John Morrison in the sulky. Photo supplied.John Morrison is refusing to let history repeat itself.

The young Mid Canterbury horseman moved to the joint lead in the New Zealand junior drivers’ premiership last weekend, drawing level with Sheree Tomlinson on 29 wins for the season, but with five weeks still remaining until the title is decided, it’s anyone’s race to win.

As the defending champion, most will expect Morrison to clear away from the pack, but it’s never quite that simple, and a key learning from 12 months ago, when in the same position is playing in the back of his mind.

“Last season, for about a month there, I became solely focused on winning the premiership,” Morrison said.

“I started driving badly, my focus just wasn’t pointing in the right direction and it took me a while to shake it off, but when I did I hit my straps and ended up winning the premiership by 19 wins.

“So right now, despite of where things are at on the tally, it’s more about just going out and driving every horse on it’s merits.

“Making sure that each horse gets the best chance they need to win and hoping that it happens.”

Having won the premiership, Morrison said the pressure was off to win it again, but if it did happen, he’d be pretty happy to have achieved it.

He would become the first driver since Dexter Dunn, who won in 2011, 2010, 2009 and 2008, to win back-to-back premierships.

“If it happens, it will be great – but I don’t want to lose it by one and think back and know that I over-drove one just to try and win it and got beaten.

“I can say I’ve done it once, not many get the opportunity to do that, anything else is a bonus.”

Should he go on and defend his title, Morrison will be able to look back on the support he’s received in Southland as one of the deciding factors.

Of his four winners since racing returned from lockdown, three have come from that part of the country and he’s consistently picking up a number of drives each week at Invercargill.

“I’ve had huge support down there.

“Trainers who have stuck by me and give me drives each and every week, it’s because of them that I’ve been able to have the success that I’ve had.”

Morrison and Tomlinson might be sitting on top of the premiership table right now, but there’s plenty of pressure coming behind them.

Dylan Ferguson is just two wins behind on 27 for the season, while Ben Hope (25 wins) and Morrison’s fellow Mid Canterbury driver, Sarah O’Reilly (22) are all within striking distance.

“It’s nice and competitive and everyone is driving really well so it could just take one really good weekend for someone to get on top of everyone else.”

Morrison has a busy weekend ahead with racing at Addington tonight, Invercargill on Saturday and then back to Addington on Sunday.

He pointed towards the Laurence Hanrahan-trained Rocknroll Max as a horse he was looking forward to sitting behind tonight at Addington, and suggested that Franco Huntington wouldn’t be his worst chance at Invercargill on Saturday.

By Matt Markham © The Ashburton Guardian - 26 June 2020

The major winners of Mid Canterbury’s summer of tennis have been revealed.

Mid Canterbury Tennis confirmed prize winners from local competitions and tournaments for the 2019-2020 season yesterday.

A prize-giving ceremony had been scheduled for March 21, however it was forced to cancel due to Covid-19 lockdown.

“A big congratulations go to all prize-winners and a sincere thank you also to all our valuable sponsors,” a Mid Canterbury Tennis spokeswoman said.

The young Allenton Tigers contingent were the big winners of the junior interclub round one, taking it out alongside Dorie A and then later on clinching round two.

Holly-Jayne Feutz (14s) was named rep player of the year and both Josh Gilbert and Abigail Cavanagh were named most improved boy and girl respectively.

Alongside a rep player of the year nomination, 14s player Ciora won the overall Fair Play Award.

Southern’s line-up of Sam Bubb, Gareth Evans, Ollie Bubb, Matt Bubb, Jess Aldridge, Erin Connelly-Whyte and Jim Barry won the open grade A interclub first round.

Bubb’s consistency throughout the season was cited as a factor for Southern’s run.

Fairton’s Diego Quispe-Kim, Connor Brosnahan, Michael Kerr, Philip Crozier, Jade Brosnahan, John Leslie, Angel Spooner and Ashton McGrath clinched the second round in the A grade.

Quispe-Kim had another decorated season, winning the A grade men’s Gala Cup in the singles, and the doubles alongside Cameron McCracken.

He also won the Junior Sportsperson of the Year award at the Mid Canterbury Sports Awards.

Riley Breen and Mid Canterbury Tennis coach Jack Tiller were also among the contenders at the recently staged awards.

Tessa McCann was another star at the Gala Cup, winning the A grade ladies singles, ladies doubles with Nishitha Maarka and the mixed doubles with Bubb.

Cups, trophies, certificates and prizes can be collected from the Mid Canterbury Tennis office between 9am and noon.

By Adam Burns © The Ashburton Guardian - 26 June 2020

AshHutt’s 1st XV were all smiles following a solid pair of performances on Wednesday including (from left) Emma Rollinson, Grace Bleach, Megan Hurley, Madison Trusler-Clark and Sharla Brightwell. Photo supplied.The signs are positive for the AshHutt 1st XV girls after the side strung together back-to-back wins in Timaru this week.

The secondary school girls’ gala night was held on Wednesday, with AshHutt pressing their pre-season credentials as they beat St Kevin’s/Waitaki 20-10.

The performance was backed up by another superb display later in the evening as the girls accounted for Timaru Girls’ High School 25-10.

Interim coach Shaun Bovey was delighted with how the side went about their work.

“There’s a few who haven’t played before,” he said.

“We have some more experienced girls who lead the way.”

AshHutt’s loose trio of Grace Bleach, Megan Hurley and Madison Trusler-Clark were integral in setting a foundation for the team, and will be key leaders among the talented squad this season.

Bovey said the team put together some great team tries alongside some superb solo five-pointers on Wednesday night.

“There’s plenty of work to do and we’ll try and keep the girls grounded,” he said.

“But there’s a good buzz among the squad.”

The team are back in action again next week as the side travels south to meet Geraldine before under-18 competitions begin in Term 3.

By Adam Burns © The Ashburton Guardian - 25 June 2020