by John Manzi with Joe Lee for NAADA
Never
before did the international amateur driving competition mantra mean more than
it did on the first day of the Friendship Competition between the visiting
North American Amateur Drivers Association and the local New Zealand amateurs.
According
to the international amateur driver’s mantra, ‘it’s not of the utmost
importance who wins or loses; it’s just that amateur racing is a great vehicle
for human relations’ certainly rang true after the first of three races in the
competition has been completed.
The
NAADA team of Joe Lee, Peter Kleinhans, Gerry Fielding and Dave Offenberg were
drubbed by the local amateurs in the first event of the three race competition.
That
being said, here is Joe Lee’s first-hand account of Thursday’s competition race
at Addington, NZ.
“Last
night was our first race. There were 13 horses in the contest and I was on the
10-horse which was starting at the beginning of the second tier. I got
away a little further back than I would have liked and didn't find room to
shake loose until the passing lane in the mile and a quarter event and although
my horse passed quite a few others we still end-up sixth.
“Gerry
Fielding sat on the outside the entire race which is common here and even was
up toward the lead a good portion of the race after leaving from the eight-
hole. But the distance took its toll and Gerry finished 10th.
“Peter
Kleinhans was in a favorable spot sitting with cover behind the favorite who
eventually won the race but Peter’s horse, Stylish Babe, didn't last behind the
cover and faded and finished 11th.
“Dave
Offenberg got caught three-wide at the start of the race from an outside post
and wasn't able to settle in for a bit and eventually tired and finished ninth.
“We
didn’t do much good but it was a great experience and definitely a different
style of racing here.
Lee
also offered the following;
