Tasracing

TALENTED teenage reinsman Dylan Ford held on to win his first Novice Driver’s premiership despite failing to drive a winner at the last meeting of the season in Launceston last Sunday night.

Dylan took a three-win lead over archrival and reigning novice driver titleholder Todd Rattray into last Sunday night’s meeting.

Rattray drove two winners (Blue Pointer and Hesione) to edge closer but Ford’s lead proved too great a margin to overcome.

Both of Todd’s winners were trained by his father Barrie Rattray who secured the trainer’s title with 73 Tasmanian winners but he also won seven races interstate.

Ford drove 32 winners for the season and that included a four-win haul in Hobart last Sunday week (August 18).

The 17-year-old from Hobart has gone from strength to strength this year with various trainers keen to secure his services late in the season despite him having out-driven his claim.

Ford, who turns 18 next month, has only been driving for just under two years and earlier this year became the fastest to outdrive his claim.

The battle for the leading female driver award also went down to the wire with Kate McLeod emerging triumphant over Erin Hollaway who both drove a winner at last Sunday night’s meeting.

McLeod took the title with 14 winners, two clear of Hollaway.

State Drivers Premiership table