Methven TC 30 November 2025 – R1 (heard 14 December 2025) – Alana Cameron

Summary of Facts:

This was an adjourned hearing held at the Rangiora Harness Racing meeting on Sunday 14 December 2025.

Following the running of Race 1, the Respondent Junior Driver Alana Cameron admitted a breach of Whip Rule 869(2).  The particulars of the charge are that when driving MOTOR MOUTH, she used her whip with more than a wrist flicking motion in the run home. 

Rule 869 provides that:

(2) No driver shall during any race use a whip in a manner in contravention of the Use of the Whip Regulations made by the Board.

The Whip and Rein Regulations provide:

3.1     A driver may only apply the whip in a wrist only flicking motion whilst holding a rein in each hand with the tip of the whip pointed forward in an action which does not engage the shoulder.

Miss Cameron waived her right to be assisted at the hearing by an Open Driver.

Stipendiary Steward Matt Sole used available video footage to demonstrate the breach. He pointed out Miss Cameron driving MOTOR MOUTH racing in the one-one, as the field turned for home. Mr Sole showed that Miss Cameron drew her whip and used it on 5-6 occasions, with more than a wrist flicking motion, between the turn for home and the 100m. Mr Sole stated that Miss Cameron reverted back to a compliant use of the whip, from the 100m.

Miss Cameron stated that she thought her whip action complied and it was because of her high arm position, which makes her whip action use look worse.

Decision:

The charge is admitted and therefore proved.

Submissions for Penalty:

Mr Sole produced the Respondent’s record, which indicated a prior breach at Banks Peninsula on 23 November 2025, where she received a 2 day suspension for a mid range breach, of using her whip with more than a wrist flicking motion. He added that Miss Cameron had driven on 26 occasions so far his season, with 77 drives in total last season.

He said that Stewards assessed the breach to be low to mid-level. Mr Sole stated that the Penalty Guide provided a 4 day suspension for a 2nd breach, mid level offence under this Rule and submitted that a 2-3 day suspension be considered as penalty.

Miss Cameron elected to make no submissions in regard to penalty, apart from requesting that any suspension begin as soon as possible.

Reasons for Penalty:

After consideration of the evidence from all parties concerned and viewing the race films of the concluding stages of the race, the Adjudicative Committee assessed the breach as low to mid-level.

The Penalty Guide provides a 4-day suspension starting point for a second breach of this Rule, for a mid-level offence.

After taking all factors into consideration, including Miss Cameron’s status as a Junior Driver and with the level of the offence being determined as low to mid range, it was deemed a 3 day suspension was an appropriate penalty in this case.

Miss Cameron is therefore suspended for a period of 3 days.

Conclusion:

The Respondent is suspended for a period of 3 days commencing after racing today, Sunday 14 December 2025, up to and including 26 December 2025. Relevant race days encompassed in this period of suspension are Methven – 18 December, Ashburton – 21 December and Westport – 26 December 2025.