Team Teal 2023
FEBRUARY 1st TO MARCH 15th 2023
Team Teal female drivers will race to raise awareness and much-needed funds for ovarian cancer research.
What is Team Teal?
The WomenCan Team Teal campaign is a partnership with the harness racing industry in Australia and New Zealand. The industry’s advocacy and support of Team Teal is a significant contributor to fundraising for women with ovarian cancer.
The harness racing industry is proud of the contribution made by reinswomen and industry sponsors as it is one of the few sports with a balanced representation of women and men. This makes the support of ANZGOG’s research, improving life for women with gynaecological cancer, very relevant.
Across six weeks in February and March, all reinswomen race in teal pants to raise awareness and much-needed funds for ovarian cancer research when they cross the finish line first.
Funds raised support the Research Nurse Grant Program and the Survivors Teaching Students Program.
Team Teal History
The Team Teal campaign was created by Duncan McPherson OAM who lost his wife Lyn to ovarian cancer in 2010. In failing health, Lyn and her family began fundraising for ovarian cancer research and nurses supporting women in the research units, an initiative that Duncan McPherson connected with his passion for harness racing, co-founding Team Teal with fellow owners and trainers, Michael Taranto and Jim Connolly.
The campaign expanded from Victoria to New South Wales in 2016, to all Australian states in 2017 and internationally to New Zealand in 2018.
The vision of Team Teal is to continue to expand our efforts in raising awareness and much-needed funds for ovarian cancer Research Nurses and Survivors Teaching Students – Saving Women’s Lives.
Supporting Team Teal
Here are some ways the harness racing community in New Zealand gets involved:
- HRNZ donates $100 every time a female driver crosses the line first.
- All our clubs with meetings during the campaign donate every time a female driver crosses the line first at their race meetings.
- Our Ambassadors and some of our lady drivers have their own sponsors
- Clubs hold Team Teal events at their race meetings to raise awareness and much-needed funds.
- Industry participants very kindly donate some of their earnings.
- Racegoers purchasing teal merchandise and giving donations.
For any further information on Team Teal or to donate to the cause please contact Courtney at HRNZ [email protected] or 027 636 4355
Our ambassadors
- Alicia Harrison
Sponsored by: Ange's Beauty Room, Stonewall Stud, Holmes and Co, McClenaghan Logistics
- Crystal Hackett
Sponsored by: Ange's Beauty Room, Pinebrook Racing Stables, Josh Whittaker Equine Dentist, Downey Livestock
- Sam Ottley
Sponsored by: Tania Moore, Andy Didham Farrier, Swain Racing Stables, Shard Farm Standardbreds, Brian Smith, Mark Booth
- Kirstin Green
Sponsored by: Regent Car Court, Ryal Bush Transport, Wintin Night N Day, Hyde Landscaping, Glenburn Farm, Macca Lodge
- Gemma Thornley
Sponsored by: Dominator Access Systems, Butts Family, Anne Marie & Jack Best, Start Afresh Ltd, Nevele R Stud, Donna Williamson, Graham Consulting, Brian Smith, Mark Booth
Events
You are able to donate to Team Teal at every meeting during the Campaign, you can also buy merchandise at some of the meetings. Please ask at the Secretary's Office or contact Courtney on 0276364355
The Robin Dundee Club Auction
More info here: Team-Teal-Auction-Release-22-Feb-23.pdf
10th March - Westport
Spot prizes for wearing teal
Two Ladies Only Races as part of the West Coast Challenge
'Wear Teal and Win' - 3x $100 cash prizes to be won for just wearing teal on course
Two Ladies Only Races as part of the West Coast Challenge

Final day of the campaign - 'Timaru Team Teal Challenge' - more to come