Extra ‘practice’ for Joanne

Press, 18 July 1978, Page 23

Extra ‘practice’ for Joanne

PA Timaru Joanne Hale, of Christchurch. was forced to make two attempts before she became the first New Zealand woman to ride in a totalisator race at Waimate on Saturday. Mrs Hale, aged 28. partnered Caramea Lad in the Studho'.me Hurdles and the event got away to a sensational start when the field' was sent from the barrier with Good Nip still walking] around behind the stalls. A false start was declared and the field recalled but] not before they had jumped the first flight. However Joanne w r as not: unsettled by the unusual start to her career as a jockey. *‘L was glad of the practice,”: she said afterwards. Once the race was under; way Caramea Lad. which! was the twelfth favourite ini a field of 15. drifted to thei rear and was last on sett!-1 ing. He remained in the rear: group before finishing on a; little in the straight to claim ninth place. “I loved it. It was much] better than I thought it) would be.” Mrs Hale said: after her historic ride. Sue Day. from Christ-

church, and Joanne Lamond, from Oamaru, also made their riding debuts at the Waimate and the latter distinguished herself by finishing fourth on Nigel Francis in a division of the Willowbridge Maiden. Nigel Francis was handily placed on the fence and fought on well in the straight, allowing Lamond to become the first New Zealand woman to weigh in. Sue Day and Big Money were always well back in the same race and finished tenth in a field of 16. At Trentham, a few minutes after Miss Hale’s historic ride in the south, a tiny blonde youngster strode determinedly into the mud of the birdcage. Apprentice jockey No. 264 sprang lightly on to a big chestnut and even though the result wasn't a win or even a place, Awapuni lass Vivienne Kaye was not the least worried by her secondlast placing on Cullinan“It was just ; eat to be out there.” she said beaming. “It felt real good." Vivienne, in the Kaye family colour-, received an ovation as she mounted her horse and got another rousing cheer when she rode down in the preliminary. Later in the day Vivienne

[managed to pick up another■ [ride in the last race — andli jthis time finished last. L ! But she was still smil-1; jing at the end of the day. I;

i “I’m just glad the first one lis over,” she laughed. “Now all the fuss is over, I can |get on with learning to be i a good jockey.”