Big Noon and Rune Johansson

Rune Johansson’s story – a life devoted to trotting.

Excerpt from Sulkysport Annual Review 2026
Text: Claes Freidenvall
Photos: Mathias Hedlund

Rune Johansson grew up at Sunds Manor in Åtorp. As the son of a stable foreman, horses were always present in his life, but among nine siblings, Rune Johansson was the only one who chose the path of the four-legged.

At the age of 17, Rune Johansson applied for a job at Menhammar after seeing an advertisement. The contrast was enormous.

- It was a model farm of a kind rarely seen.

At Menhammar, Rune one day had the chance to harness and drive the legendary Big Noon.

- He was 14 at the time and hadn’t had a sulky on him for seven years. For me, who was used to working horses, it was like driving a Rolls-Royce.

It did not stop with Big Noon. One day at Solvalla, when Sören Nordin was occupied with drives at Jägersro, the young apprentice was entrusted with driving none other than Frances Bulwark.

Rune Johansson thrived in his role at Menhammar Studfarm, but he longed to compete in races.

- At Menhammar I even had my own housekeeper, and that’s true. Olof Wallenius felt sorry for me because I couldn’t even boil an egg… At the time, Gösta Nordin was private trainer for Stall Segerhuva, and I mentioned to him that if there was ever a position available, I would be interested.

That was the beginning of a long career in various roles within trotting.