Ladies Swamp Lithgow For National Breast Cancer
| by Max Laybutt | 31 January 2014 |
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On the Australia Day weekend a big group of our top female go kart racers and their many support people from every state in Australia, descended on the Combined Districts Kart Club's Lithgow facility to contest what is now a declared AKA national event and the right to carry a pink number plate on their kart racing anywhere in Australia for the following year.
- Full results are on AKA CMS HERE
The meeting is run to raise funds to support the National Breast Cancer Fund, and with the approval of that organisation it carries the name of THE NATIONAL BREAT CANCER LADIES ONLY RACE MEETING.
This year’s event raised $35,590.90 to support the cause which is extremely important to all the ladies that participated in the event. This amount, when added to previous year's achievements, will take the total amount provided to the fund to more than $150,000.
Money was raised from a very special princess competition where a number of our club's young girls worked hard to raise funds in an effort to become crowned as this year’s Ladies Race Princess. Kiara Beatie was declared the eventual winner by raising the most funds, from a dedicated group of hard working young girls.
Added to a rather large sum that the Western Australian girls had worked hard to achieve, an amount scored from a rather spirited auction of many donated items was added to the total. Our very own resident and local club member auctioneer Craig Harradine added to the night of merriment, the likes of which has never before been seen by the gathered Saturday Night Dinner Crowd.
And the Food! A previous Pink Plate winner, and CDKC Club Member, Amanda Abbott, with her accomplice Zac, both 1st year apprentice Chefs, provided a meal that was second to none, and appreciated by all those who attended.
The Australian Karting Association provided the event with National status last year, and as such the event is now recognised as the only Karting event in Australia, and possibly the world, as the only karting event specifically designated and organised for ladies-only drivers and officials.
The lady officials, under the direction of Chief Steward Marta Laybutt, Clerk of the Course Anne Doran, and race secretary Diane Kermond, supported by some very experienced state officials, always had control of the meeting and were complimented for their congenial attitude without giving in to any “Off” driving. It was obvious from the start that if you wanted to “play the game fair” then the officials were there to assist, however if you strayed...??
While the ladies entrants and their male pit crews came from every state of Australia it really was a very special effort by the group from Port Hedland (yes Port Hedland,Western Australia!). They made the long trip across our great continent (more than 5000km) to contest a range of classes and the journey provided some enormous logistical and personal challenges which they were all prepared to make so that not only could they enjoy the event but supply their support for the benefactor of this event, The National Breast Cancer Fund.
Not to be outdone, ladies from Cairns, Toowoomba, and many other clubs in Queensland, were joined by girls from South Australia, Victoria, all of whom were well prepared to take on some of the best of our home bred New South Wales Girls. In all, just a HUGE and tremendous effort by all those who travelled some huge distances and came to support this event.
We really did miss the Tasmanian contingent and sincerely hope they can put together another challenge for next year.
This event has just grown in entrant numbers each and every year, and now sees a good number of ladies in all the classes. But in particular they have taken on some of our sports really premier 125 classes. In previous years the Big Bore classes lacked entrants, but this year no less than 8 entrants contested the Open class with 10 ladies backing them up in the 125 Restricted class.
Tessa Underwood, (CDKRC) from Queensland led home Jamie-Lee Scorgie, (Canberra) and local club member Tyra Maranik (CDKC NSW) in the 125 Open Class, while from Victoria, Jaymi Mackay (Shamick Racing) led home Donnelle Waldon (Waldon Floor & Wall Tiling) from Queensland, and Vanessa Wainwright (Port Hedland Kart Parts) from Western Australia in the 125 Restricted Class.
Always one of our very “Toughest” classes, be it just ladies, our any club open meeting, is the Clubman Class, and at this meeting the class certainly provided one of the largest fields, and they really did supply some of the very best racing that I have seen anywhere. Our own CDKC Member Sarah Collins, had to work very hard to score the win and keep Alexandra Whitley (Toowoomba) and Katherine Wilson (NSW) behind her in the Final. And a special mention to Courtney Becker (CDKC NSW) who was with them all day in the heats but tried just that little too hard in the final and after a 360 spin spent the majority of the race watching proceedings from the sideline.
And who said the “J” was dead??? Anyone silly enough to suggest this motor is heading for the scrap heap has very little understanding of the amount of support it has right across this country, and the Ladies, and Junior Ladies well and truly proved that by providing the biggest numbers and closest racing in all the divisions.
In the Junior National Classes, all the way from South Australia, Holly Marquis was just too good in both the Light & Heavy Divisions, and left the others to fill the minor placings. Light Division Charlotte Pointing (CDKC) and Eryn Osborne (Lismore) were 2nd and 3rd, while Ellexandra Best (Albury Vic.) and Brianna Wilson (CDKC) made the minor placings in the Heavy Division.
The Senior Nationals, and in particular the BIG Field of Lights, provided some of the closest and best racing seen at any meeting, however local experience proved to win out in the end. With knowledge of the Lithgow Track and conditions allowed Sarah Collins (CDKC) to lead home Tyra Maranik (CDKC) and Alexandra Lawrence (CDKC). It is Interesting to note that this class had entries from every state in Australia, which again proves the worth of that magical “J” motor to our sport.
The Senior Heavy Division, saw a Queensland regular to this event, Alexandra Whitley (IKC, TMBA) score the win from Ashlee Beck (Esp WA) and Trisha Farmilo (CDKC).
And then our beloved Cadets and Rookies. In the Cadets there were 3 states represented on the final podium, CDKC regular Paige Raddatz (NSW) scored the win from Jacinta Hoey (QLD) and Sophie Sloan (WA) Then in Rookies from Eastern Lions club, Courtney Prince (VIC) kept a very improved Sharnay Seal (NSW) and experienced campaigner Cloe Cosis (NSW) behind her in the final.
It is many years now since one of our great lady drivers Nicole Franks, was killed in an unfortunate karting accident, and it is very much appreciated that her family has chosen to support this All Lady event by supplying the major trophy for the most successful entrant of the meeting. A point score system defines the winner and it ensures a truly deserving person receives the award each year.
This year the hard charging Sarah Collins (CDKC NSW) was the deserved winner and the emotions that flowed during the presentation by Russell Grimson who presented the trophy and Sarah herself when she received it demonstrated just how much this award is revered.
In all a very successful, well run event that will continue to grow, and provide our lady drivers with their very own competition. It is assured continued support and will always fill a very special place in our Australian Karting calendar.
