Brian was born in Taumarunui and grew up in the King Country and Whangamomona. He is President of the NZTROF Whanganui/Taranaki branch, elected 2017.

Brian’s working life includes shepherding and sheep farm management as well as being part-owner a company selling nutritional products to the intensive livestock industry, including to thoroughbred studs and trainers.

He has played and refereed Rugby and been an active player and administrator in Lawn Bowls. He also has an interest in Sheep Dog Trials. He was on the committee of the Taranaki-Whanganui Thoroughbred Breeders Association for a number of years during the early 2000s.

Brian’s first introduction to racing was at an equalisator meeting at Te Kuiti Racecourse as a 7yo. After success in the last two races that day, Brian admits to these days being a largely unsuccessful punter, due to regularly backing roughies.

The first horse Brian part-owned was Miss Akebono, who won two races. He then bred Roanah (7 wins) and Beau Dane (9 wins), followed by Beau Agen whose six wins included the Woodville-Pahiatua Cup.

Brian considers his biggest racing thrills came when Beau Dane won the Interprovincial (2010) and Gorbachev won the Wellington Cup (2019). His biggest disappointment as an owner was Miss Akebono’s first ever win at Otaki. The major owners were delayed at the swab box and no other owners from the race were at the presentation. It was a great win, but post-race was very flat.

Brian is lucky enough to be involved in several horses currently racing with good success, including Gorbachev and Mauna Kea.

He is a member of both Whanganui Jockey Club and Waverley Racing Clubs.