MARK Gwynne makes two separate sporting trips to Tamworth over the next three days looking for success on the football and racing arenas.
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Gwynne is the coach of East Armidale Football Club and will spearhead their Northern Inland Football Premier League season start against North Companions at Marius Street today.
On Monday he returns to Tamworth with unraced gelding Redechi, who makes his debut in the $15,000 Tamworth City Toyota Colts, Gelding and Entires Maiden Handicap (1200m).
Gwynne has a trainer’s licence and is also the owner of the six-year-old son of Get Square.
He did trial at Tamworth on March 31 when he was beaten 7.4lens by Jefferson Park.
“He’s drawn well (5) but might need a bit of luck,” Gwynne said.
“He can gallop.”
Gwynne bought him at a Magic Millions sale five years ago.
“He was real stunted foal. We kept tipping him out waiting for him to grow.
“He has filled out now into a nice horse.”
Redechi’s dam, Best Of Babylon, is a good producer too.
“She’s had 10 foals, nine of them have won and five have won Listed races,” he said.
Greg Ryan will ride the gelding on Monday but of more immediate concern is his East Armidale first grade side and its start to the 2015 NIF Premier League season.
East plays North Companions at Marius Street in Tamworth today and, while Redechi makes his racing debut Monday, Gwynne makes his first grade coaching debut for East today.
“It’s my first year as coach,” he confirmed.
“I’ve played at East all my life and have my two sons playing there.”
24-year-old Nathan Gywnne and 17-year-old Mitchell Gwynne are both in the East backline.
“I was a striker,” Mark laughed, “so they didn’t get it off me.”
Like Redechi, the East Armidale side is a work in progress, a young side Gywnne is hoping to mould into a premiership threat, maybe not this year but maybe next.
“They are all kids,” he said.
“The oldest player we have is 28 and the rest are all early 20s or in their teens.
“It should be a good game against North Companions because it looks like Gavin Thompson has a young side too and trying to get them to gel together as well.”
Gwynne said the likes of Naran Singh and goal-scoring striker Jake Davies were developing quickly.
“Jake was the Golden Boot last year,” he said of the PL first grade’s leading goalscorer.
“But he’s been a bit off this year so far. A bit of work and he’ll bounce back.”
While East Armidale travels to Tamworth to play North Companions, fellow Armidale side Demon Knights are also in Tamworth playing Tamworth FC at Johnson Field this afternoon.
North Armidale United heads to Moree, South Armidale travels to Gunnedah to play Gunnedah United at Wolseley Park and Namoi United is at home on Hogan Oval to Inverell’s Joeys FC.
All first grade games are timed for a 3pm start.
* PL clubs should remember if they wish coverage to phone, fax or email (67681234, fax 67667631 geoff.newling@fairfaxmedia.com.au) results and reports to The Leader by 7pm on Saturday game days.