Menu
Menu
By Darren Clayton
2025 was another great season for Gary Hall Jnr, driving 173 winners in Western Australia to bounce back atop the State Premiership and secure a tenth state title.
Included in the haul were wins in the Nullarbor and Fremantle Cup aboard Mister Smartee and a remarkable 21st consecutive century season.
Amidst the success, a close second on either side of the Tasman at each end of the year, where, if results favoured him just marginally, could have seen Junior crowned both the Ladbrokes Ultimate Driver Champion and the World Drivers Champion.
Team driver for the Gloucester Park Gurus in the inaugural UDC, Hall Jnr was consistent throughout the series to maintain second place, 25 points astern of winner Angus Garrard and, nine points in front of third placed Pete McMullen.
Night one helped the tally for Hall Jnr, landing two wins and three second placings, entering night two in second place on the leaderboard.
Despite a solitary win on night two, the consistency across both nights was enough for the Gurus and Junior to hold second place.
In what might be a case of unfinished business, the syndicate from the west will return this year and have kept Hall Jnr as their driver.
Oli Cownie is one member of the Gloucester Park Gurus syndicate that is keen to get back to Albion Park in the hope of going one better in 2026.
“I’ve been looking forward to getting back for another shot at it all yar,” Cownie said.
“It looks like we will have 15 or 16 supporters in our team, it should be a fantastic cheer squad.”
Cownie and Matt ‘Big Cat’ Leppard will once again be doing all the form and spearheading the GP Gurus selections in the driver draft.
The pair were responsible for all the selections at the 2025 draft and had undertaken a number of in-depth conversations prior to arriving at Albion Park on draft day.
“If anything, maybe we were overprepared, but the selections come around so quick, so it worked well that we were ready on what horse we should take next.
“We have discussed tweaking our approach from last year, but it did seem to work well, so I don’t think we need to change too much.
“Just with the short time gap, we just want to find an efficient way to do it.”
While Hall Jnr may appear relaxed and jovial off the track, as soon as he crosses onto the racing surface, the game face appears, the competitive streak rises and he loves nothing more than winning.
“He loves these types of driver series, he is just so competitive,” Cownie said of Hall Jnr.
“Gary wasn’t there for the draft last year, but I’m pretty sure he might just arrive in time this year with his flight leaving Perth early Wednesday morning.
“But he is not worried about the draft, he is just there for the social side of the day.”
So does that put more pressure on Cownie and Leppard to get the draft picks right?
“There is a heap of pressure, and I think some teams that are returning might change how they approach draft day this year.
“We didn’t know what to expect last year, but this year makes it different.”
There is no denying that the Gurus will leave no stone unturned as they look to go one better in 2026.
So, who plays the biggest role in the pursuit of victory.
As Cownie explains, Junior makes it clear who that responsibility falls upon.
“If we win it will be because of my driving, if we lose it will be because you picked the wrong horse”.
Let the tactical challenge begin.
© Copyright 2026 The Creek | Albion Park Harness Racing Club. All Rights Reserved. Website by Maer Group.