Barry Purdon and Wilson House win Rural Sports Awards

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk 

While some of the country's best horses were battling it out in Group races at both Alexandra Park and Addington, harness racing also had two big winners off the track at Palmerston North last night.

Hall Of Fame trainer Barry Purdon and the country's leading junior driver last season Wilson House both took away gongs at the Ford New Zealand Rural Sports Awards.  

Purdon won the Courtesy Ford Lifetime Legacy Award while House took out the Fonterra Young Rural Sportsperson of the Year.

BARRY PURDON : LIFETIME LEGACY AWARD

Barry Purdon is the most successful trainer in the history of the sport in this country. He has trained 2801 winners either on his own account or in partnership with father Roy, an absolute legend of the sport, and/or his current training partner Scott Phelan.

In 1993-94 Roy and Barry's 168 wins was a New Zealand record for the most wins in a 12-month season. It remained until last year when it was surpassed by Steve and Amanda Telfer. Ironically Telfer is one of many trainers who learnt his craft from the man they call "Big Bar". He had two stints with Purdon covering 11 years.

Others he has clearly had a huge influence on include his current training partner Scott Phelan and Cran Dalgety as well as the likes of Zachary Butcher, Crystal Hackett and Harrison Orange.

Then when you factor in the impact brother Mark and brother-in-law Tony Herlihy (the country's most successful driver ever) have had on the sport and it's obvious there is no greater family in the game than the Purdons.  

In 2025 Barry showed that he has still got what it takes. Returning after an absence of six years and multiple hip surgeries he won his very first drive back with Higher Power at Alexandra Park in October.

He has driven over 600 winners since the 1970s, including victories in the Auckland, Hunter and Victoria Cups, Miracle Miles and Inter Dominion Trotting Finals.

He also trained four New Zealand Cup winners with father Roy : Sole Command (1977), Luxury Liner (1988), Christopher Vance (1991) and Chokin (1993).

His stable star right now is millionaire pacer Merlin alongside Group 1 performers Sooner The Bettor and Meant To Be.

Last night at Alexandra Park all three were Group placed at the same time as the Rural Sports Awards were being announced.  Meant To Be was second to Belle Neige in the Greenlane Cup while Sooner The Bettor and Merlin were second and third in the Lincoln Farms Founders Cup behind The Lazarus Effect. 

WILSON HOUSE - YOUNG SPORTSPERSON OF THE YEAR  

At just 21, Wilson House had a breakout year in 2025.

His season was defined by a "have horse, will travel" attitude. 

Driving in 740 races nationwide, Wilson clinched his first New Zealand Junior Drivers Premiership with 94 wins and broke the $1 million prize money barrier. 

He finished third overall in the Drivers' Premiership.

A key player in his father Michael's successful stable, Wilson is also a sought-after freelance driver.

Among his highlights in 2025 was driving The Present Maker to six wins, including a first Listed race victory at Ashburton's Phoebe Stud Harness 5000 meeting.

He also represented New Zealand at the Australasian Young Drivers Championship.

Last night at Addington House had a successful night without getting another win. Among his three placings was a third with Hadron Collider in the Group 3 The Legend That Is Martin Larter Cup, won by Got The Chocolates.

In 2026 House is the country's leading junior driver again with 21 wins so far, three ahead of closest rival Harrison Orange.