Broadways Best - by Gary Wild - 2011 Joseph Coulter Award Winner for Best Action or Still Photograph
Harness Racing Australia (HRA) today announced the HRA Media Award winners for the 2010/2011 season.
Among the winners was Max Agnew who completed a remarkable trifecta of wins in the Best Book section, a category he has made his own as this is his seventh overall title in this category, and Gary Wild who collected his third best photograph title.
The closure of Harold Park during the year provided plenty of scope for media coverage and promotion, and the New South Wales Harness Racing Club (NSWHRC) capitalised with success in four of the nine awards categories.
HRA Chairman, Geoff Want, paid tribute to all award nominees, “This was a particularly strong year for nominations and I thank all harness racing media and contributors for their efforts in continuing to promote harness racing and the wonderful stories within.”
Two new awards will be added next year, with the establishment of Best Regional News Story and Most Innovative Social Media Initiative categories.
The full list of award winners follows:
BEST NEWS STORY OF THE YEAR
Chris Roots for “Records Requested As Scandal Widens”, an extensive report on the investigation into alleged swabbing irregularities in New South Wales, published in the Sydney Morning Herald on August 10, 2011.
BEST FEATURE STORY
Amanda Rando for “Thanks For The Memories”, a nostalgic look at the career of the amazing Blacks A Fake, following his retirement in July 2011. The feature was published in National Trotguide on August 4, 2011.
BEST HISTORICAL FEATURE
New South Wales Harness Racing Club for “Farewell to the Park”, a comprehensive and well compiled tribute to the iconic Sydney harness racing venue, Harold Park, on the eve of the final meeting at the track. The feature was published in National Trotguide on December 16, 2010, and was compiled by contributors Andrew Georgiou, Amanda Rando, the late Bob Cain, Harry Pearce, Bill Ellis and Marshall Dobson.
BEST ACTION OR STILL PHOTOGRAPH
Gary Wild for an outstanding action shot of champion mare Broadways Best in full flight on her way to winning the Westburn Grant FFA at Tabcorp Park Melton. The photograph was published in Harness Racing Weekly, May 5, 2011.
Highly Commended
Stuart McCormick for a photograph of three trotters from the Chris Lang stable working out, which captures much of the essence of harness racing away from the limelight of the track on race day. The photograph was published in the Herald Sun, July 22, 2011
BEST BOOK
Max Agnew is a prolific and accomplished author who has produced another fine book with “Nags To Riches”, which chronicles the life stories of “…five great harness racing heroes”. Published in October 2010, “Nags To Riches” is both entertaining and extremely informative.
Highly Commended
Ron Groves for “The American Standardbred”, claimed to be the world’s first e-book with chapters covering standardbred sirelines from all eras, as well as champion racehorses, for North America, Australia and New Zealand.
BEST FEATURE - RADIO
Chris Barsby for his “Mobile Rollin” program on Radio TAB on August 8, 2011. The program featured an interview with expatriate Australian trainer Noel Daley, following his victory with Broad Bahn in North America’s richest trotting race, the Hambeltonian, at the Meadowlands in New Jersey.
BEST FEATURE – TELEVISION/VIDEO/FILM
“The Ribbon Of Light”, a lengthy but compelling DVD which chronicles the history of Harold Park. Presented by the NSW Harness Racing Club to mark the closure of the famous Sydney track, “The Ribbon Of Light” was produced by Graham McNeice and written and narrated by Sam Nati.
AWARD OF MERIT – MOST INNOVATIVE INTERNET INITIATIVE
Trots TV, launched by Harness Racing New South Wales in June 2011. Conceived as a means of providing participants and supporters with a better coverage of harness racing, Trots TV has become immensely popular. The trotstv.com.au web site has full race replays, coverage of trials, industry interviews and information.
AWARD OF MERIT – EXCELLENCE IN PROMOTION
NSW Harness Racing Club for the promotion of the “Farewell to the Park” meeting at Harold Park on December 17, 2010.
