CLICK HERE TO GO BACK

JAMES H WILLIAMS - NZMTC President

The graduate of Christ's College and city lawyer and sportsman came to trotting through cricket and tennis and rose to be the president of the Metropolitan Trotting Club for over a decade. But it was in other areas perhaps where he made most impression.

He was the president of the New Zealand Trotting Association for many years during which time the body also acted as the JCA does today, holding all the hearings on cases involving controversy and corruption in the sport.

In the Williams era there were a number including the sensational Bryce case which resulted at one stage in eight of the Board members resigning over an appeal decision by a Trotting Conference panel. Williams was the ninth. The contentious U Scott case of 1038 involving the game's biggest owner, John McKenzie was another notable affair.



Credit: David McCarthy writing in Harnessed Aug 2016

Mr Victor Harris died early this morning, after a short but painful illness. The deceased gentleman had been intimately associated with the turf since the early eighties, and more particularly with trotting. He was for nine years president of the Lancaster Park Trotting Association previous to the amalgamation of that body, in 1899, with the Canterbury Trotting Club. After the establishment of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club Mr. Harris was its president for several years. Mr Harris was initiated into the Canterbury Masonic Lodge some twenty years ago, and has for a great number of years been in business m Christchurch, where he was well respected by a largeo circle of friends. Mr Harris, who was in his forty fourth year, leaves a wife, a grown-up son and a daughter. The funeral will take place to-morrow afternoon.


Credit: Star 17 Dec 1908

CHARLES LOUISSON - NZMTC President

Members of the Jewish community featured strongly in trotting's early days when Charles Louisson, along with Phineas Selig were standout performers though rivalled by Victor Harris the first president of the Met and a brother-in-law of Charles Louisson. Later was to come more Louissons and Dr Pezaro. Both Selig and Louisson were distinguished men outside of racing and gave it standing in the community just it needed it most.

Louisson, a self-made colonist who developed the Crown Brewery (amalgamated into NZ Breweries who later used the site on Antigua St for many years) was the biggest "name" trotting had attracted, being a former Mayor of Christchurch and a leading figure in medical affairs.

It was he who first presented an actual trophy for the New Zealand Cup(a metre high Cup made in England) combined with a record stake when he was president in 1914. He presented a cup each year from then until his death in 1924 aged 82. He had been president of the Met for 17 years. He was also on the Legislative Council, then the Upper House of Parliament.

Addington never thrived better than in the Louisson years. His brother, Alf, owned the 1929 Melbourne Cup winner, Nightmarch.

Credit: David McCarthy writing in Harnessed Aug 2016

The first President of the Club was Mr G H McHaffie. He was elected to the Office following an alteration to the Rules passed at special meeting of the Club held on 9th August, 1903 which made provision for the election of a President, Honorary Treasurer and Committee of nine.

Prior to this date a Committee had been elected and they had appointed their Chairman. In late 1894 Mr V Harris was elected Chairman of the Lancaster Park Amateur Trotting Club, a position he retained until the Club became the NZMTC. He relinquished the Chairmanship in 1903. He was an enthusiastic worker for the Club when the spade work was being done in the transfer to Addington.

In 1903 Mr G H McHaffie was appointed Chairman of the NZMTC and in 1904 became the first elected President. He retained Office until his death at the end of 1905. Mr McHaffie was a great enthusiast and one of the most far seeing Officials the Club had had up until that time. Following his death the Honorable Charles Louisson was elected President, an Office he held for 18 years. His term as President covered the period when great changes were made in enlarging the Addington grounds, erecting buildings and establishing the format for what we know today. One of his greatest services to the Club was the annual presentation for many years of a Cup which was presented to the owner of the winner of the New Zealand Cup Handicap. His name was perpetuated on the inside Public Stand foundation stone which he laid on 10th February 1910. His son, Dr M G Louisson, was a Committeeman and Steward of the Club for many years and was Vice-President from 1945 to 1948.

