Junior drivers found for October's championships

The 12 "finalists" have been chosen for the McMillan Equine Feeds New Zealand Junior Drivers' Championships at Cambridge and Addington next month, and it includes two sets of siblings.

The lucky dozen were selected after Sunday's meeting at Oamaru.

Since January 1, 2024 junior drivers have earned points for every race they have competed in, with the criteria for selection being :

The top four points-scorers in Canterbury for the year

Sam Thornley
Wilson House
Carter Dalgety
Olivia Thornley

The top three in the North Island

Crystal Hackett
Zev Meredith
Monika Ranger

The top two South of the Waitaki

Kerryn Tomlinson
Max Hill

The next two top points-scorers (nationally)

Riley Harrison
Emily Johnson

The wildcard selected by HRNZ Chief Executive Brad Steele : Seth Hill

Seth and Max Hill are brothers, while Sam and Olivia Thornley are also siblings.

Sarah O'Reilly, who's since graduated to the open driving ranks, won the championships four of five years, including three in a row from 2021-23, while Kerryn Tomlinson was the winner in 2020.

The winner of this year's championships will automatically qualify for the Australasian Young Drivers' Championships later in the year if eligible.