A dead-heat after a grueling four miles would seem almost impossible…until it happened

There are many great staying events in the world, but few come close to the demanding 6400m, Great Northern Steeplechase, formerly held at Ellerslie Racecourse each winter. Three challenging circuits of the course, each encompassing three traverses of the renowned Ellerslie hill and featuring a double stand and water jump situated at its midpoint was the ultimate test of horse and rider. The event provided a conclusive evaluation of both physical and mental resilience, and is widely recognised as the most challenging and formidable races in the Southern Hemisphere. The concluding ascent presents the greatest test of equine strength and character, separating less prepared competitors before descending the opposing slope. Following a clear jump at the base of the rise, a strenuous battle to the finish line ensues, with both the rider and their mounts demonstrating extreme exertion as they approach their physical limits.

The Melbourne Cup is generally considered a testing stayers race, but the Great Northern presents an even greater test of extreme endurance and riding skill. This race covers double the distance of the Melbourne Cups 3200 metres (two miles), and includes 28 obstacles, included three trips over the famed Ellerslie hill. Additionally, the race is typically held on a heavy track, further increasing the difficulty for both horse and jockey, sapping their strength jump by jump, metre by metre. Only the famed Velka Pardubicka steeplechase over 6900m held in the Czech Republic and the English Grand National over 6400m are comparable as the supreme jumping test.

The magnificent chaser HUNTERVILLE won the race three times in 1983/84/85 with consecutive victories, BROCKTON was a legend, winning the chase twice in 1971/72, HYPNOTIZE with Issac Lupton won the race in 2007/10/11; EFFIEL TOWER the 1957 victor also won the Wellington Cup and the famous jumping machine, BROOKBY SONG triumphed in 1946 and 1948 carrying 76kg. The recently departed champion WEST COAST also claimed victory twice at Te Rapa but never went over the hill.

But nothing could beat the remarkable dead-heat in June 2001 between SMART HUNTER - a 9YO horse trained by the legendary Cambridge team of Ken & Ann Browne - and SIR AVION - an 8YO trained by Kevin O'Connor from Waipa. In the 2001 Great Northern Steeplechase at Ellerslie Racecourse, a mechanical failure with the starting barrier meant the gates for Smart Hunter and Sir Avion failed to open with the rest of the field. Because the two horses were trapped in the failed stalls, they were left behind as the rest of the pack began the race. Remarkably, despite starting from an immediate standstill, both horses caught up to the field.

After sharing a solid pace together for almost the entire journey, Smart Hunter was under extreme pressure coming down the hill with 700m to go. He looked shot and his legs were gone after running on the Saturday, but he was as tough as a brick shithouse. Sir Avion pushed on with two jumps left and Wayne Hillis angled the horse wide, closer to to grandstand and grabbed hold of the lead. After navigating the final jump, somehow, Michelle Hopkins on Smart Hunter just kept on gradually drawing in Sir Avion stride by stride, and right on the line the two horses bobbed heads almost simultaneously. Neither horse deserved to lose.

There were scenes of confusion as the judge took an eternity to finally make the call, but eventually the prize was split - the two could not be separated after four miles of rugged steeplechasing competition. The crowds initial reaction was one of astonishment, as the outcome remained uncertain. Upon the display of the photo finish, a consensus emerged that the two competitors were inseparable, leading to disbelief that such a prestigious race could conclude in a historic dead heat. Spectators responded to the result with a mixture of cheers and incredulous laughter and emotion for Kenny.

When the stoic Ann Browne was interviewed while waiting for the result, she was asked if she ever believed a dead-heat could happen in a race such as the Great Northern. Her response was - "Well, yes because it just did." Not one for too many words, Ann was soon embraced by Kevin O'Connor as the two jockeys slowly returned to scale, hands joined, arms raised victoriously. It was even more remarkable by the fact that Michelle Hopkins had ridden Smart Hunter to with the Great Northen Hurdles over 4190m on the Saturday drawing clear, with only three days between scoring a rare double for the Browne's.

It was an incredibly emotional day as Ken Browne MBE had been left a quadriplegic after a recent jumping fall on his property after 50 years as an amateur jumps jockey. A legend in the sport, Kenny rode from 1951 to 2001, 156 winners (54 hurdles, 102 steeplechases) over fences from a total of 1482 rides, claiming his last win at the age of 67. As an owner and trainer Ken was even more successful, preparing more than 500 winners over jumps, initially in his own right, and then, from 1983, in partnership with Ann. The brown silks with a single red hoop were synonymous with classic equine jumpers.

SMART HUNTER would go on to run 3rd to classy stablemate WANDERLUST in the Pakuranga Hunt Cup and run 4th in the Northern the following year. He would win one more, the Roger Browne Memorial Steeplechase in 2003 before retiring in October of that year. SIR AVION would find it hard to win another - placing in both the Koral and Grand National in two consecutive years, runner-up in two Wellington Steeples and 7th and 5th in the Northern before bowing out in August of 2004 after a GN failure. Both were as tough as they come.

Ken and his wife, Ann, produced some of the finest hurdlers and steeplechase competitors to ever race in New Zealand, including; SMART HUNTER, ASCONA, CROWN STAR and SYDNEY JONES, TOM'S MYTH, BROTHER BART, LORD TENNYSON, DROPS O'RAIN, and WANDERLUST. The Browne stables have claimed the prestigious Great Northern Steeplechase 9 times and the Pakuranga Hunt Cup 11 times. His death in 2006 leaves us treasuring our memories of a master horseman, a consummate professional and a humble man. But we will always remember the famous 2001 Great Northern that delivered one of the most remarkable results in New Zealand racing history. The hill is now gone, sold to property developers, so the chase will never quite be the same, but this one memorable moment will last a lifetime. We were so lucky to be there on the day and experience the emotion of it all.

The famous race was run at Te Rapa and won twice by WEST COAST after the redevelopment and resurfacing of Ellerslie Racecourse, then held at Te Aroha in the inaugural Great New Zealand chase over 6200m in 2025 and won by the rising steeplechase star, JESKO.