On the death of the Honorable Charles Louisson, Mr J H Williams was elected President, an Office he held for 16 years, during which time he rendered great service to the Club. As well as being President of the NZMTC he was President of the NZ Trotting Association for 14 years and a member of the 1921 Racing Commission. Following the death of Mr J H Williams in 1940, Mr F E Graham, who had been Vice-President since 1935 let his name go forward for election as President. He was opposed by Mr A L Matson who was successful at the ballot being elected President in 1940. Mr Matson brought youth and vigour to the position and put in a tremendous amount of work in re-organising the Club and bringing it increased popularity. As well as being President of the Club he was appointed to the Executive of the NZ Trotting Conference in 1941 and was President in 1948, a position he held until 1955. At the Club’s 1946 AGM he was elected an Honorary Life Member and in 1955, following his retirement from the Presidency of the NZ Trotting Conference, both the Canterbury Park and New Brighton Trotting Clubs elected him an Honorary Life Member in recognition of his services to Trotting. Mr Matson was the first person to be elected an Honorary Life Member of the three Clubs. Mr Matson’s son, Mr H D Matson was a Steward and Committeeman of the Club. Mr A L Matson was elected a Steward of the Club in 1929 and a Committeeman in 1937. Following his term as President he was elected Honorary Treasurer of the Club, an Office he held until 1952.

Mr C S Thomas was elected to fill a Steward’s vacancy by the Committee in August 1935 but his resignation as a Steward was received by the Committee at its following meeting.

Mr Thomas was elected to the Committee in 1938 and when Mr Matson was elected President he was elected to the Office of Vice-President in a ballot against the Honorable W Hayward, a Committeeman of long standing. Mr Thomas held the position until 1945 when he was elected President. He remained in Office until 1952 when he was elected Treasurer, an Office he held until 1970. Mr Thomas was a strong President and under his regime the standard of administration and the running of the Club was strengthened. He was a controversial figure and he stood by his principles, proof of which was born out in 1953 when he was a member of the Programme Committee. He could not support the changes that the other members of the Programme Committee proposed for the Cup Meeting in 1953 which included a reduction in the number of two mile races and the introduction of a 7 furlong race in the programme. Mr Thomas resigned from the Programme Committee. He was to the forefront of tree-planting projects at Addington and a number of magnificent trees are the result of his influence. Mr Thomas was President of the NZ Trotting Conference from 1957 to 1961 and played a prominent part in the introduction and establishment of the Totalisator Agency Board of which he became Chairman. He was a member of the Gaming Commission which investigated the establishment of an Off-Course betting system and involved him and other members of the Commission in a great deal of traveling throughout the country in the course of their enquiries.

The President following Mr Thomas was Mr C E Hoy who had a long association with Trotting in all phases. Mr Hoy was elected a Steward of the Club in 1939, a Committeeman in 1940, Vice-President in 1948 and President in 1952, an Office he retained for four years. Mr Hoy was a member of the Grounds Committee as a representative of the NZMTC from 1940 and when the Addington Trotting Course Ltd was established he was one of the Club’s original Directors, the other two being Mr D McCormick and Mr J Palmer. Mr Hoy was the first Chairman of Directors of Addington Trotting Course Ltd, filling the position on five different occasions. Mr Hoy was a member of the Executive of the NZ Trotting Conference from 1961 to 1965 and from 1965 to 1970 was Treasurer of the Conference. He resigned as an Official of the “Met” in 1973. During Mr Hoy’s Presidency the Club was honoured by the visit of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, this being the first occasion on which a reigning Monarch had attended a Trotting Meeting in New Zealand. This was a tremendous challenge to Mr Hoy and his Committee and reports of the Meeting expressed the opinion that it was an unqualified success and, and as many said, in true “Met” standard.

During Mr Hoy’s Presidency, Mr W M Ollivier was his Vice-President and in 1956 was elected President, an Office he held until 1960. He was elected a Steward in 1942 and a Committeeman in 1943. Mr Ollivier was a member of the NZ Trotting Association from 1943 until 1948 when he was elected Vice-President, a position he held until the Association ceased to operate in 1950 when its functions were taken over by the NZ Trotting Conference. Mr Ollivier was a member of the Conference Executive during its initial year. Mr Ollivier’s father, Mr C M Ollivier was associated with the NZMTC for many years and served as Vice-President from 1924 to 1935 under the Presidency of Mr J H Williams.

