She was both delighted and surprised by the honour. 

Monique, who is just 17, is a stable hand for Josh Turnbull. Her work includes gearing up the horses and fast work on the track.

She also helps with breaking in a lot of the yearlings around the district.

Next year she will attend university in Wagga, where she will study equine science. 

Monique got her trial licence for harness racing last year. 

“Hopefully it won’t be long until I’m out on the track,” she said.

“As Miss Gold Crown I will be acting as a harness racing ambassador, and I will be out doing the hard yards on the track as well.

“I don’t want to drive full-time because I have to concentrate on my uni work, but I have always wanted to have a crack at it.” 

Monique said she gained her love of horses from her dad John Ryan and grandfather Mark Ryan, who bred and owned harness racing horses, and local driver and trainer Bernie Hewitt.

“I loved going out and spending time with the horses and just fell in love with it,” she said.

When she was still at school at MacKillop College, she got a job working on weekends with trainer and driver Ashlee Siejka.

After graduating she went to work for Steve Turnbull and, later, Josh Turnbull. 

She said there was a lot of friendly rivalry during the Miss Gold Crown competition because McKayler Barnes from Steve’s stable was also a contestant. 

Monique wanted to thank her employers Josh Turnbull and Peter Crennan for their support throughout the competition.

She said she really enjoyed acting as an ambassador throughout the Gold Crown Carnival and is looking forward to continuing that role over the next 12 months.

Georgie Townsend was named runner-up in the Miss Gold Crown competition. 

Eight entrants this year vied for the honour of Miss Gold Crown. 

A panel of four judged the competition.