GILGANDRA'S Andrew Schier has taken on the role as chairman of the Western Racing Association.
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At the annual meeting held at Coonamble last Friday, Schier stepped up from being vice-president during the previous season, while the former chairman Michael Kennedy from Come-By-Chance stays on the executive as vice-president.
The association is fortunate to have a wealth of experienced racing administrators on the executive including Roy Matthews from Baradine.
The committee is made up of Rebecca McKay (Warren), Douglas Egan (Narromine), Phillip Skuthorp (Coonamble), Stewart Rodgers (Coonabarabran), Tim Kemp (Binnaway), Don Le Leivre (Louth) and Peter O'Connor (Gulargambone).
Anne Hall from Gilgandra is the secretary.
Schier said all his WRA clubs were 'travelling well and had no financial problems,' which augers well for the future of racing in the western area.
"I believe our crowds at race meetings are improving and with all the work that Michael Kennedy did last season as chairman and through his position as a WRA delegate at the Country Racing board meetings, we are keeping up to date on what is happening in the industry," Schier said.
"We are, however, keeping our focus on the issue of television rights which will mean more money for our clubs."
The strength of the association are the TAB clubs with Narromine now well and truly entrenched as a major club and Coonabarabran (2) and Gilgandra (1) also enjoying major meeting status.
"Obviously we would like a few more TAB meetings," Schier said.
"Coonamble and Coonabarabran are traditional race clubs and both underdone in regards to TAB meetings.
"This year we have also picked up an extra meeting for Warren with Mudgee having earlier been granted a special day to coincide with the Country City Origin rugby league weekend.
"This means Warren will race on December 14 (next Friday) and again on the 30th so we're looking forward to good fields on both occasions."