TEENAGE Tamworth driver Tom Ison is headed to another Rising Star series.
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Ison took part in last year’s series and has been selected to take part again along with the likes of Brad Elder and James Harding, who both regularly drive at Tamworth.
Harding and Elder are the two Hunter representatives while Ison is the lone North West representative for a series beginning June 2.
To be eligible for the series, drivers must be under 23 and can’t compete in more than two series unless they are returning as the defending champion.
They must have also driven fewer than 100 winners in the current season.
The drivers selected for this year’s NSW Rising Stars have been announced, with the cream of the up and coming talent in NSW competing over a series of heats run throughout the state.
The drivers will gather at the offices of HRNSW on Monday June 20 before competing in a 10-heat series at Young, Bathurst, Penrith, Newcastle and Tabcorp Park Menangle.
The competing drivers are: Ellen Rixon (Metropolitan), Martelle Maguire (Metropolitan), Ellen Bartley (South West & Riverina), Jason Grimson (South West & Riverina), Mitch Turnbull (Western Districts), Tom Pay (Western Districts), James Harding (Hunter), Brad Elder (Hunter), Tom Ison (North West) with a Western Australian representative still to be announced.
The Rising Stars gives junior drivers from all parts of the state the chance to spend a week together building friendships while enjoying the competition on the track,Harness Racing NSW chief executive officer John Dumesny said.
“As a group they will meet with chairman of stewards Graham Loch for an information session and will also undertake some media training with media manager Greg Hayes,” he said of the June 20 start.
“The Rising Stars will also get the opportunity to attend a game of football and will be attending the second day of the HRNSW Conference on Saturday, June 25 before competing at Tabcorp Park, Menangle on Alabar Breeders Challenge Day the following day.”
Dumesny congratulated all of the selected drivers and wished them the best of luck.
“When you look back at this series over the years, so many of our top drivers in New South Wales competed in this series at some stage,” Dumesny said.
“It also gives these young drivers a chance to meet one another and build friendships that will last a lifetime.
“A lot of planning goes into the Rising Stars series and I am sure they will enjoy all of the activities that have been scheduled.
“I would like to make special mention of Jack Trainor, last year’s Rising Stars winner, who has decided to relinquish his spot this year to allow another driver to compete.
“Jack has competed in 2014 and 2015 and would like to see another junior driver given the opportunity to compete in this series in his place.”
Tamworth Harness Racing Club races this Thursday with a big eight-race TAB program highlighted by the Droughtbreaker Final.