hesi Posted June 3, 2018 Share Posted June 3, 2018 The only one I could see that involved anyone to do with Racing was Joe Walls Royce Gary Walls is made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the horse-racing industry. Walls has been involved in the industry for nearly 50 years. I see also Sir John Rowles, and the Topp Twins are both knighted. And to keep the right brigade happy, we now have a Sir William 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hedley Posted June 3, 2018 Share Posted June 3, 2018 Andrew Nicholson made it too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hesi Posted June 3, 2018 Author Share Posted June 3, 2018 Andrew Nicholson awarded ONZM for services to equestrian GETTY IMAGES Andrew Nicholson and Nereo won Badminton in 2017. (FILE PIC) Andrew Nicholson says winning for New Zealand is "quite something". But it's also something of the past for the distinguished eventing rider, who was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to equestrian sport in the Queen's Birthday 2018 Honours List. The English-based horseman has represented New Zealand for more than 30 years, but didn't compete at the 2016 Rio Olympics after pulling out of Equestrian New Zealand's high performance squad. "I think my days of being in the team competition are probably gone - too much has gone on now and I'm quite happy going along the way I'm going," Nicholson said. That means he's highly unlikely to feature at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics - despite still being a world-class performer who won the prestigious Badminton title last year on his veteran mount Nereo. GETTY IMAGES Andrew Nicholson was awarded the ONZM in the Queen's Birthday honours. The 56-year-old had competed at six Olympic Games before missing Rio. He was part of the silver medal-winning eventing team at the 1992 Barcelona Games and won bronze in the teams event in 1996 and 2012. Nicholson won gold in the NZ team at the 1990 World Equestrian Games, and bronze in the individual and team categories in 2010. Between 1995 and 2017, he won nine four-star events and has mentored and trained a number of world-class Kiwi and international riders. "It's a great honour, isn't it?" he said of the ONZM. "I've been very lucky to represent my country at all sorts of levels and I've always been very proud to represent them. To then get recognised for doing something which I've thoroughly enjoyed doing - it's been an honour and a privilege to do what I'm doing - it's an absolute bonus. "To win a competition and have the national anthem played for you is quite something - it doesn't matter how often you do it." GETTY IMAGES Andrew Nicholson and his mount Qwanza take part in the dressage section of the German Championships. (FILE PIC) Nicholson said he had a "a whole stack" of people to thank. "From the family who first took me in when I first came over, the Powell family, when I was only 18 - along to my wife and family at the moment; it's been a major part of it all, having the support crew there for the bad days as well as the good days. Nicholson broke his neck after a fall from a mount in 2015, but returned to riding when fit again and doesn't plan to give it up yet. "Most sportspeople will tell you that if you feel like you can do it, you've got to keep doing it until something will tell you that you can't do it anymore," he said. "I was probably very lucky at the time - I had some very good horses to take over when I started back again - that's what pretty much focused me on getting back. "I've wound it down a bit - I don't have so many horses, but I've still got some good horses and while I do, I'll keep going along and choose the events I want to do. I don't want to travel as much as I used to - I like to pace myself a little bit." - Stuff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hesi Posted June 3, 2018 Author Share Posted June 3, 2018 Joe Walls made MNZM for services to horse racing industry STUFF Auctioneer Joe Walls hung up the gavel last year after nearly 50 years in the racing industry, largely at Karaka. (File photo). When it comes to racehorses, Joe Walls knows his stuff. For fifty years, the retired Karaka auctioneer discovered and sold some of the country's best racehorses, resulting in him being appointed a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the Queen's Birthday honours. Royce Gary "Joe" Walls, 70, said he was "flattered" to be named in the honours list for services to the horse racing industry. "When I got the note, I sort of thought there must be other people who have made greater contributions than me," he said. "I'm a bit flattered that they picked me. It was nice that I got that sort of recognition." Horowhenua-born, Walls began his career in a junior role in 1968. He sold thoroughbred horses at Trentham while living in Hamilton until the horse sales facility was built in Karaka in the 1980s. He lived in Pukekohe for 24 years until about three years ago, when he moved to Whitianga where he's had a home for the past 15 years. Though now retired, he remains chairman of New Zealand Bloodstock. While living in the Waikato, Walls said he formed good relationships with some of the leaders in the horse racing industry, such as Patrick Hogan and Garry Chittick. He was involved in importing many of their broodmares and stallions, including Sir Tristram and Zabeel, as well as selling their horses. "The highlight of that period was going through the growth stages of the thoroughbred industry in the Waikato, which really was the heart of the business," he said. "I went through the period of the great Sir Tristram, who I helped Patrick Hogan to procure for their business here in New Zealand. "There'll be another Sir Tristram or Zabeel but they don't come round every day and it could be some time before we see anything like those again." Travelling the world to find top race horses was a particular interest of his, he said. "I was of the opinion that New Zealand had to go outside New Zealand to find bloodlines that would improve our horses so that they could compete on the international stage." The thoroughbred industry had always been a "flag-bearer" for New Zealand, he said. "It really punches way above its weight - racing has always been good to New Zealand, we've bred a lot of good horses and some of the greatest horses in the world have come from New Zealand. That's always very rewarding." - Stuff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomass Posted June 4, 2018 Share Posted June 4, 2018 How good is it to live in an egalitarian society?? Where prostitutes can walk hand in hand with the Sir Bill's to collect their gongs... Nicholson and Joe may be a bit peed having to get in behind to wait their turnsthough.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poisoned Dwarf Posted June 5, 2018 Share Posted June 5, 2018 On 4/06/2018 at 2:50 PM, Thomass said: How good is it to live in an egalitarian society?? Where prostitutes can walk hand in hand with the Sir Bill's to collect their gongs... Nicholson and Joe may be a bit peed having to get in behind to wait their turnsthough.. Sir Mark and Blythe didn't mind having to " get in behind " !!!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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