by Chris Wittstruck

In the first leg of the Friendship competition in Venezia, Italy, the late entry from Canada emerged successful.

The Amateur Harness competition, sponsored Italian National Amateur Drivers Association, was sandwiched in between the gala festivities celebrating the 150th year of Italian Independence and marked by a party along the majestic grand canal in Venice on Saturday evening. Thirteen countries sent representatives to compete at the Ippodromo Sant’Artemio – Treviso, including Russia, Serbia, Spain, Holland, USA, Belgium, Austria, Germany, Sweden , the Ukraine, Switzerland, our host country, Italy and, oh yes, Canada.

Sherwin Edwards represented Canada in the first leg of the Friendship competition in Italy.

Until two weeks ago, Canada was without a representative to the prestigious celebration of Italian independence. Then, one Sherwin ‘Smiley’ Edwards emerged to fill the spot requested by the FEDERNAT (Italian National Amateur Club) headed by Cesarean Mele. Edwards was recommended to Mele by North American Amateur Driver Association (NADDA) President Joe Faraldo, who headed to Venice representing the United States.

Italy had their best in the game, in the form of Mario De Luca, the 2010 Championed d’Italia. In Treviso they score seven across, so there were six horses in the second tier. The speed appeared to be Joe Farado’s Marine ATC leaving from post five. The Canadian was dead set on tracking the speed horse with his Mount Imbo. When the gate sprung, Faraldo was first to the top, parking the Spaniard, with Canadian Edwards getting away third. They went that away around the historic five-eights mile track until one hundred meters before the finish, when Faraldo’s mount started to tire. Blasting along the outside was the Italian Champion. The fate of the race looked sealed until the crafty Canadian faked a tip to the outside and split horses to drive to victory between USA and Italia.

The Italian champion was dumbfounded with the Canadian’s move, as he gazed to the right and wondered where the Canadian had gone. As the Canadian crossed the wire, he was overcome with emotion. Out of the bike, his wife Manon gave him the biggest hug and kiss of his lifetime. Edwards said that, “If it were not for the help of Standardbred Canada I would not have been able to make the trip. I promise to help create a renaissance for the amateur movement in Canada upon my return.”

Sunday is the final leg and Sherwin Edwards drives the two horse, Luz Again, as he looks to turn a doubleheader.