoting the sport at both amateur and professional levels.He will be a tough competitor from day one..
JOSEF MAIER ---- AUSTRIA..
Austria's hopes rest on JOSEF MAIER,a man who has done many things equine,all of them werll.Born in 1953,MAIER was a very successful show jump rider in his early days,dividing his time between the jumpers,farming and veterinary studies.He took out an amateur trot licence in 1979 and has driven 145 winners since.His career highpoints to date include breeding two DERBY winners and Austrian Champion Driver in 2004.
JOSEF,or "SEPP" as he is known has one aim for this series.... a podium finish.I think he means the high step in the centre.
July 09, 2006
UNSUNG HEROINES DEPARTMENT---NICOLE HANRAHAN.
The scriptures tell us that"'many are called but few are chosen".Lockyer Waters based NICOLE HANRAHAN,was called in a fairly conventional manner.She was competing in a pony club event,at a show in the mid 80's when some mini-trotters made their appearance.INSTANT COVERSION..
The bug bit so hard,that when she left High school,it was to start work in the stables of ALAN DONOHOE.(If you are going to learn,you may as well learn from the best).The following 90 seconds with NICOLE HANRAHAN may indicate a degree of lasting influence.
Age.....31..
First winner...at Gold Coast, THE FLY HALF,trained by Errol Cain.
First winner trained and driven...WHAT A FLIRT.
Best horse trained and driven..TREACLES..
Best horse seen..STRATUM..Winter Cup winner after pulling up dead lame folowing The Sunshine Sprint.From rags to riches in 14 days.
Best driver seen ..Alan Donohoe..
Best trainer seen...Alan Donohoe..
Nicole has an ambition that might be common to many trainers,win THE MIRACLE MILE..And,why not?Ms Hanrahan may be dabbling in the bottom end of the market with her team of six at Lockyer Waters on a cold Winter morning ,and her hopefuls at Marburg trials,but the end of the rainbow can settle anywhere in this game.GUNDARY FLYER won a MIRACLE MILE and many dollars on his way there.GUNDARY FLYER was the 8th foal of SILETTA,and her first winner.He was by the failed stallion GOOD FLYER.There were two miracles that year.The race and the breeding of the winner.
NICOLE is reasonably optomistic about the long term future of the sport,but feels that we do not advertise enough.She advertises in her own way,by presenting her team and herself in first class order at the races
Nicole Hanrahan has not been "chosen" yet by way of snagging a better than average horse.But,she is in there trying her best every day.The sport can ask for no more..
July 05, 2006
UNSUNG HERO PROFILE --- MATTHEW CLAYTON.
Trotting is like an iceberg,through normal media channels,usually,only the tip is visible.Austrotforum will be featuring some of the people and horses who make up the pedestal uponwhich we place our superstars.
Today we give you an insight into a self made young man who has made a toehold in trotting by sheer persistence.
MATTHEW CLAYTON is now,at the age of 25,a stablehand in the establishment of Bill and Grant Dixon.He is also the trainer and driver of a three horse team in his own right,the best of which is the handy TIME OF YOUR LIFE.Coming into the game through his father's friendship with Marburg's Bevan Dance,Matthewhas worked for,and learned a great deal from,Darrell Graham,Tim Gillespie,Mark Purdon,and,now,W.F.Dixon himself.
Matthew Clayton in 90 seconds.
First licenced.....2001.
First winner...DOT WITH THE LOT.
Best horse trained: PRESIDENT ZAC.
Best horse driven in a race: SPEED MAGIC.
Best horses seen:ELSU and BLACKS A FAKE.
Best driver seen: Tony Herlihy.
Best trainer seen: Mark Purdon.
July 03, 2006
JAG DE BELLOUET.---.WORLD RECORD FOR 2100 METRES IN FINLAND WITH A CLEAR SWAB THIS TIME.
More news on the sensational doings of JAG DE BELLOUET.Prior to the positive swab result, to Voltaren,whiich saw him disqualified from the Elitlopp the French super horse,made the short journey to Finland where he demolished the opposition in the Kymi Grand Prix,posting world record time.His kilometre rate of 1.11.0 translates to a mile rate of 1.54.2.This for a journey of 2100 metres.He came up clear on the swab this time.In very real terms,you are looking at a straight out trotter that would be capable of giving heartburn to an inter-dominion field.