Golding gets juniors’ crown
A trying season for Stevie Golding will finish with a deserving championship crown.
The 25-year-old, in his final days in the junior ranks has come from behind to win the New Zealand junior drivers’ championships at Addington on Friday night.
Twelve months ago Golding was locked in a battle with Robbie Close for the national juniors’ premiership – a contest that ended in a tie.
But with just 19 wins this season, Golding’s final year as a junior, has not reached those dizzy heights with Brad Williamson a runaway premiership leader on 70 wins.
‘‘It’s a good achievement to get in the series, I was happy to just be in it,’’ Golding said.
Golding, who described the championship win as ‘‘a massive thrill’’ felt the series looked even on paper but admits he was happy with his three drives when the fields came out.
‘‘Obviously I didn’t think I could just go out there and win it but I did like the look of what I had.’’
One of the biggest thrills for Golding was knowing that his name would be up with the illustrious list of drivers who have gone to prominent careers in the industry after winning the championship.
The win was fitting for Golding who lost his final chance to win the Darren DeFilippi Memorial when Donsmedad was a late scratching when she injured herself in the float on the way to the track.
Golding is currently studying real estate papers for another career option but will continue to drive as much as possible next season.
Just like in 2014, the third heat ended in heartbreak for Dylan Ferguson.
Ferguson won heat two with with $65 shot Eja Patron for Russley trainer Brad Mowbray and a second in the opening heat with The Silver Fox put him in the box seat.
Going into the final heat he lead with 29 points, as he did in 2014, but could only manage 11th place with Sauchiehall to finish on 31 points.
At the other end of the field, Golding and the Benny Hilltrained Pay Me Way was able to win the final heat to move Golding from 17 to 34 points.
Ferguson’s 31 points was enough to hold onto second and Darren DeFilippi Memorial winner Katie Cox took out third with 27 points.