What has happened to the harness racing 2015/2016 Australasian Young Drivers Championship?
This competition has been held every season for young drivers from Australia and New Zealand since 1993 that is a 22 consecutive year tradition. The competition for the 2015/2016 season should be held this year before the end of the season in September 2016.
However after consistent emails and phone calls to Harness Racing Australia and Harness Racing New Zealand over the past 4 months the drivers have been given not only conflicting information but basically been given the brush off with no explanation as to why this is not being held within the current season. They have been informed by Harness Racing Australia that the next competition will be in November 2016 which means it falls within the 2016/2017 season.
Not only is the lack of information and accountability frustrating there has also been conflicting information sent to the Young Drivers in New Zealand who have been competing furiously for this honor to represent their country.
The original information that was sent to the Junior Drivers of New Zealand by the AYDC was that this competition for the 2015/2016 season was to be run in March 2016 in Perth. That was the understanding of all the Junior Drivers competing to win this opportunity and many have spent a lot of money, effort and time to qualify to do so, as well as their supporters, employers and horse owners to aid in this. This competition is one of prestige and is fiercely contested every season.
The drivers are utterly disappointed and angered by the lack of organization and communication that has been shown by HRNZ & AHR. This blasé attitude and accountability would not be tolerated by any other professional organization or business.
There will be some Young Drivers that miss out on this opportunity to represent their country due to the age restrictions or purely due to the fact that they may not have the same opportunities to qualify for the next season.
At the very least these young drivers deserve a decent explanation as to why this opportunity has been taken away from them and to be acknowledged as the winners/representatives of the 2015/2016 competition.
Our young drivers are the future and these opportunities are what create not only better drivers but also friendships and experiences that can only enhance our sport.
Both HRNZ & AHR should work together to come up with a solution to allow these young drivers to compete for this title within the current season to do the right thing and give these Drivers the acknowledgement and the opportunity they deserve.
I would hope that AHR & HRNZ would do this not because they have to, but because they respect and prioritize the cultivation of the next Generation of Drivers.
Disappointed Horse Owner