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Collectively they have served 70 years as directors of the Bathurst Harness Racing Club and yesterday Western District stalwarts John Brien and Ray Mawhood were honoured for their services.

Both Brien and Mawhood were recipients of Harness Racing Australia’s Meritorious Service Award.

Harness Racing New South Wales Chairman Rod Smith, who is also HRA’s Deputy Chairman, said “it is well deserved”.

“John and Ray are both two very well deserving people who have contributed so much towards a sport they love,” said Smith.

“They are honoured at the highest level, nationally.

“It is my humbling pleasure to be able to present these awards to them on behalf of Harness Racing Australia.”

Brien, a prominent businessman in Oberon, held a trainer and driver licence in the early 1980s, was an approved mobile starter and also bred and raced his own horses.

One of those horses was the talented Edgar Tatlow Memorial winner Smooth Dixie which he raced with Mawhood.

Brien has dedicated 42 years as a director of the BHRC and is subsequently a life member of that club.

And so is Mawhood who devoted 25 of his years as a director of the BHRC and was a director of that club when the Gold Crown commenced in 1987.

He still races horses including last Saturday’s Temora Cup winner Saloon Passage which has now pocketed $257,650 in stakes.

Mawhood donated money to the BHRC, to help fund the building of a Memorabilia Room.