| PRESIDENTS: NZMTC |
YEAR: 1983
 |
Gordon Blaxall, a former president of the NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club and a former treasurer of the NZ Trotting Conference, died in Christchurch on January 1.
Mr Blaxall was a long serving member of the NZMTC and took his first administration role with the club when he was appointed publicity officer for the 1951 Inter-Dominion Championships at Addington. The following year he became a steward of the club, joined the club's committee in 1953, and was vice-president from 1965 to 1968. He took over the presidency in 1968 and held the post until 1974 when he was elected a life member of the club.
Elected to the NZ Trotting Conference executive in 1971, he was treasurer until he retired in 1982. During his time on the Conference executive, he attended two World Trotting Conferences at his own expense and was a delegate on the Inter-Dominion Trotting Council.
During his long association with harness racing, he only missed one NZ Cup at Addington through illness and only two Inter-Dominion Championships during that time. He was a member of the Owners, Trainers and Breeders Association for more than 30 years. He raced both standardbreds and thoroughbreds during his lifetime, but admitted to having "little success" as an owner.
Credit: NZ Trotting Calendar 11Jan83