Lewis & Warwick Earn State Honours
20 September, 2017
Harness
Chris Lewis and Ryan Warwick have been chosen to represent Western Australia in the Yabby Dam Racing Australian Drivers Championship to be staged in Hobart on October 28.
Lewis, WA’s Leading Driver for 2016-17 and Warwick, who finished runner-up, will join 10 drivers from Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, New South Wales and Queensland.
“I have represented WA twice before as a junior, but to earn the honour again as a senior is something I’m am very proud of,” Warwick said.
“To be representing your state alongside a legend in harness racing like Chris Lewis and other great drivers across Australia is pretty special.
“Hopefully Chris and I can do the state proud and I really can’t wait to get over to Hobart and compete against Australia’s best drivers.”
In January Lewis created a slice of national harness racing history when he became the third Australian reinsman to pass 5000 winners.
The master reinsman, inducted into the West Australian Racing Hall Of Fame in 2010, joined Victorian duo, Chris Alford and Gavin Lang.
In 2016-17 Lewis collected 214 winners and 294 placings from 1175 drives with a shade over $2.4 million in stake earnings.
The fourth Australian Drivers Championship will be jointly hosted by TASracing, Harness Racing Australia and the Tasmanian Pacing Club.
Reinsman from each state will contest six races for points to determine the overall winning driver.
The 12 drivers selected to represent their respective states are:
Chris Lewis (WA)
Ryan Warwick (WA)
Chris Alford (Vic)
Greg Sugars (Vic)
Danielle Hill (SA)
Wayne Hill (SA)
Todd Rattray (TAS)
Gareth Rattray (TAS)
Amanda Turnbull (NSW)
Chris Geary (NSW)
Shane Graham (QLD)
Grant Dixon (QLD)
Julio Santarelli