NZ JUNIOR DRIVERS CONTENDERS
After 18 weeks of harness racing competition, the 12 contenders for the 2011 NZ Junior Driver Championship have been decided.
Qualifying for the third consecutive year, but the first as a ‘North Islander’, is Mitchell Kerr.
Although he was winless during qualifying, Kerr finished one point ahead of first-time starter and the only female contender, Kelly Blakemore.
Shane Butcher will also be starting in his first Championship, while Zac Butcher will begin in his third. Zac won the Championship in 2009 over Joshua Dickie, who finished second again last year. Rounding out the North Island team is Auckland TC’s Assistant Racing Manager, David Branch.
Matthew Williamson comfortably finished atop the South Island table with 16 points over Tim Williams.
This will be Williams’ fourth Championship, qualifying every year since gaining his licence.
Also trying to win the title for their fourth and also last time will be Bob Butt, who will become an Open Horseman next season. Both Lawrence McCormick and Carl Hanna have qualified for the first time, while Brett Cusdin will make his second Championship appearance.
The North vs South Inter-Island Challenge is back for a second year. Points earned by each driver will be added to their respective Island’s total and the Island with the most points over the Championship will be awarded the Challenge trophy. In its inaugural year, the North Island convincingly won Challenge with 117 points over the South Island, with 41 points.
| Driver | Age | Qualifying | Qualifying | Career | Champion |
| Wins | Points | Wins | Starts | ||
| North Island | |||||
| Mitchell Kerr | 19 | 0 | 27 | 66 | 2010, 2009 |
| Kelly Blakemore | 20 | 2 | 26 | 14 | |
| Shane Butcher | 19 | 2 | 22 | 10 | |
| Zac Butcher | 20 | 1 | 22 | 117 | 2010, 2009 (Champ) |
| Joshua Dickie | 20 | 1 | 20 | 74 | 2010, 2009 |
| David Branch | 21 | 1 | 16 | 10 | 2009 |
| South Island | |||||
| Matthew Williamson | 21 | 3 | 65 | 136 | 2010 |
| Tim Williams | 22 | 4 | 49 | 85 | 2010, 2009, 2008 |
| Bob Butt | 21 | 3 | 41 | 93 | 2009, 2008, 2007 |
| Lawrence McCormick | 24 | 1 | 39 | 16 | |
| Brett Cusdin | 29 | 2 | 33 | 14 | 2009 |
| Carl Hanna | 22 | 1 | 21 | 27 |