Eight of Western Canada’s top reinsmen have been confirmed for the Western Regional Driving Championship, scheduled for Saturday, December 13 at Fraser Downs in Surrey, BC.
This is the fourth and final Regional Driving Championship which determines the eight participants in Canada’s National Driving Championship, also scheduled at Fraser Downs in March, 2009.
The following drivers will participate in the Western Regional Driving Championship:
Representing Alberta:
• Keith Clark
• Kelly Hoerdt
• Gerry Hudon
Representing Manitoba
• Darryl Mason
Representing Saskatchewan
• Glenn Le Drew
Representing British Columbia
• Bill Davis
• Scott Knight
• Jim Marino
“We are looking forward to a very competitive regional championship that showcases the best driving talent in the west. This is one of the main events of our fall meet and our fans are going to be treated to a very competitive day of racing,” commented Scott Sinclair, Fraser Downs GM.
The Western Regional Driving Championship will be an eight-race competition. The two drivers who accumulate the most points will advance to the National event scheduled for March 21, 2009 at Fraser Downs. They will compete against Brad Forward, Paul MacDonell (Ontario Regional representatives), Guy Gagnon, Daniel Potvin (Quebec Regional representatives) Gilles Barrieau and Marc Campbell (Atlantic Regional representatives) to determine a National Champion and Canada’s representative at the World Driving Championship scheduled for May in Norway.
Criteria used to select the drivers included wins, earnings, UDRS, and the ability to be an outstanding ambassador for Canadian harness racing. In addition, all drivers were asked to commit to attending all three of the event dates; the Regional Driving Championship, the National Driving Championship (March 21, 2009) and the World Driving Championship (May 14-20) before taking part in the regional event.
The Western competition will
The Western competition will be poorer without the participation of Serge Masse. He has proven himself to be one of the top 2 B.C. reinsmen year after year.
In reply to The Western competition will by Anonymous (not verified)
Top Drivers Representing
Top Drivers Representing West
Serge Masse is a very good horseman and a very good driver. However, the competition will not necessarily be poorer without his participation. It looks like the current top three drivers from BC are representing that region and that's the way it should be.
Good to see that Bill Davis is in as he has simply been the best there for a very long time. Jim and Scott have also proven they deserve to be there. This competition which also includes Keith Clark (top driver in AB) along with the others will be very competitive and the top two will be good representatives of the west at the nationals.
what about Serge Massey?
what about Serge Massey?
In reply to what about Serge Massey? by Neal Adler (not verified)
Serge Masse was not allowed
Serge Masse was not allowed to compete in last years drivers championship in PEI, due to the fact that he was denied a liscence in that jurisdiction for his racing infractions, even though he qualified for the event. In addition his win totals are down this year and apparantly he his making plans to spend the winter in Florida so i would imagine all those factors weighed in on him not be selected.