"And the winner is" - Joseph Coulter award winning photo taken by Jodie Hallows
The Harness Racing Australia (HRA) 'Joseph Coulter' Media Awards have been awarded to journalists, contributors and producers of harness industry media since 1976 in recognition of literary excellence, promotion and significant achievement.
HRA is pleased to announce the 2014/15 "Joseph Coulter" awards in the following categories:
BEST NEWS STORY
It's Dexter - By The Length Of The Straight
Dexter Dunn gave New Zealand another win in the World Driving Championship when he blitzed a top class field of international drivers in the series staged in Australia in February - and Michael Court captured the achievement in his usual informative and entertaining style in Harness Racing Weekly on March 5, 2015.
BEST FEATURE ARTICLE
"Building an empire"
An interesting feature on the harness racing journey of major owner/breeder Pat Driscoll, written by Amanda Rando and published in the National Trotguide on July 2, 2015.
HIGHLY COMMENDED
"Irish chasing Aussie pot of gold"
An excellent piece by Paul Courts on the bid by the Flanagan family to win the Inter Dominion with Ireland's best pacer, Meadowbranch DJ, published in Harnessnews on August 15, 2015.
BEST REGIONAL STORY
“Harnessing the track to success”
Entertaining and informative story by Chalpat Sonti on Avenel trainer David Aiken, published in the Seymour Telegraph on October 1, 2014.
HIGHLY COMMENDED
“Old mates horse about”
Gregor Mactaggart’s interesting story on octogenarian trainers Eddie Walsh and Leo Newbound, published in the Shepparton News on March 20, 2015.
BEST HISTORICAL FEATURE
“Three breeders enter history books”
A well researched and documented feature on three breeders who each produced champion pacers - and their coincidental connection through a historic harness race meeting at Bendigo. Written by Max Agnew and published in the Spring 2015 edition of Track Bred.
BEST PUBLISHED ACTION OR STILL PHOTOGRAPH
Jodie Hallows "And the winner is ..."
The excitement of a tight finish is captured in this photograph of Bettor Reward and Justin Prentice winning a four way charge to the finish of the Westbred 3yo Colts & Geldings Classic final at Gloucester Park on July 3, 2015. The photograph, by Jodie Hallows, was published in the July/August Racing Ahead magazine.
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Amanda Rando "Simply the best"
A photograph of Lauren Panella driving Perfectly Written at Tabcorp Park Menangle, becoming the youngest person in Australia to drive 500 winners. Amanda Rando's photograph was published in National Trotguide on February 19, 2015
BEST BOOK
“The view from the clouds” provides a fascinating look at harness racing from one of Australia’s premier racecallers, John Hunt. A “must read” for any harness racing fan, the book – released in November 2014 – focuses on a select group of legendary champions that passed beneath the broadcast box at Gloucester Park from the early 1970s to the present time.
BEST RADIO FEATURE TO AIR
"Tim Tetrick interview on RadioTAB"
An entertaining and incisive interview by Chris Barsby with ace reinsman Tim Tetrick when he was in Australia to represent the USA in the World Driving Championship. The interview was aired on Mobile Rolling on RadioTAB on February 17, 2015.
BEST TELEVISION/VIDEO/FILM FEATURE TO AIR
"Joy Ride - JJ the horse proving to be a winner with disabled children"
A heartwarming story on the new life of JJ, the favourite horse of the late Danielle Lewis, bringing joy to the lives of children in the Riding for the Disabled program in Victoria. Channel Nine News in Melbourne ran the story, by reporter Tony Jones, on August 11 2015.
HIGHLY COMMENDED
"Maitland Floods" (wmv mp4)
The devastating affects of natural disasters are starkly illustrated in this coverage of the floods in the Maitland area of NSW, presented on Trots TV by Greg Hayes in April 2015.
AWARD OF MERIT FOR DEMONSTRATED EXCELLENCE IN PROMOTION
The team from Trots TV, operated by Harness Racing NSW, for their outstanding coverage and promotion of the World Driving Championship in February/March 2015.
wmv files: Day 2 Day 3 Day 5 Day 6 Day 7 Day 8
mp4 files: Day 2 Day 3 Day 5 Day 6 Day 7 Day 8
HIGHLY COMMENDED
"Harness Racing - Getting Back to the Grass Roots"
Under the guidance of Queensland's Racing Operations Manager, David Aldred, harness racing returned in the past season to venues and regions where it had been missing for many years, notably grass tracks in suburban Brisbane and country centres and the show circuit.
AWARD OF MERIT FOR DEMONSTRATED EXCELLENCE IN SOCIAL MEDIA USAGE & INNOVATION
Warragul Harness Racing Club (facebook)
The Warragul club's Facebook page attracts plenty of interest with over 4,000 followers and the club also makes effective use of Twitter and uploads material to YouTube.
