Westport TC 26 December 2021 – R3 – Alana Cameron
ID: RIB6643
Animal Name:
Maximilian
Code:
Harness
Race Date:
26/12/2021
Race Club:
Westport Trotting Club
Race Location:
Westport Racecourse - 15 Derby Street, Westport, 7825
Race Number:
R3
Hearing Date:
26/12/2021
Hearing Location:
Westport TC
Outcome: Proved
Penalty: Junior Driver, Ms Cameron is suspended for 3 days.
Summary of Facts:
Following the running of Race 3, the Respondent, Ms A Cameron admitted a breach of Whip Rule 869(2). The particulars of the charge are that she used more than a wrist flicking motion in the home straight. Ms Cameron was assisted at the hearing by Mr May.
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.
Stipendiary Steward, Mr Williams used available video footage to demonstrate Ms Cameron using more than a wrist flicking motion in the home straight.
In response, the Respondent advised the Adjudicative Committee that she accepted she had used more than a wrist flicking motion but they were not forceful strikes.
Decision:
The charge is admitted and therefore proved.
Submission For Penalty:
Mr Williams produced Ms Cameron’s record which indicated she had a recent relevant breach of this Rule.
Mr Williams said that Stewards assessed the breach to be in the mid-range and submitted that it be dealt with by way of 3 day suspension.
The Respondent agreed that it could be categorised as mid-range and accepted that a suspension would be considered given her recent non-compliance.
Ms Cameron submitted that if a suspension is proposed a deferment is sought to enable her to drive up until 30 December 2021.
Reasons For Penalty:
After consideration of the evidence from all parties concerned and viewing the video footage of the concluding stages of the Race the Adjudicative Committee assessed the breach as mid-range.
A medium-level breach is defined as when a driver inadvertently reverts to the old style (freehand, loose reining and/or more than a flicking motion) and continues to drive in this manner for some distance (50 metres) before taking corrective steps to return to a compliant style of driving.
Given this is Ms Cameron’s second breach in close proximity a suspension is appropriate.
Having considered all factors, the Adjudicative Committee deemed a three day suspension to be an appropriate penalty.
Conclusion:
The Respondent is suspended from driving for three days.
The Respondent is granted a deferment and is suspended for a period of 3 days commencing after the close of racing on 30 December 2022. The days to be included are as follows:
- 1 January 2022 at Rangiora
- 4 January 2022 at Roxburgh
- 6 January 2022 at Cromwell
Decision Date: 26/12/2021
Publish Date: 28/12/2021