Starting this weekend, Southland is cranking up its fund-raising efforts for Team Teal, with one generous donor giving up his wages during the six-week campaign.
Art Bloxham, the crash vehicle driver at most southern meetings, says it’s just an idea that popped into his head while he was reading an article on Teal Team ambassador Sam Ottley. Now in its fourth year in this country Teal Pants is all about raising awareness and funds for ovarian cancer research.
“I have three daughters and two grand-daughters, this is a great cause,” he said, adding “there will be six meetings – so it will be worth about $1000 – $1200.”
Bloxham is a well-known figure in harness racing. He has a long association with the sport after starting out in the 1960s (his grandfather owned and trained champion racemare Stella Frost in the 1960s and 70s).
Every Teal Pants win in Southland will be worth $200 to the cause. All the southern clubs racing over the next six weeks will donate $100 for every win by a female Teal pants driver, with Southern Harness contributing the same.
Mark Hurrell who drives at all Southern Meetings will also be wearing a teal cap and has pledged to donate from every winning drive he records over the campaign.
Winton is the first club off the rank this Sunday, followed by Riverton (Saturday Feb 13), Winton again on Saturday Feb 21, then Invercargill (Feb 24), Riverton (March 4) and finally Northern Southland on Saturday March 13, a day before the campaign concludes. The Robin Dundee Club will be focusing on raising funds for the campaign at the Northern Southland Meeting.
The Riverton Trotting Club will run a ‘Teal Wheel’ at their 60th anniversary meeting on February 13. This is a wheel full of prizes, with tickets available at $5 each. The prizes will be drawn on the day by Southern Teal Ambassador Ellie Barron.
At Riverton’s meeting on March 4 it will also be Art Bloxham’s 72nd birthday, where he’ll be donating his fee to Teal Pants.
“And I challenge all crash crews to follow suit.”
