Team Teal pushes past $4000

The annual Team Teal fund-raiser in this country has passed $4000, and it’s just getting started.

At least $2710 has been added in the past week, with eleven wins by female drivers around the country, and a Trade Me auction of trotting annuals fetching more than $800.

Southland identity Art Bloxham offered the complete set of annuals (24 books) and a copy of the History of the New Zealand Trotting Cup signed by the author Bernie Wood.

“There are not many full sets around so I thought why not?” he said last week.

“It’s such a worthy cause.”

The auction was on behalf of the Riverton Trotting Club who held their Cup day on Saturday. It closed at 5pm Saturday, with winner “Wayne” from Invercargill the successful purchaser at $810.

It was a good week for three of Team Teal ambassadors, with Ellie Barron having three winners (Feelthejoy – Riverton, and Supersede and Mimi E Coco – Cambridge), Crystal Hackett two (Pacing Hope and Son Of Patrick – Cambridge), and Kirstin Barclay one (Tisbury Rocks – Riverton).

The other drivers, wearing their Teal pants, to have winners in the past week were Natalie Rasmussen (True Fantasy – Auckland and Bollinger – Addington), Amber Lethaby (Meghan – Addington), Sheree Tomlinson (Break Out – Riverton), and Olivia Thornley (Onedin Miki – Addington).

For every win by a female driver in this country, for six weeks in February and March, money is raised for ovarian cancer research through contributions by Harness Racing New Zealand, Woodlands Stud, clubs and individual sponsors.

Two weeks into this campaign there have been 18 wins so far, and a total of around $4300. Team Teal is also flourishing in Australia, where it was set up by well-known industry figure Duncan McPherson.

This week’s racing is at Manawatu (Tuesday and Thursday), Auckland and Addington (Friday), Rangiora (Saturday) and Gore (Sunday).

Because of Covid restrictions collections on-course are limited at best, so there is an alternative way for people to donate to the cause.

They can do so here