| PEOPLE |
YEAR: 2007
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Steve Edge was involved in all aspects of harness racing, and did so at the highest level.
He was on the Executive of Harness Racing NZ as the representative of the Standardbred Breeders' Association, and supported the Motukarara Workouts Association and Banks Peninsula Trotting Club. He was also a long time member and committeeman of the Canterbury Trotting Owners Association, at one stage being the Vice-President.
He drove Invicta, raced by his father-in-law Les Duff, to beat Patchwork and Scottish Command in the 1961 NZ Cup, and stood at stud the seven win Lordship horse, Light Lord.
Aged 76, Edge was a colourful character and contributed to harness racing in a huge way over a long period.
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Farm politics was a passion for Little River farmer Steve Edge. His efforts in advocacy, campaining and lobbying for changes in primary industries brought benefits for many people in the wider farming community. The large gathering from throughout Australasia who attended his funeral was testament to this.
While he was at the forefront of reforms in the meat and wool industries, he was especially proud to represent the 'real grass-root farmers'. He believed in influencing change 'from the ground up, rather than the top down'. This approach brought him a strong following among farmers, which translated into high polling for places on various boards. Edge received a Community Service and Commitment to the Farming Industry Award, recognising his outstanding work in the Bank Peninsula district over many years. He served on many farmer boards and committees and was active also in community, racing and sports groups.
Speakers at his funeral talked of Edge as a man of the people who was not afraid to speak his mind. He stood up for what he believed in, at any cost, and fought for those he believed did not get a fair deal or were less fortunate. He was a man of integrity, honesty and passion. He was hard-working, dedicated and wise. He could be volatile but he enjoyed life and people, his friends and his family. He was interested in those around him and their achievements, and therefore commanded their love and respect. He worked single-mindedly for whatever cause or project needed his assistance - and there were many over the years - the speakers recalled.
Edge was born in Gore, the fourth of eight children. The family shifted to Canterbury, first to Belfast, then to Lincoln and then on to Te Pirita. The family was always associated with the land and stock - sheep, horses, cattle, cropping. Edge became an astute stockman with a tremendous work ethic. After a short time at high school in Ashburton, he left to work on the family farm. He then worked as a shearer all over the South Island. With his younger brother, Ralph, he headed for what would now be called their OE, although he liked to call it his university training. The brothers worked in coal and gold mining, on oil rigs and in shearing sheds. The fought in boxing rings. The worked building roads and major monuments, the Flying Doctor Monument north of Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory being one project. All sorts of occupations were undertaken with zest to make a quid. They developed a special bond with the Aboriginal people and on the frequent trips taken back in recent years, this association and respect were still evident.
Returning to New Zealand after eight years, Edge met and later married, Kathleen Duff, of Dunedin. Around this time he was training a small team of standardbred horses at Rakaia, and it was from this base that many winners came, of special note being the unsound pacer Invicta. Edge trained and drove the 11 year old to win the 1961 New Zealand Trotting Cup. The morning Edge died, he had been busy on the farm with broodmares from the same family as Invicta. As his funeral service ended Dave Clarkson's commentary of the 1961 NZ Cup was played and, as the pall-bearers arrived at the hearse with the coffin, draped with a sheepskin, his racing colours and his battered old hat, Invicta crossed the finishing line.
Edge moved his family to their much-loved farm, Waikoko, in 1970. This property consisted of beautiful hills and valleys nestled between Little River and Kaituna on Banks Peninsula. One of his legacies there is a forestry block which he planted, thinned, pruned and sprayed almost single-handedly, on a rugged 25-hectare piece of hill-block unsuitable for other uses.
Edge overcame many serious illnesses and diseases over the years, but attempting to fight a fire on his farm proved too much for him. He managed to get the local fire brigade, back-up engines and other services called out, and they eventually controlled the blaze, but they arrived too late to save him.
A colourful and vibrant character, he died as he had lived, with action all around him, on the farm that he cherished.
Stephen Desmond Edge, born Gore, July 2, 1931, died Waikoko, December 21, 2007. Survived by wife Kathleen, daughter Lesley, sons David and Murray and four grandchildren.
Credit: NZHRWeekly: 9Jan2008
YEAR: 1961
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| Invicta & Steve Edge returning to scale |
Invicta, the veteran of the field, came through on the inside from fourth place at the home turn and hung on in determined style to hold off the strong finishing Patchwork in the 1961 NZ Trotting Cup at Addington. His official wining margin over Patchwork was a neck, and two lengths further back came Scottish Command who beat Lookaway by a head. Lady Belmer was fifth.
From the limit Invicta clocked 4:14.4 for the two mile journey after receiving a good run all the way. He was driven a most patient race by trainer S D Edge, who was never bustled at any stage of the race and reserved his run until the right moment. The race was a good one and few excuses could be offered for those who finished behind Invicta. The win favourite Sun Chief had every chance but he was a beaten horse soon after reaching the front early in the run home.
