Longtime harness horse owner and former trainer Joan Bryant of Dorchester, Ont. died peacefully on Sunday, April 25, 2010 at London's Parkwood Hospital

. She was 71 years of age.

While not born into harness racing, Joan and husband Ken Bryant were involved with show horses and Arabians before being introduced to standardbreds by friends Winston and Anne Powell. Without a huge bankroll for purchasing their first horse, they paid $900 for a Skippys Pride C weanling filly out of the John Dilliard mare Betty Moir - a mare co-owned in part by the late, great horseman Clint Hodgins. Certainly Southgate Pride didn't appear to have the Hall of Fame credentials of her breeder, but she slowly developed into one of the best pacing mares in the country and was named as Canada's Older Pacing Mare of the Year in 1980. She won 11 of 29 races to earn over $86,000 with her most important win coming in the $75,000 Milton Stakes at Mohawk against world champions Armbro Vibrant and Terrys Woe.

Devoted mother of Teresa Bryant and Shannon Bryant. Cherished daughter of Kathleen Mennell and Bert Mennell (deceased). Loving grandmother of Kathleen Schreurs, Peter Schreurs, Gregory Schreurs, Laura-Marie Schreurs and Francis Ruarte. She dearly cared for her sister Donna Mennell (deceased) and is loved by her sisters Gayle Brooks and Noreen Legresely. Joan will be fondly remembered by her sons by marriage; James Schmeiser, Fernando Ruarte, Frank Schreurs and Andrew Cornies and will be sadly missed by a caring circle of friends and extended family members.

Visitors will be received at the JOHN T. DONOHUE FUNERAL HOME, 362 Waterloo Street at King Street, London on Tuesday, April 27th 2010 from 2-4 and 7-9 o'clock. A memorial Funeral Mass will be held at Our Lady of Hope Chapel, 21 Grosvenor Street , London on Wednesday April 28th, 2010 at 11:30a.m. Private family interment in St. Peter's Cemetery.

Please join SC in offering condolences to the family and friends of Joan Bryant.