By MICHAEL GUERIN
Despondent champion junior driver Mark Jones is considering turning his back on New Zealand harness racing.
The 21-year-old's incredible season - in which he has shattered the national record for wins by a junior driver - has been marred by confirmation he will lose his junior licence at the end of this season.
Jones has only been driving for four years yet was advised by Harness Racing New Zealand this week he will be an open horseman from August.
The decision has him considering a move to Australia where he would be a junior until he turned 25.
Jones, fellow star southern driver Blair Orange and Terry Chmiel will also lose their junior licences at the end of this season, even though Jones and Orange have only been driving four years. The trio are the leading junior drivers in New Zealand this season.
"Basically we are losing our junior status because we have had too many wins but that is penalising us for being successful," said Jones.
"It makes me wonder why I have tried so hard this season, flying and driving all over the country. If I hadn't worked so hard maybe I would have got another season."
Junior drivers are licensed for four years and are eligible for additional years providing they have driven less than 50 winners.
"But that 50 win rule is rubbish. Does that mean we shouldn't be trying to win so many races so we can stay juniors.
"If I move to Australia I can still drive in every junior drivers' race until I am 25 years old."
Jones, who has driven 80 winners this season, says the decision to end his junior driving career is another example of how poorly young drivers are treated.
"In galloping apprentices get four years with the option to sign up for another and they get an allowance to help them get rides.
"And in Australia junior drivers get concessions which allow horses they drive to drop back a class. But here we get virtually nothing."
HRNZ boss Edward Rennell said both Jones and Orange could reapply for their junior licence but are unlikely to be successful because they had passed the set standards.
"Both Mark and Blair are exceptional cases because they have clearly outdriven their 50 wins within four years," said Rennell.
"But I acknowledge losing them will leave a bit of a hole in the Canterbury junior driving ranks."
A danger of the rule is a reduction in the junior driving standards.
Inexperienced Canterbury junior drivers will now be honing their skills against other mainly inexperienced drivers rather than professionals like Jones who are up to the standard required in open races.
Clubs are also likely to suffer from the decision without name drivers for punters to follow.
"I don't see how anybody wins with this rule and it makes me wonder if I wouldn't be better off in Australia where I can take advantage of their system and then maybe return when I am 25," Jones said.
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