RONALD WILLIAM BISMAN
It was with great sadness that I read in the Christchurch Press death notices of the recent passing of renowned and well respected harness racing journalist, author and historian Ron Bisman. Ron had been living in Queensland for the past decade or more after having moved from Auckland, Christchurch born and bred (1932, Lyttelton).
Ron Bisman was the pre-eminent author of harness racing literature in New Zealand, something that many of us aspire to or attempt to follow in his footsteps.
The books that he was responsible for were :
• Cardigan Bay (1970)
• NZ Trotting Greats
• Globetrotting Simpson (Noel Simpson’s story)
• The Interdominions (4 editions) co – produced with Dunedin journalist Taylor Strong
• NZ Trotting Annuals – editor of first nine editions (1972 – 1980) and assisted with a number of later years before involved with production of final two editions as editor in 1994 and 198 (covered seasons 1994/5 – 1997/8), Edited 15 editions in total
• Harness Heroes (1989) – 100 year history of Auckland Trotting Club
His greatest claim to fame was production of the history of harness racing in New Zealand in the colossal book “Salute To Trotting” (1983). The result of five years research, it covered a decade by decade exposé from the origins of NZ harness racing through to the early 1980’s. The book was418 produced in standard A4 format (418 pages) as well as a luxury large scale edition limited to 1,000 copies, the bible of all things harness racing for the first hundred years in NZ. This publication was sponsored by Dominion Breweries and produced by Moa Publications. . I am fortunate to be the owner of one such luxury edition
Ron a writer for 60 years and was, in addition to the books mentioned above:
• Cadet reporter with Christchurch Press – 1949
• Editor of New Zealand Trotting Calendar- 1956
• Editor Friday Flash (1957 – 1960)
• 2 years in Kentucky as associate editor of Horseman and Fair World
• Racing editor of Truth
• Joined Auckland Star’s racing department in 1966 progressing to Harness Racing editor
• 2 years in Macau (earl y 1980’s) as racing secretary and judge
• Auckland Trotting Club promotion’s officer (1985 – 87)
• Harness Racing Weekly’s northern (Auckland/Waikato) correspondent for many years
• Member of NZ Trotting Hall of Fame located at Alexandra Park, Auckland
• Biography of Freeman Wright Holmes included in Encyclopaedia of NZ, Volume 3, 1996
Following his move to Queensland, Ron Bisman continued with written articles, an example of which being “Bisman’s Browsings” appears in the “WINTER 2015” edition of TRACKBRED magazine. It is lengthy and informative excursion into the maternal family of Im Themightyquinn, and is a typical, well researched example by Ron Bisman at work on a labour of love.
I only had the pleasure of meeting Ron on one occasion personally. This was on Grand Final night for the 1993 Trotters Interdominions at Alexandra Park in March 1993. We did exchange infrequent correspondence over the years when he was in Queensland, normally because I was searching for data. Without exception, Ron always had the answer or knew who to direct me.
Farewell to an icon of Harness Racing. He will be missed by all of the harness racing fraternity both in New Zealand and Australia. Thank you for so diligently and faithfully recording the history of harness racing in New Zealand in particular.
Ron Bisman was aged 82 years at the time of his death on 25 June 2015 at Dove Palliative Care Hospital, Sunshine Coast, Queensland. He is survived by his wife Eunice, children Christine and Perry and grandchildren Rachel and Alex Eggers and Charlotte Bisman.
Peter Craig
27 June 2015.
Driving The Future of Harness Racing