Selwyn Times: October 07, 2020

• By Jonny Turner
DRIVER Samantha Ottley
pulled off a miraculous win
with Bonnie Boy after being
jolted out of her sulky and going
within millimetres of crashing to
Forbury Park track on Thursday
night.
Ottley was facing the prospect
of being thrown out of her cart
and amongst a line of oncoming
horses when a tightening of runners
racing in to the first bend
started to flip her cart sideways.
As her disaster approached, the
Canterbury reinswoman hoped
she would somehow be able to
avoid what would have been an
ugly and terrifying scene.
Ottley got her wish, but admitted
she had no idea quite what
saved her.
“I don’t really know how I got
back in, it happens quick,” she
said.
“I am sore on my side, so I
must have really strained to get
back in. But let’s just say I am
really pleased that I did.”
After avoiding catastrophe,
winning race 4 was not at the
forefront of Ottley’s mind.
Instead, she was calming her
nerves, which had just been fully
tested.
“At the time I got back in the
cart and around the first bend I
was taking some deep breathes
and thought okay, I’m safe now.”
Once Ottley and Bonnie Boy
composed themselves it was not
long before they were heading
around the field to take the lead
from the favourites To Ri Caitlin
and Mark Hurrell.
Though it did not seem like the
front was there for the taking, a
fired up Bonnie Boy soon made
sure it was
“The front wasn’t really there,
but the horse latched on and I got
up next to Mark,” Ottley said.
“I was hoping he would get a
neck in front and then start to
relax.
“But the horse had other ideas.
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
Win after near crash
MIRACLE: Sam Ottley brings Bonnie Boy back to the
Forbury Park birdcage after a win on Thursday night.
“He has won his other two
races in front, so he does love it
out there bowling along.”
A home straight battle loomed
for Bonnie Boy as he turned the
corner with the To Ri Caitlin
ready to come off his back and
pounce.
But the 7yr-old dug deep to
pull off the most incredible of
comeback victories.
Bonnie Boy is trained by
Anne-Marie Best, who is in the
process of moving her stables
from Fairhall, near Blenheim, to
Canterbury.
Harness Racing News
SPORT 17
Prize-giving ceremony
for Springston bowlers
SPRINGSTON Indoor Bowling
Club members have celebrated
the end of the season at its prizegiving.
After a disrupted season
because of Covid-19 restrictions,
30 members and their partners
gathered on September 29 for
a trophy giving ceremony at
the Springston Hotel and were
treated to a country-style meal.
Neville and Marie Lancaster
took home six of the 12 club
trophies presented.
Some members were also presented
with the club’s signature
bowling balls.
Neville Benny, a life member
and club captain, kept the club
in-house competitions going
this year and club membership
increased after the lockdown
ended.
Club president Alan Paton
congratulated the trophy
winners for their ability and
all members for their regular
attendance, their friendly spirit
when playing bowls and making
new members feel welcome.
Paton said the club is in excellent
heart to start next season.
Earnings from the hotel’s
gaming machines go to Pub
Charity, which provides grants
to the bowling club.
Full list of winners
Mixed singles – Neville
Lancaster
Wednesday October 7 2020 Selwyn Times
CELEBRATION: (Left to
right) – Neville Lancaster,
Alan Paton and Neville
Benny at the Springston
Indoor Bowling Club prizegiving
on September 29. ​
Ladies singles – Margaret
Woods
Men’s singles – Graeme Blair
Pairs – Neville and Marie
Lancaster
Husband and wife pairs –
Neville and Marie Lancaster
Mixed pairs – Bill Pickering
and Marie Lancaster
Triples – G Blair M England B
Allport
Fours – G Blair G Cate M
Woods G Daniels
Novice singles – Barry Allport
Progressive pairs – Marie
Lancaster
Ladies aggregate – Margaret
Woods
Men’s aggregate – Neville
Lancaster
•More sport, pages 21 & 23
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