A long priced double at Launceston on Monday December 10 resulted in a total of eight points for Gareth Rattray and he has now overtaken Grant Hodges in the race for the 2012/13 Halwes Medal. Rattray (42 votes) holds a seven vote lead over Grant Hodges (35) after 22 of the 85 meetings in the 2012/13 harness season.
The Halwes Medal is sponsored by BOTRA Tasmania and Jamie Cockshutt. The award recognises excellence in horsemanship and operates under the following format:
A panel of 12 members is rostered to vote throughout the harness season (September 2012 to August 2013). Panel members are Jamie Cockshutt, Peter Cooley, Matt Jordan, Geoff Lucas, Greg Mansfield, Kevin Neilson, Matt Robertson, Rick Puccinelli, Davis Sales, Damien Seaton,Peter Staplesand Shane Yates
Two panel members vote on each meeting and have 10 votes each.
The 10 votes can be allocated at the panel member’s discretion with a maximum of five votes for any trainer or driver.
Only Tasmanian registered licensed persons are eligible to receive votes.
Rattray drove in all eight races at Launceston on December 10 winning on Tisu Toota ($37.60) and Prettyboytoby ($15.00). His other results were a second, three thirds, a fourth and a fifth placing.
It has been a profitable three weeks for followers of Tasmania’s leading driver for the last seven seasons with Rattray successful on another long shot, Sarah Lewis ($54.20), at Launceston on November 25. AtHobarton December 2 he dead heated for first with Beta Bolt ($28.80) and won with Pachacuti ($12.20).
Andrew Rawlings and Rohan Hadley were the other big movers over the last fortnight after dominating the Burnie meeting on December 14. Hadley received 10 votes for driving four winners while Rawlings trained three winners and a second, third and fourth place getter from six starters to earn nine points from the judges.
Gary Bishop’s win with Woody Beours atHobarton December 9 resulted in five points. Trainer Zeke Slater accrued five points after winning the City OfLaunceston Cupwith Greysteel and finishing third in the same race with Motu Crusader at Launceston on December 16.
Justin Campbell stable runners are in top form.Campbellwas awarded five points atHobarton December 9, after winning with Noelsgirl, his only starter at the meeting. He backed up at Launceston on December 16 with another five points after winning with Really Fayfay, finishing second with Nitro Blue and Noelsgirl and fourth with Damitsam.
Dylan Ford added four points to his tally at Launceston on December 10 after a perfect front running drive to win behind Kiwi Joe.
The BOTRA Young Achiever Award is run in conjunction with the Halwes Medal and is restricted to licensed persons aged 24 or under as at 1 September 2012. Todd Rattray leads with 20 votes followed by Mark Yole (17) and Dylan Ford (14).
The leaders to 19 December 2012 are:
42 Gareth Rattray
35 Grant Hodges
26 Rohan Hadley
22 Rohan Hillier
21 BarrieRattray
20 Todd Rattray
19 Zeke Slater
17 TroyHillier, Mark Yole
15 Ricky Duggan
14 Tim Maine, Dylan Ford
12 Ben Yole
11 Rod Plunkett
10 Natalee Emery