by Kathy Wade Vlaar, manager of industry marketing, Standardbred Canada

Charlottetown, PEI — Standardbred Canada is pleased to announce that harness racing driver Gilles Barrieau, 43, of Saint John, New Brunswick, will represent Canada at the 2007 World Driving Championship to be held in New Zealand and Australia after winning the inaugural National Driving Championship at Charlottetown Driving Park Entertainment Centre on Thursday night, August 9. Eight of Canada’s finest drivers earned their way to the National Driving Championship by finishing first or second in their regional event.

Standardbred Canada photo

Gilles Barrieau was all smiles after winning Canada’s National Driving Championship.

After eight races of competition, Barrieau, winner of the O’Brien Award of Horsemanship in 2005 and winner of the Atlantic regional driving event, emerged with 64 points, just three points ahead of Mario Baillargeon of Ontario.

He reached the top of the leader board after winning the fifth leg of the competition, and sat tied with hometown favorite Paul MacKenzie with 39 points. Barrieau maintained a lead over the other seven drivers in the next two legs, and went into the final leg with 59 points. MacKenzie was close on his heels with 50 points, and Ontario’s Baillargeon followed closely with 46.

“This is just phenomenal! I didn’t start well and the next thing you know I was on top,” explained a choked up Barrieau.

A crowd of approximately 2,000 fans, including a busload of 40 who made a special trip to the island province from New Brunswick, showered Barrieau with best wishes and congratulations after the competition.

“I was confident going into the last leg but my horse didn’t race well and I had to work hard to get fourth. When Mario crossed the wire first I wasn’t sure if I had won (the competition) or not.”

Barrieau is enjoying a solid 2007 campaign, winning 120 races and over C$184,000 in purse money to date.

The World Driving Championship, which is held every two years, features competition at five different tracks in New Zealand and Australia from November 1 to 9.

The last Canadian to win a World Driving Championship was Jody Jamieson when he won the 2001 title in Finland.

A victory for Gilles Barrieau in this year’s event would guarantee him an invitation to defend his title in 2009 when Norway hosts the World Trotting Conference and World Driving Championship.

The final standings for the inaugural National Driving Championship are as follows:

Gilles Barrieau (Atlantic Region) – 64
Mario Baillargeon (Ontario Region) – 61
Paul MacKenzie (Ontario) – 52
Gaetan Lamy (Quebec) – 49
Scott Knight (Western Region) – 45
Denis St Pierre (Quebec) – 40
Bill Tainsh, Jr. (Western Region) – 38
Walter Cheverie (Atlantic Region) – 27