The eight President of the Club was Mr J K Davidson. He was elected an Honorary Steward in 1945 and a Steward of the Club in the following year. Mr Davidson was unique in that he did not serve as an elected Committeeman until after his term as Immediate Past President. He was elected Vice-President in 1956 and served in that position until 1960 when he was elected President of the Club, an office he held until 1965. During his term of Office major changes took place at Addington. On Show Day 1961 prior to the running of the last race, which was delayed for approximately half an hour, the main inside Public Grandstand which was built in 1910 was destroyed by fire and was a complete write-off, only the damaged concrete foundation remaining. It became imperative that a new stand be built as soon as practicable and Mr Davidson, accompanied by the Chairman of Directors of Addington Raceway Ltd, Mr L S Smart of the Canterbury Park Trotting Club, together with the Secretary, Mr D C Parker visited tracks in the North Island at Tauherenikau, Feilding and Te Rapa to get some ideas for the type of Public Stand that should be built. On their return instructions were issued to the Architect, Mr C C Lamb, and a new stand was planned. It became necessary to re-site the horse stalls near Wrights Road as access from the existing stalls to the Birdcage would be obstructed by the new stand. In conjunction with the building projects it was decided the time was right to introduce Night Trotting at Addington. The contracts for the new stand and rebuilding of the horse stalls and the installation of track and ancillary lighting were let with all projects to be completed prior to Cup Day 1963. This goal was achieved with the inaugural Night Meeting being held on Wednesday 20th November 1963. During the latter part of this period discussions were held with the New Brighton Trotting Club who were faced with major maintenance costs and felt that the introduction of Night Trotting was an appropriate time for then to throw in their lot with the two Addington Clubs. They agreed to buy into Addington Raceway Ltd and conducted their first Meeting at Addington on the night of Saturday, 7th December 1963. At the conclusion of Mr Davidson’s term of Office he became Immediate Past President and it was not until the election of Mr G W Blaxall to the Presidency in 1968 that Mr Davidson became an elected Committeeman of the Club. Mr Davidson was appointed a Director of Addington Trotting Course Ltd in December 1960 following the resignation of Mr J Palmer, one of the original Directors representing the Club. Mr Davidson was Chairman of Directors for the years 1964-65, 1967-68 and 1970-71. He remained on the Directorate until 1975.

Mr R W Saunders was elected President in 1965 following his tem of office as Vice-President from 1960 to 1965. Mr R F J Powell, a Committeeman stood against Mr Saunders but was unsuccessful. Mr Saunders was elected a Steward in 1953 and a Committeeman in 1958 and during his term as President the Club was honoured with a visit from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother. This Meeting was held on 23rd April 1966 and was an unqualified success. In January 1968 Mr Saunders died and was the third President of the Club to die in Office.

Mr G W Blaxall, who was Mr Saunders’ Vice-President from 1965 to 1968, was elected President following the death of Mr A Saunders, an office he held until 1974. Mr R E Booker opposed Mr Blaxall for the office of Vice-President at the elections in 19650 without success. Mr Blaxall had been appointed Accommodation and Transport Officer to the Club for the 1951 Inter Dominion Championships and was elected a Steward in 1952 and a Committeeman in 1953. During Mr Blaxall’s term of office the Club conducted the Inter Dominion Championships in 1971 and although the final was marred by Junior’s Image , the winner of the pacing section, returning a positive swab and subsequently being disqualified, the Meeting was a unqualified success and a profitable one for the Club. Mr Blaxall, as well as being prominent in the administration of the Club, was a Director of Addington Raceway Ltd and also a member of the Executive of the NZ Trotting Conference. He was elected to the Executive in 1970 and Treasurer in 1974, a position he held until 1982.

