GOOD support from Collie trainers helped the Williams Harness Racing Club run a small five-event program for its New Year’s Day holiday meeting.

Local pacers dominated the final event when $3.90 chance Storm Proof, trained by Karen Wallrodt and driven by husband Leo, proved too good for the opposition despite racing wide. Errol Ashcroft-trained pacers filled the next two places with the Joanne Potter driven Kinki Village finishing second and Class and Ahalf driven by Errol third.

Storm Proof finished third at Harvey on December 27, behind pacers Hy Royale and Ruby Dazzler. The tough nine-year-old is raced by the Wallrodts in partnership with their sons Luke and Cody.

Other stable runners Kapow (second) and Johnny Diamond (third) also helped give them a good start to 2009.

Debbie Ashcroft was rewarded for her training efforts when consistent gelding Average Joe, driven by her husband Errol, led throughout to win his race and there was extra satisfaction because she races him with father–in-law George Ashcroft.

Stablemate Annie Dee May, driven by her daughter Joanne Potter, ran third in the previous event and the Davie Hunter trained and driven Heza Trojan was narrowly beaten in the opening race.

The Dennis Morton-trained Copper Dream followed his unlucky Pinjarra fourth on December 29 with a fast finishing Narrogin fourth on Saturday night.

I Am Jag resumed after a break to run fifth in the same race for Bokal trainer Tracey Reed and stablemate Fox Street ran a great second at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Just Jace, brilliantly driven by Byford trainer Jeff Wegner, impressively chalked up his fifth career win in the final race at Narrogin. This horse is raced by Wegner in partnership with local farmers Ivan and Merv Wunnenberg.

Tomorrow night’s Gloucester Park meeting will be highlighted by the $250,000 Stallion Station Fremantle Pacing Cup shown live nationwide by Sky Channel. A Busselton meeting will be held on the same night. An interesting Bunbury race on Saturday night will be the event for three year olds. Many runners are being prepared for the 2009 Hankook Tyres South-West Council Derby at the track on February 7.

Other meetings for local trainers to consider are Pinjarra Monday afternoon and the Harvey meeting Tuesday night, highlighted by the $20,000 Harvey Fresh Italian Cup.