W. J. Tomkinson Again Dominion Trotting King

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 706, 4 July 1929, Page 12

W. J. Tomkinson Again Dominion Trotting King

Secures Drivers and Trainers Premiership

When Addington dri ver-trai ner Bill Tomkinson steered Young Blake and Dalmeny to victory at Alexandra Park during the recent Auckland trotting function, he put his claim to the 1928-29 premiership in both divisions beyond all shadow of a doubt, i This is the second year in succes- ' sion. that the ex-Australian lightharness enthusiast has secured th* : coveted honour as leading trainer lot the Dominion, and it marks his thirr achievement in the role. The popular William has also previously header the list of winning reinsmen. bavint in the 1924-25 season succeeded in landing the greatest number of competitors first past the pest. When “Tomky.” as he is now famil liarly known in the trotting world, j first invaded Xew Zealand, he demonstrated in no small degree that ; he knew the rudiments of the business and was capable of putting them into operation. With Realm. Snowshoe, Weaver and Happy Voyage he soon got on the winning list at Addington in August, 1922. On that occasion Realm won the August and King George Handicaps, Snowshoe captured the Trial Handicap, while Weaver, ridden by Claude Dunlevey. annexed the saddle event and Happy Voyage landed the Speedway Handicap. At the same fixture the Australian trotter First Fashion won a double for Jack Kennerley. Before coming to Xew Zealand Tomkinson was in the foreground as a trainer and reinsman in the Commonwealth. In those days Australian experts had an aversion to travel with their charges, but W.J.T. was the exception, and Melbourne and Sydney fans knew him equally well and wherever he appeared he met with a measure of success that was always well received. Catching Big Fish When the visitor decided to make “God’s Own Country” the land of his ad.option it did not take him long to get fairly into his stride and to prove to the Dominion trotting world that he was a host to be reckoned with, both in the training and driving departments. He soon got a sound team around him, a staunch patron being Mr. Geo. Barton, the Dunedin sportsman, for whom Tomkinson has turned out many good winners. In the Barton livery “Tomky” won the 1925 Auckland Cup with Xelson Derby, and the same year captured the big Dominion Trotting Cup with Xapland. Two years later he won the same event for the Dunedinite with Elzear. who has won numerous other good square-gaited events. In 1928 he drove Concliff home in the Dunedin Cud for owner Barton, who was a proud man when he led in the winner in his home town. With Bell Harold and Dalmeny last season, as well as Elzear and Concliff. Tomkin-

son won sufficient heats of liberal endowment to place the Dunedin enthusiast at the head of the winning owners’ list with £5,340. Other patrons of the Addington stable whose, charges have been well in the limelight are Messrs. R. A. Armstrong and A. L. Johnstone (Wellington), and Mr. Morgan O’Brien (Christchurch), and with Logan Park and Pageant, for the former, and Young Blake, Prince Pointer and Western Voyage for the latter, a raxe quantity of shekels have been reaped in during the last couple of seasons.

Twelve months ago, following a strenuous season, Tomkinson took a trip to Australia for health reasons, and while in Victoria picked up the pacing mare Glideaway, who in turn picked up a whole heap of prize money for “Tomky” in this countrv. The Dunedin and Otahuhu Cups fell to her portion, while the second day of the Otahuhu fixture the other “thousand pounder” came her way. During his years of residence in this country the ex-Australian sportsman has become popular with all classes of the sporting community. Trainers and horsemen all have a good word for him, both in his official capacity and in private life, while trotting fans in all parts of the Dominion are unreserved in their praise of the manner in which he produces his charges and the cool judgment he displays when holding the ribbons in the many pacing and trotting contests in which he participates. W. J. Tomkinson will be widely complimented on his season’s success, and the wish will be expressed on all sides that he will come up again readv for the new year’s battles full of vim and spirit. Leading Horsemen The appended summary gives the leading horsemen and trainers since the inception of the competitions.

1914-15 A. Pringle 24 1915-16 J. Brvce 1916-17 A. Pringle 1917-18 A. Pringle 1918-19 J. Bryce 1919-20 E. C. McDermott •I. McLennan 1920-21 B. .Jarden 1921-22 1922-23 J. Brvce 1923-24 J- Bryce M . J. Tomkinson 24* D. ~V\ ithers D. ‘Withers 31 P- Cl. Holmes W. J. Tomkinson 33 Lea ding Trainers 1915-36 _ Wins. J. Bryce 33 193 6-17 J. Bryce 1917-18 J. Brvce 1918-19 J. Brvce 1919-20 -T. Rrvr-o 1920-23 J. Brvce 1921-22 J. Bryce 1922-23 1923-24 J. Brvce 1924-25 !\ . J. Tomkinson D. tV ithers 1926-27 M. B. Edwards 1927-28 M . J. • Tomkinson 33