RETIREMENT OF MR H. F. NICOLL

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25272, 26 August 1947, Page 4

RETIREMENT OF MR H. F. NICOLL

25 YEARS’ SERVICE TO SPORT TRIBUTES PAID AT DINNER Tributes to the outstanding service given to the sport of trotting in New Zealand by Mr H. F. Nicoll as president of the New Zealand Trotting Conference from 1922 to 1947 were paid by several speakers at a complimentary dinner last evening to Mr Nicoll on his retirement. Mr A. L. Matson, the new president of the conference, said that this year was the jubilee of the Trotting Conference, and for half of the time of the conference’s existence Mr Nicoll had been president. Thdre had been five presidents before him. The energy, tact, and manner in which he had carried out his duties as president were an inspiration to all chairmen throughout the Dominion. Reference to Mr Nicoll as the “Caesar of trotting in New Zealand,” was made by Mr j. B. Thomson, vice-president of the New Zealand Trotting Association, who said that whenever Mr Nicoll had any ideas that would be of benefit to trotting, he always carried them through to their, consummation. He had done more for trotting than any other person in the country. Because of his unique position in trotting, some people thought that Mr Nicoll had invented the sport, said Mr C. S. Thomas, president of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club. This was not so. Trotting was in progress 2000 years ago, and there was an account.of a trotting race in Homer’s Iliad. During Mr Nicoll’s term as president there had been two major improvements in the sport in New Zealand, said Mr J. R. McKenzie. The first was the new system of starting introduced in 1926, and which operated to-day, and the other, the present system of handicapping, introduced in 1929. These two improvements had been introduced by Mr Nicoll and much of the credit for the success of the sport in New Zealand to-day belonged to him. New Zealand led the world in its conduct of trotting meetings. Other speakers were Messrs E. A. Lee, A. Anderson (president of the Wellington Trotting Club), F. Holmes, F. B. Robilliard (vice-president of the Ashburton Trotting Club), and T. G. Fox (president of the New Zealand Owners’ and Breeders’ Association).

On behalf of the trotting clubs throughout the Dominion, Mr Matson presented Mr Nicoll with a cheque. A framed photograph of some members who had recently worked with Mr Nicoll was presented on behalf of the New Zealand Trotting Association, and on behalf of the West Australian Trotting Club. Dr. M. G. Pezaro presented Mr Nicbll with an album of photographs of last year’s Australian and New Zealand championships held at Perth. A bound volume of copies of the minutes of conferences held while Mr Nicoll was president was presented by the Trotting Conference.

In thanking members for their presentations and congratulations, Mr Nicoll said that any success he might have attained in the trotting world was due to the companionship and good work of so many in the interests of the sport, and his knowledge that he had their support while he was in office.