At the start Lady Belmer, Panui, Scottish Command and Diamond Hanover were slow and the early order was Queen Ngaio, Highland Heath, Robert Dillon, Zany, Fourth Edition, Patchwork, Invicta, Sun Chief, Damian, Fitment, Guiseppe, Scottish Command, Diamond Hanover, Lookaway and Lady Belmer. After covering half a mile Zany took over the role of pacemaker and was showing the way to Fourth Edition, Queen Ngaio, Highland Heath, Invicta (down on the rails), Robert Dillon, Patchwork, Sun Chief, Damian, Fitment, Guiseppe, Lady Belmer, Scottish Command, Diamond Hanover, Lookaway and Panui, with the field in fairly close order, mostly running in pairs.
Excitement quickened when Sun Chief moved up to be one place behind Zany on the outside of Fourth Edition. With a mile to run Zany still had charge and the order was much the same, and with a round to go Diamond Hanover made a forward move but was three wide, and Sun Chief was one out without a trail alongside Fourth Edition. Lookaway was also starting to improve from the back. Zany and Sun Chief turned for home almost together with Diamond Hanover next and Invicta on the rails. Lookaway was coming into the picture wide out and Patchwork, Fitment and Scottish Command were also handy. Sun Chief appeared to be pulling hard approaching the home turn and it looked as though driver M Holmes only had to let him go to race right away from the rest.
Sun Chief headed Zany, but was done almost immediately and Invicta shot through to gain an advantage a furlong out. Patchwork lived right up to the form she had shown in recent weeks and her effort to get within a neck of Invicta was a good one. Scottish Command was one of the tail-enders for a good part of the way and there was a good deal of merit in his placing. Lookaway's performance shows he has lost very little of his brilliance, and Lady Belmer made up a big stretch of ground. Next to finish were Queen Ngaio, Sun Chief, Damian, Guiseppe, Highland Heath, Robert Dillon, Diamond Hanover, Fitment, Panui, Zany and Fourth Edition last.
Of those who finished behind Invicta, Patchwork, Scottish Command and Lookaway were the most impressive and Lady Belmer must be given credit for her fifth placing. Sun Chief looked as though he had done his fair share of work but lack of racing took its toll when it came to the run home. After a slow beginning Diamond Hanover covered some extra ground in the middle stages. Zany was responsible for most of the pace but had had enough at the home turn.
An 11 year-old bay gelding by Sandydale from Globe's Advice, Invicta is a member of the famous Thelma family, which also produced Wildwood Junior, the winner in 1909 and 1910, and Author Dillon, who won in 1918. Invicta is the oldest horse to win the Cup in recent years. He was making his third appearance in the race, having finished out of a place in the 1959 event and fourth last year.
Invicta is the first foal of Globe's Advice, and was bred by Mr L Duff, a steward of the Forbury Park Trotting Club. Mr Duff has raced Invicta throughout his career, which began under the guidance of C C Devine. Globe's Advice was got by Springfield Globe from Bingen's Advice, by Great Bingen (who finished a close second to his full brother, Peter Bingen in the sensational finish to the New Zealand Cup in 1928), from the grand race mare in Free Advice, by Blue Mountain King-Intaglio, by Logan Pointer-Cameos, by Galinlo-Thelma, by Kentucky.
Globe's Advice was bought by Devine from her breeder, Mr C M Archer, of Southbrook, for Mr Duff, who did not know at the time what he was getting. On the journey from Rangiora to Dunedin, Globe's Advice was dropped off at Oamaru to be mated with Sandydale, and Invicta was the result of the mating.
Invicta's present trainer-driver, Steve Edge, has had the horse since he was seven years old and has done particularly well with him, taking him right through to the top classes. Edge and Invicta had the satisfaction in the past of beating the mighty False Step twice - in the Ollivier Handicap at Addington last season and in the Timaru Centennial Cup in 1959, a race which was run under invitation conditions. Edge belongs to the younger brigade of trainers (he is 30 years old). He has only been training horses for six years but has enjoyed his fair share of success. Interviewed after the race, he said: "I got a good run all the way and Invicta had some in reserve when it came to the home run." Invicta is the defunct sire Sandydale's first Cup winner, but two other champion pacers he sired were Captain Sandy and General Sandy.
The race was run at a solid pace from the start. The first half-mile took 64secs, the six furlongs 1:37, the first mile 2:10, the mile and a quarter 2:42.4, mile and a half 3:14.4, the last half in 60secs and the last quarter 29.4secs. Investments on the race were: On-course £21,328; Off-course £28,234 10s. Last year's on-course total was £21,673.10s, and the off-course total £25,977.
The day's racing was held under almost perfect conditions on a fast track, but due no doubt to the curtailment of complimentary tickets, the attendance was down on last year. This year's figures were 18,000, compared with 19,600 last year. On-course the totalisator handled £185,496 5s (including £21,571 5s on the double), compared with £189,199 15s last year. Off-course investors wagered £198,872 (including £98,020 on the double), compared with £182,914 5s last year. The combined on and off-course total was £384,368 5s, compared with £372,114 last year, an increase of £12,254 5s.
Credit: 'Irvington' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 8Nov61