Tamworth reinswoman Jemma Coney has only been competing in the world of harness racing for two seasons and was thrilled when she was awarded the under-23 Junior Drivers Award at last year's Tamworth HRC Awards night.
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"That was a really big thing for me," Coney said.
"It was my first year of racing."
With the harness racing season now calculated from January 1 to December 31, Coney is currently sitting second on the NSW State Leading Female Drivers Premiership, behind Bathurst's Amanda Turnbull.
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At Tamworth, Coney is "powering along" on the Paceway and up there in several premierships, including the Multiquip Drivers Premiership where she is sitting equal third with partner Blake Hughes on 12 points. (Tom Ison is leading on 22 points).
"I should move ahead of Blake now as he is locked down in Newcastle," she said.
"He went back home for a spell just before the lockdown but things are working out for him as he is getting plenty of drives and winners at the moment."
(With racing now regionalised, Blake Hughes will remain in Newcastle and cannot compete at Tamworth until the lockdown is lifted).
With just over three months before the season end, Coney is hoping the winners will continue to come her way, as she is currently leading the Johns Auto Service Local Female Drivers Premiership .
"I won that last year as well. I think I have got a good margin (she leads by 69 points) and I think it is great that we have a local female drivers' premiership, so thanks to the sponsors," she said.
She is also the proud owner of Watchful Lady who is currently leading in the Sauers Glass Owners Premiership on 40 points just over Andy Ison on 37 points, along with leading the KTR Standardbred Stud Horse of the Year, just over My Kinda Justus.
My Kinda Justus is raced by Joy Missen and her son Daniel Missen of 88.9FM.
The premiership is a mirror image for Watchful Lady in the Peter & Dianne McNamara Local Horse of the Year and the Peter Jackson Mare of the Year.
"She (Watchful Lady) is not far ahead of the other local horses but she deserves to be sitting where she is, she is a nice horse," added Coney of the He's Watching-My Silky Sand mare.
But wait there is more!
Coney is currently sitting second on the Peter & Shirley Hillam under-23 Junior Drivers Premiership and is looking to make it back-to-back wins.
After graduating from the mini-trots Coney is certainly enjoying her time in the big league.
"I have had the right drives and the right sort of horses and now this regional racing has turned it into only racing horses in your own areas, it is good," she said.
Coney along with her father Greg - who is currently leading the Hygain Trainers Premiership - have found that they have been "flat out" especially with sister Madi Young locked out in Queensland.
"Madi went up to work for Rikki Alchin in Queensland and has had to stay up there but she has driven quite a few winners, including a Saturday night Albion Park winner which gives her a Metro win," she said.
"Dad and I have 15 horses in work between us," added Coney with the 19-year-old also working as a Support Worker for Challenge, which she enjoys.
