John Morrison. Photo supplied.Local horseman John Morrison will be out to follow in the footsteps of his Mid Canterbury colleagues, after he received a nomination for the Norwood New Zealand Rural Sports Awards this week.

The ceremony, which will be held at Awapuni in Palmerston North in March of next year, is a night singled in on the rural sector and Morrison – through his exceptional deeds in the sulky over the past 12 months has been nominated for Young Rural Sportsperson of the Year.

He is one of five nomination from the harness racing industry with Blair Orange, Natalie Rasmussen, Mark Purdon and Deneece and Murray Goldsworthy also receiving nominations.

At the award ceremony this year, Sarah O’Reilly and Ricky May both found themselves on stage as winners, with O’Reilly claiming the Young Rural Sportsperson of the Year award and May picking up the Lifetime Legacy title.

Morrison’s citation noted that he was the country’s top junior driver in the 2019-2020 season for the second year running.

After a neck-and-neck battle with closest rival Dylan Ferguson, he took out the 2020 premiership with 35 wins, to Ferguson’s 33.

Articulate and popular, Morrison has the potential to be one of the sport’s highest achievers.

He comes from well-established racing stock, with his family’s business being the Ashburton-based Morrisons Saddlery and Feed.

A cool head under pressure, Morrison is in demand, and just this year made his New Zealand Cup debut with Di Caprio, which finished fifth in the great race.

He has been race-day driving since 2016.

He also won the junior premiership in 2019 season.

Also making his mark as a trainer, Morrison is set to be a key part of New Zealand harness racing sport in the decades to come.

By mid December 2020 he had had eight training successes from 65 starters.

By Matt Markham © The Ashburton Guardian - 23 December 2020