Young Swedish-born driver Marika Eriksson has triumphed in the Harness Racing Training Centre Central Victorian Concession Drivers Series following a second place finish in the fourth and final heat of the series, which was held at the Charlton at Maryborough meeting yesterday.
Entering the final heat in second place, Eriksson needed only a top five finish to accumulate sufficient points for victory, which was achieved with relative ease via her second placing aboard the David Aiken-trained Irish Grit.
Eriksson finished with 32 points from her winning drive in the Wedderburn heat and her second places in both the Maryborough and Charlton heats. Second place was Michelle Phillips on 28 points, who was unfortunately unable to drive in the final race due to suspension, with Sam Barker third on 25 points.
Eriksson received the HRTCB Central Victorian Concession Drivers Championship Trophy, as well as a $500 cash prize from series sponsor, the Harness Racing Training Centre Bendigo.
Gordon-based trainer Basil Dooley also took home the $1500 Random Cash Draw, which was available to all trainers who provided horses for the concession races across the four-race series, again courtesy of the Harness Racing Training Centre Bendigo.
HRTCB 2019 CENTRAL VICTORIAN CONCESSION DRIVERS SERIES FINAL STANDINGS:
Marika Eriksson 32
Michelle Phillips 28
Sam Barker 25
Ashley Hart 21
Shannon O’Sullivan 17
Paddy Lee 15
Tayla French 14
Abbey Turnbull 13
Tommy Hill 13
Jason Ainsworth 12
Connor Ronan 10
Mitchell Frost 7
Maddie Ray 7
Jayden Barker 7
Mitchell Barker 6
Bec Wardlaw 6
Ian Attard 4
