2023 Country Achiever Award WAYNE NICHOLS
By Andrew Nicholl, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Trainers’ Association
The Australian Trainers’ Association (ATA), Country Racing Victoria (CRV) and the Victoria Racing Club (VRC) are proud to honour our 2023 Country Achiever on VRC Country Race Day at Flemington today. This award recognises the career and broader industry contribution by a country-based trainer, and includes a race named in honour of this year’s recipient, Mr Wayne Nichols. In addition, the ATA, in conjunction with Racing Supplies, will provide a trophy and a $500 product voucher, which will be presented to Wayne in The Committee Room today.
Wayne, an only child, was born in 1953, growing up in Dandenong. His early years were completely unrelated to racing, with Wayne concentrating on his sporting passion at the time, water skiing. Between the ages of 16 and 28, Wayne won 10 Victorian state titles, a national title, and represented his country internationally, including at events held in California, New Zealand and London. It was not until Wayne retired from water skiing pursuits that he exhibited an interest in thoroughbreds. At the time, the family was residing on a farm at Bundalong, outside of Yarrawonga, where Wayne’s retired father (Ted) had in 1981, obtained his Owner Trainer license. Wayne obtained a stable hand license, and began to work alongside his father.
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