Mr Blaxall’s Vice-President, Mr E T McDermott took office as President of the Club in 1974. Mr McDermott was elected an Honorary Steward in 1954, a Steward in 1956 and a Committeeman in 1962. He served as Vice President from 1972 until his election as President. His father Mr E C McDermott was a prominent owner, trainer and driver during the ‘30s’ and in 1934 drove Indianapolis to his first of three consecutive victories in the NZ Cup. Mr K C Meyers, who was Vice-President to Mr Blaxall from 1968 was unable to continue in office for health reasons and resigned in favour of Mr McDermott. Mr Meyers was elected a Steward in 1960 and a Committeeman in 1965. During Mr McDermott’s term the Club was honoured with a second visit from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh. This was the first occasion when they had seen Trotting in New Zealand under the lights and the Meeting was a very successful one, although the number of patrons present was very disappointing. During his association with the Club, Mr McDermott was a prominent member of the Programme Committee and put forward many suggestions which resulted in the raising of the standard of the Club’s programming and the introduction of many feature races. He also represented the Club on the Directorate of Addington Raceway Ltd.

Mr M L Taylor, who was appointed a Steward in October 1968 and a Committeeman in 1970, was Vice-President during Mr McDermott’s term of office and succeeded to the Presidency in 1979, completing his term in 1984. Mr Taylor’s Vice-President was Mr D R McCormick. During Mr Taylor’s term the Club conducted its fourth Royal Meeting, on this occasion the quests being their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Kent. Following this visit H R H The Prince of Wales and H R H The Princess Diana were to be the Club’s guests at a Race Meeting on 27th April 1983 but due to inclement weather the Race Meeting was cancelled and His Royal Highness requested that members of the Committee and other quests attend a cocktail party at which their Royal Highnesses would be present.

Mr Taylor applied his business acumen to the administration and he and his Committee launched a major promotion policy involving sponsorships and other activities which should be of benefit to the Club.

In 1984 Mr D R McCormick was elected President with Mr P Andrews as his Vice-President. Mr McCormick’s father was a Committeeman of the Club and a representative on the Board of Addington Trotting Course Ltd from its inception in 1952 until 1963 when the representatives were reduced from three to two. Mr McCormick was elected a Steward in 1967, a Committeeman in 1973 and Vice-President in 1979 and completed his term as President in 1989.

Mr P Andrews who was elected a Steward in 1974, a Committeeman in 1979, Vice-President in 1984 was elected President when Mr McCormick finished his term in 1989. Mr Andrews father, Mr S Andrews was a long serving Committeeman of the Canterbury Park Trotting Club being its President from 1973 to 1976 and one of its representatives on the Addington Raceway Ltd Directorate from 1978 to 1980. Mr A R Abell is Mr Andrews Vice-President.



Credit: NZMTC: Historical Notes compiled by D C Parker

Appendix No. One: PRESIDENTS

1894-99 V Harris (Chairman, Lancaster Park Amateur Trotting Club)

1899-1903 V Harris (Chairman, New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club)

1903-4 G H McHaffie (Chairman, New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club)

-o0o-

At the Annual General Meeting held on 6th July, 1904

the Rules were amended to

provide for the election of a President

-o0o-

1904-06 G H McHaffie (Died in Office)

1906-24 Hon. Charles Louisson (Died in Office)

1924-40 J H Williams (Died in Office)

1940-45 A L (Allan) Matson


1945-52 C S (Charles) Thomas

1952-56 C E (Jack) Hoy

1956-60 W M (Walter) Ollivier

1960-65 J K (Keith) Davidson

1965-68 R W (Roy) Saunders (Died in Office)

1968-74 G W (Gordon) Blaxall

1974-79 E T (Eugene) McDermott

1979-84 M L (Murray) Taylor

1984-89 D R (Dan) McCormick

1989-94 P (Peter) Andrews

1994-98 A R (Tony) Abell

1998 Amalgamated with CPTC & NBHRC to form a new Club

CHAIRMEN

1998-2000 B J (Barry) Cotton &
J F (John) Penney

2000-2004 B J (Barry) Cotton

2004-08 J F (John) Penney

2008-13 D H (David) Rankin

2013- B C (Barry) Dent

Credit: NZMTC: Historical Notes compiled by D C Parker