Jamieson Wins Driving Championship

Jody Jamieson will represent Canada in the World Driving Championship after a thrilling four-win performance in tonight's National Driving Championship at Charlottetown Driving Park. Jamieson defeated Marc Campbell for the victory.

“Every time you get a chance to do this, I think I said it yesterday, it’s a dream of ours - all of ours - to represent your country,” said driver Jody Jamieson. “The method to get here – you have to win two tournaments – it’s just awesome. I love the format. We had a draft this year, and it was so much fun. PEI does it the best and it should always be here.

“The draft format made it great,” Jamieson added. “I think everybody was relatively happy with the picks that they had. My horses were great tonight. I got lucky that my horses were healthy and not scratched and showed up for me. I couldn’t believe the first one [C J Bluefin] won. Everyone was trying to avoid that horse in the draft. The horse raced awesome for me and got a great trip. It was awesome and a lot of fun, I don’t know what else to say.”

Jamieson later dedicated the victory in the National Driving Championship to a close friend who proved to be one of his biggest chearleaders from trackside.

“I walked in tonight and I saw my good friend, Shelley Gass, she’s over in the turn there watching me, and I gave her my whip and I just want to say Shelley I dedicate this win to you – I don’t dedicate things often – but I love you and I wish you the best.”

Jamieson, a two-time World Driving Champion thanks to wins in 2001 and 2011, will represent Canada in 2015 at the World Driving Championship in Australia.

The series will be conducted from Saturday, February 21, 2015 to March 1, 2015 inclusive - with 20 races conducted across seven racetracks in the State of New South Wales.

Leg 1
Jody Jamieson struck first thanks to a come-from-behind score with C J Bluefin in Race 3. The son of Fit For Life rallied from just off-the-pace and held off a late-rushing A Fiesty X Ample (Brandon Campbell) by a half-length margin. Ideal Lifestyle (Guy Gagnon) rounded out the top three finishers.

Leg 2
Jody Jamieson swept the first two legs of the competition thanks to some last second heroics with Oppies Lifes Line. The Life Sign mare turned a ground-saving trip into a neck victory over M D Caseys Charm (Marc Campbell) in a time of 1:58.4. Playful Patty (Jim Marino) chopped out fractions of :28.3, :58.3 and 1:28.4 before fading to finish third.

There was a scratch of #4 Donna Conda from Race 4 (Leg 2), but #9 Diagram Hanover did draw in to race.

Leg 3
Marc Campbell captured the third leg in front of his home crowd, thanks to a victory in Race 5 with Windemere Eric. The five-year-old son of Articulator got up in the final strides to win by three-quarters of a length over Hollywoodgigolo (Jody Jamieson) in 1:57. P C Shockwave (Ryan Ellis) survived a tough, first-over trip to finish a lapped-on third.

There was a scratch of #7 Heroes Never Die from Race 5 (Leg 3), but #9 Rebelryan did draw in to race.

Leg 4
Marc Campbell came right back to win the fourth leg of the NDC thanks to a driving away score with Honor Roll. The five-year-old daughter of Mach Three won by 7-1/2 lengths over race favourite Ton Of Luck (Billy Davis, Jr.), while Babies Gigolo (Jody Jamieson) finished third.

Leg 5
Billy Davis, Jr. found his way to the winner’s circle – and into the track record book – thanks to a blowout score with Whitesand Artist in Race 7. The nine-year-old daughter of Artiscape – who was sparring with $3,000 claiming foes – won by a football field in a track record clocking of 1:53.4. Maiden Heaven (Jody Jamieson) was second, with Gwinning Gwen (Marc Campbell) was third.

The 1:53.4 performance shaved one-fifth of a second off Little Black Book’s former track mark of 1:54 for older pacing mares. That record stood at the Charlottetown Driving Park since 1993.

Leg 6
Jody Jamieson racked up his third win of the competition thanks to a 1:56.1 triumph with Solanos Dragon in Race 8. The six-year-old gelded son of Dragon Again defeated Ebandtheboys (Marc Campbell), with third prize going to Pictonian Walton.

Leg 7
Marc Campbell posted his third win in the challenge, and the teletimer took a beating the process. The PEI native guided Rash B Haviour to a 1:54.2 win in Race 9 over Artners In Crime (Jody Jamieson) and Astor Shark (Ryan Ellis).

Leg 8
Jody Jamieson completed the Grand Slam and earned yet another national driving championship title thanks to his 1:55.4 score in Race 10 with Perfect Escape. The five-year-old Mcardle gelding defeated Miramontotogo (Marc Campbell) and Andro Madi (Brandon Campbell).

Final Standings
1. Jody Jamieson - 96 pts
2. Marc Campbell - 81 pts
3. Brandon Campbell - 42 pts
4. Billy Davis, Jr. - 39 pts
5. Ryan Ellis - 33 pts
6. Guy Gagnon - 32 pts
7. Jim Marino - 31 pts
8. Sylvain Lacaille - 19 pts

To view results for Tuesday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Tuesday Results – Charlottetown Driving Park