Well known Parkes man Craig Dumesny has been elected president of the Western Districts Harness Racing Association.
Another well known trotting identity, Bill Palmer, after three years as president, stood aside at the association's annual meeting with Craigt coming on board.
Danny Dwyer - the CEO of the Bathurst Harness Racing Club - is back for another term as secretary/treasurer and Bill Palmer (Parkes) - will remain an integral part of the WDHRA as he was voted in as a patron of the association - along with Eric Hando (Peak Hill), Brian Cunningham (Parkes), Neville Pellow (Forbes) and Alec Newbigging (Peak Hill).
The vice-presidents are David Wrigley from Dubbo, Wayne Rosser (Peak Hill) and Frank McRae (Orange).
Bill Palmer has continued his race calling at Western District's non-TAB race meetings (including a number of races held as part of the annual Eugowra Canola Cup.
During his three years of tenure as president Bill oversaw the securing of Level One status at Bathurst for six months of the racing season; the strengthening of the alliance between TAB clubs in the region; the development and launch of the WDHRA website (www.wdhra.com.au) and continuation of harness racing in the district during the outbreak of Equine Influenza.
Dumesny wishes to continue building upon these achievements and with his harness racing background, it does certainly seem possible.
He comes from the Dumesny harness racing family of Parkes and has been involved since a child with the family's stud - Ruby Vale Stud at Alectown.
His industry experience at club level was through his involvement at Parkes for some 30 years, having held the position of club president for three years, and club secretary for as many years.
Dumesny said he has a number of agenda items he wishes to work on during his term as president.
"The continuation of improved relations between Bathurst Parkes and Dubbo clubs is important, whilst including non-
TAB clubs," he said.
"We need to have improved business relations between clubs in the area - TAB and non-TAB alike, and this will ensure the viability and prosperity of the harness racing industry not just in the region but for the state.
"One such example of this being the $50,000 Carnival of Cups bonus on offer through Parkes and Bathurst, with the inclusion of Riverina club Young.
"Without such improved relations and communications between clubs, this would never have happened in the past and we want to see this to continue."
Dumesny also said he was delighted to have Danny Dwyer back as the secretary.
"Danny is a very hard worker for the industry and has strong views on fairness for all clubs within the district which is quite a different attitude to other past administrators," he said.
In his term as president Dumesny said the would like to see the introduction of district awards and premierships and the continuation of moves for Bathurst becoming a Western Districts 'principal' club via Level One status (all year round) and the re-development of the track at Bathurst (to capacity size).
The WDHRA is made up of TAB clubs at Bathurst, Dubbo and Parkes and non-TAB clubs Peak Hill, Orange, Forbes, Eugowra, Cowra, Blayney and Broken Hill.
The election of Dumesny as president continues a long line of top administrators the WDHRA has had over the years. These include Doug Morris and Chris Edwards from Dubbo, Robert Gorrie (Peak Hill), Bill Ward and Roy Lees (Parkes) and Doug Moore, Jim Dent and Maurice Martens from Forbes.
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