Winton ready for WDC

Bruce Stewart Journalist

The finishing touches are being made to Central Southland Raceway for the Winton Harness Racing Club’s leg of the World Drivers Championship on Sunday.

The Punters Corner area under the main stand has had a major reno and carpet will be laid in the next few days while the public bar has also been tidied up.

“We’re not putting carpet in there because that area is going to be totally revamped in the next couple of months with reglazing,” WDC committee member Diane Dynes said.

Both sponsors rooms in the North Stand which have had total makeovers, have been sold out for the day.

“We think the marquee is close to selling out. Nathan Kean has been amazing getting onto locals.”

Dynes says the renovations will also future proof the venue.

“Anything we do now we’ve got motivation to get done and finished and we’ve got a nice tidy venue moving forward.”

The ten drivers will be piped onto the course and each driver will be allocated a local harness cadet to take them to their drives and introduce them to the trainers.

There’ll be a wide variety of children’s activities on the day and Fashion In the Field with sponsorship from Forsyth Barr, Southern Discovery, Country Jewel, Mitre 10 Winton and Impress Boutique.

“Mary Whitsey is the judge for Fashion In The Field. She’s done a great job to get people involved.”

Musician John McCabe from Oamaru will provide live music, and there will be food caravans located in the parade ring behind the stands. Entry is free.

Four heats of the WDC will be held at Winton with the sponsors being VetSouth Equine, Night ‘N Day Winton, SBSR/Diamond Creek Farm and Ultra – Scan Western Southland.

Drivers competing in the Series are James MacDonald - Canada, Gary Hall Jr - Australia, Giampaolo Minnucci -Italy, Santtu Raitala - Finland, Michael Nimczyk - Germany, Jaap Van Rijn - Netherlands, Mats Djuse - Sweden, Blair Orange - New Zealand, Pierre Vercruysse - France and Brett Beckwith - USA.

After Winton on Sunday the final day of the series will be held on Cup Day at Addington.