Harness Racing Victoria presented the Essendon Football Club with a cheque for $17,630.15 from the earnings of their pacing duo Windyhillbomber and Spy Catcher. Kevin Sheedy was on hand at Windy Hill to accept the cheque from Windyhillbomber, the pacer whose stable name is 'Sheedy', and his regular driver, four-time Australian premiership winner Chris Elford. ""Taking last season's efforts into account, both the Windy Hill and Melton Social Clubs will have donated in excess of $25,000 to the local community within two years as a direct result of this initiative. That is a figure we are very proud of,"" Essendon chairman Graeme McMahon said.

Windyhillbomber

In a season hampered by setbacks, the Jayne Davis-trained and Essendon Football Club and Community Sporting Club-raced, Windyhillbomber, started nine times for two wins and three placings, in the process amassing $6273.23 for charity.

Fellow three-year-old, Spy Catcher, was a new addition for the Melton Country Club in March and after taking time to find her feet for trainer Bruce Morgan she finished with a wet sail posting five wins and five placings from 18 starts to earn $11,356.92 for charity.

""The Bombers Harness Syndicate has proved to be an excellent initiative for both ourselves and Harness Racing Victoria, providing not only value added membership for Essendon supporters, but importantly helping charities within the local community,""