Jamieson To Represent Canada

With four wins and a pair of runner-up performances, driver Jody Jamieson topped the point standings to win the 2011 National Driving Championship

on Saturday, May 7 at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at Charlottetown Driving Park and will represent Canada in the World Driving Championship this summer.

Jamieson, the 2001 World Driving Champion, took the lead in the point standings early on with a pair of second-place finishes aboard Distinctiv Lewy and Unfluffnbelievable in the first two legs of the eight-race competition. The 34-year-old resident of Moffat, Ont. then followed up those close performances with four consecutive victories to extend his lead in the standings.

Jamieson sent Joshs Deal three-wide past the third quarter mark and opened up nine and a half lengths en route to his first win of the day in the third leg. He then sent Courtside to command from third at the half-mile mark and cruised to a two length victory in the fourth leg. Jamieson and Pan Cushion cleared the lead at the quarter pole in the next leg and kicked away to score by six and a half lengths. Jamieson picked up his fourth consecutive victory in the sixth leg aboard Howdidchado, who went three-deep down the backstretch and kicked away to score by five and a half lengths.

Jamieson finished eighth in the final two legs of the competition but his four-win performance earned him enough points to secure his spot atop the standings at the finish line. Atlantic Canada representatives Gilles Barrieau and Kenny Arsenault finished second and third respectively. Barrieau picked up two wins and Arsenault earned one victory. Western Canada representative Brandon Campbell also picked up one victory.

“I couldn’t be happier,” said Jamieson during the winner’s presentation. “Honestly, when I first signed the contract to represent Woodbine at the regionals my goal was to win the whole thing. To be lucky enough to win the regionals and win the National Driving Championship, I’m so thrilled there is only one more thing to win and that’s the World Driving Championship. I’m really pumped about it. I can’t wait.”

Jamieson will represent Canada in the 2011 World Driving Championship hosted by the United States Trotting Association from July 31 to August 5. The 20-heat tournament will feature one driver from 10 countries including Jamieson, the reigning World Driving Champion Birger Jørgensen of Denmark, Enrico Bellei of Italy, Michael Nimczyk of Germany, Björn Goop of Sweden, Franck Nivard of France, Juan Antonio Riera-Rosello of Spain, Chris Lewis of Australia, Dexter Dunn of New Zealand and Jason Bartlett of the United States.

The point totals at the conclusion of the competition are as follows.

Rank – Driver (Region) – Points
1. Jody Jamieson (Ontario) - 81
2. Gilles Barrieau (Atlantic Canada) - 57
3. Kenny Arsenault (Atlantic Canada) - 51
4. Mario Charron (Quebec)- 40
5. Dave Hudon (Western Canada) - 38
6. Sylvain Lacaille (Quebec) - 37
7. Brandon Campbell (Western Canada) - 35
8. Trevor Henry (Ontario) - 34

For results from Saturday's harness racing card, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Charlottetown Driving Park.

For more information on the NDC, click here.