John Morrison and Sarah O’Reilly. Photo supplied.Two young Mid Canterbury born-and-raised harness racing drivers will be shooting for glory against the best of their contemporaries across Australasia over the course of the next week.

John Morrison and Sarah O’Reilly are set to embark on a week-long tour which will take them across New Zealand as part of a 12-strong group competing in the Australasia Young Drivers Championship.

Featuring the best young names in the sport, the duo make up half of the New Zealand contingent of four for the series and will be joined by New South Wales, Tasmania, Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland and Victoria.

O’Reilly is in the side as the New Zealand representative having won the National junior drivers’ championship earlier this year, while Morrison earned his ticket as the South Island representative by winning the national premiership for the driver with the most wins last season.

Sheree Tomlinson and Benjamin Butcher are the other two Kiwi drivers, with Tomlinson making the cut as the defending champion of the series and Butcher claiming the North Island representative spot.

Both of the local drivers said they were looking forward to the experience.

“It means a lot to me to be in the Championship because it is an honour to represent New Zealand and I’m lucky to get the opportunity to drive against the best in Australasia,” O’Reilly said.

Morrison echoed those sentiments.

“It’s a privilege to represent your country and to get to drive against the best young drivers going around, I’m really looking forward to it,” he said.

The series kicks off tomorrow night at Addington with one heat of racing before heading out to Methven on Sunday where they will compete in two races.

It will be a new experience for many of the Australian visitors with grass track racing limited back home.

The group of 12 will then head north next week for two days of racing from Manawatu before the final night of the series is held under the bright lights at Alexandra Park on Inter Dominion Grand Final night next Friday night.

Both Mid Canterbury locals have strong drives to start the series, with O’Reilly likely to drive the favourite, One Over Da Son, in tomorrow night’s opening heat at the Addington round, while Morrison is on the handy Justan’s Sister.

By Matt Markham © The Ashburton Guardian - 5 December 2019