Close finish looms in NZ Amateur Drivers Championship at Addington

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk 

Defending champion Michael House has a one point lead heading into the second half of the NZ Amateur Drivers Championship at Addington on Sunday.

After the opening two heats at Cambridge last night he has eight points at the top of a very cluttered leaderboard.

Colleen Negus (pictured above) and John Kriechbaumer are equal second on seven points after both had wins on the opening night - Kriechbaumer with the Jeremy Young-trained Herb and Negus with Reet Petite, trained by Adrienne Matthews.

House finished fourth (Messenger Buoy) and second (Miss Brabant) in his two heats and is now a $3.50 favourite to claim back-to-back titles at Addington tomorrow.

His two drives there will be Monkee Major in the Southern Pork NZ Amateur Driver Champs (Heat 3) for Tony Barron and then Lonnekers (Ross Cameron) in the fourth and final heat, the Tennent Engineering Mobile Pace (2.25pm).

Frank Phelan looks a big chance to make his move tomorrow with two good drives - Ar Gee Rulz for the Hopes and Tabasco for Matthew Williamson. Phelan is a $4 second favourite with Colleen Negus ($5), Cheree Wigg ($5.50), Andrew Sharpe ($6) and Blair Wilmott ($6) all in single figures.

Wigg's big chance comes in the form of the Steve and Amanda Telfer-trained Beachbreak ($2.50) in the last heat.

Current standings:

Michael House – 8
Colleen Negus – 7
John Kriechbaumer – 7
Blair Wilmott – 5
Kevin Hall – 5
Andrew Sharpe – 4
Cheree Wigg – 4
Frank Phelan – 4
Adam White – 1
James Brownlee – 1

Last night's Addington meeting saw eight-time champion driver Blair Orange kick off the second half of the 2026 season in style.

He reined home four winners - Artful Bromac, Neil William, Ringleader, and Trump Card. 

Ringleader was especially impressive for trainer Ken Barron. The full brother to Rubira had shown up at the trials and delivered despite being slow off the gate.

Orange circled the field three wide with a lap to go and was then in cruise control, winning by more than three lengths.

Orange now has 88 wins this year, 14 clear of closest challenger John Dunn (74).

In the night's feature race, One Mhor For Heather produced a tough effort to win the $30,000 Aotea Electric Canterbury Silk Road Trotters Final.

Trainer-driver Robbie Holmes found himself three back the fence early before heading to the front 2000 metres out. 

Despite an explosive late burst from Kracka Looka, One Mhor For Heather managed to hold on by half a head. 

Tomorrow's racing at Addington kicks off with the third heat of the NZ Amateur Drivers Championship at 1.15pm.