Kriechbaumer's "cool" win in the NZ Amateur Drivers Championship

By Mike Love 

Austrian-Kiwi John Kriechbaumer was thrilled to be crowned the 2026 New Zealand Amateur Driver Champion at Addington on Sunday. 

The retired engineer and hobby trainer, based in Papakura, ended the series tied with defending champion Michael House.

“It was pretty cool. The countback worked out well, I had a couple of seconds so that worked in my favour," said Kriechbaumer.

Kriechbaumer had mixed results at Cambridge on Friday night, winning the first heat with Big Herb before Boot Scootin Boogie made an error and finished last in the next.

At Addington on Sunday, Kriechbaumer finished second on Mouton Cadet in heat three, while in the final heat a further second placing with Style Council was enough to clinch the series.  

Kriechbaumer also won the series in 2009 when amateur races were non-tote events.

Kriechbaumer first came to New Zealand from Austria in 1975 for work as an engineer and as many do fell in love with the country and horses.

First becoming involved in a racehorse syndicate, the love and passion for the game finally saw Kriechbaumer take out his trainer’s licence in the 1990s.

In 1992 he trained his first winner Linzer Bua at Cambridge Raceway.

Kriechbaumer is currently in the ownership of half-a-dozen horses and trains two. He has trained 12 winners from limited starters.

Kriechbaumer was quick to become involved in the amateur programme when it began in the north, and has had a successful run.

“I was one of the first ones in the amateur programmes.”

“I’ve been in America, Canada, and the world champs in France representing New Zealand.”

“I’ve been very lucky. You need the horsepower to make you look good. I’ve had good support from the likes of Nathan Delany, Tony Herlihy, Jay Abernethy, Ray Green and Doug Gale.”

“My neighbours are Steve Telfer and Barry Purdon and Tony Herlihy are just around the corner.” 

Kriechbaumer intends to continue doing what he loves.

“I just came back from a trip to Sweden, where I went to the Elitloppet. My horses had a spell so they are back in work now. I’ll keep doing this for as long as my health holds up.”