JHN goes for GB
On Sunday 14 November (5.30 GMT) at the Hipòdrom Son Pardo, Majorca, John Henry Nicholson will don the Union Jack colours in the Prix des Rencontres Internationales. This is an International Drivers race organised by LeTROT in conjunction with the annual meeting of countries involved in their Trotteur Français initiative. The choice of John Henry was a simple one. He had more drives than any other driver this season (59) but he made the most of his opportunities:
16 Victories – More than any other driver.
9 Seconds – More than any other driver.
13 Thirds – More than any other driver.
£36,575 in Prize money – More than any other driver.
Introducing the 2021 TROTBritain Champion Driver and our British representative – John Henry Nicholson.
Age: 22
Hometown: Evenwood, County Durham
Favorite Food: Granny Bell’s Sunday dinner!
Hobbies: I play football on a 5-a-side team three nights a week, and I also enjoy fishing in my spare time.
Your 2021 Trotting Highlight? I had a great year as a driver and as a family we had plenty of success with the horses.But two particular moments that stand out were setting a new track record with Blason at Corbiewood and breaking the track & British record over a mile and a quarter at Tir Prince on Crock of Gold night with Diamant de Godrel.
Favourite Trotter that you’ve worked with? Diamant De Godrel because he is so loving and loves to do his job, the journey we have been on together and the races we have won along the way has been incredible. But I’ve also worked with some really nice trotters, like Blason, as well. Proper family horses that we’ve all been able to take part with.
Any international experience? I’ve driven in New York at Yonkers, the first horse I ever drove over there was a trotter. I’ve also driven at Monticello. I’d like to go back to America before long and try to get my first win over there! I’m also getting my first drive in Spain soon in the Prix des Rencontres Internationales at Son Pardo, where I’m representing Great Britain.
Your driving icon? John Campbell, without a doubt. I regularly drive in one of his race bikes.
You can catch drive any Trotter in the world, who are you hitching the bike to? Facetime Bourbon – the way he won the Prix d’Amerique back in 2020 was really impressive but winning it again and in the manner that he did in 2021, he has such an engine and incredible turn of foot.
What’s a Trot ambition you’d like to achieve in the next 10 years? Obviously at home here in the UK I’d like to continue driving winners and winning the big races but I’d also like to drive abroad more, particularly in European countries where the trotting is so big, and at tracks like Vincennes and Solvalla which are known around the world. Being able to drive at those different tracks against professional drivers and getting more experience would help me up my game here at home as well. Having driven in America already, my goal would be to win over there too. The opportunity to represent my country overseas is fantastic and maybe competing in the World Driving Championships for Great Britain could be added to my bucket list.
Longterm, what’s the ultimate Trot dream? I want to drive professionally. To be able to do something I love as a job is the ultimate dream.
Everyone at TROTBritain wishes John the very best of luck for the race at Hipòdrom Son Pardo, Mallorca, Spain.