TROTTING Top Trainers, Drivers From North Island

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31383, 31 May 1967, Page 5

TROTTING Top Trainers, Drivers From North Island

For the first time in more than 20 years North Islanders will this season head the lists of leading trainers and drivers.

At the moment the father and son combination of J. S. and C. S. Hunter holds a lead of three on the trainers’ list, and P. T. Wolfenden has an unassailable lead of 11 on the list of drivers.

The last time the North Island headed both lists was in 1944-45 when the late F. J. Smith was on top in both sections, as he had been in the previous two seasons. M. Stewart headed both lists in 1939-40, and Smith had three other double successes between 1933-34 and 1936-37. J. S. Hunter has for the last three seasons trained in partnership with his son, J. S. Hunter headed the list in 1963-64 and the next season the partnership finished second to G. B. Noble with 37 wins, two fewer than the winner.

So far this season the Hunters have produced the winners of 33 races, a totai which could be increased at the few remaining meetings. Second place is almost certain to go to the Pukekohe trainer, R. Purdon, who at the moment has had 30 wins. He, too, should have! further successes and he could reduce the lead of the Hunters. Pur. don has come into prominence in the last year or two. Last term he was runner-up to J. Grant and D. G. Jones, who had an advantage of four. S.I. PLACES Grant and Jones and G. B. Noble at present share the lead among the South Island trainers with 22 wins, and then comes P. T. Wolfenden, with 18, one more than J. A. Carmichael. K. F. Morrison Is in seventh

place with 16 wins, followed by J. Butcher, W. R. Butt, F. E. Newfield, L. F. Norman, J. W. Smolensk! and P. Stewart, with 14; D. N. Hayes, R. J. Kemble, W. E. Lowe and J. E. Smith, with 13; G. Holmes, C. V. May and D. G. Nyhan, with 12; J. D. Litten, with 11; and L. J. Bayer, I. W. Dickie, R. Young and R. J. Weatherley, with 10. MERITED WIN Wolfenden’s win among the drivers is most meritorious. His total of 52 is 11 above F. Smith’s. Another North Islander in C. S. Hunter is in third place with 35 wins. Wolfenden has been one of the most successful drivers in recent years. Last term he finished in second place with five wins fewer than M. Holmes’s total of 48. He was sixth with S 3 wins the previous year and third with 40 wins the year before that. Wolfenden was runner-up again in 1962-83 with 40 wins, 10 behind Holmes. He was runner-up to Holmes in 1061-62 with 4? wins against 54. Smith has headed ths list twice in the last 18 seasons, first with 47 wins in 1957-58 and again with 39 wins in 1960-61. in most other seasons he has finished among the first six on the list, proving himself to be one of the most skilful reinsmen in the country. Holmes, who is the leading South Island reinsmen this season, has headed the list in 14 of the last 18 seasons. Apart from Smith, the only others to have headed the list have been J. B. Pringle and W. R. Butt. Holmes has had 32 wins this season, one of his least successful for some time. He had a very lean patch early, but in recent weeks he has had better fortune. His figure should be increased greatly in the next few weeks, but it is unlikely he will get to Wolfenden’s total. Wolfenden is at present in New York and is unlikely to drive again in this country this season. W. R. Butt, with 28 wins, is in fifth position, followed by R. Young, with 27; J. A. Carmichael, with 26; D. J. Townley, with 24; J. Butcher and D. G. Jones, with 21; T. H. Knowles, with 20: D. C. Watts, with 18; R. M. Cameron, K. Balloch and J. E. Smith, with 16; and T. M. May, J. W. Smolensk! and D. Mangos, with 15.