PAT SMYTHE HERE ON TUESDAY

Press, Volume C, Issue 29454, 4 March 1961, Page 5

PAT SMYTHE HERE ON TUESDAY

QN Tuesday afternoon Christchurch show jumping enthusiasts will have the privilege of seeing in action the leading lady of the show jumping world. Miss Pat Smythe OBJ, Britain’s most famous woman rider who is spending a short time in New Zealand on her way to judge at the Sydney Royal Easter Show, has consented to give a demonstration ride at the showgrounds in the afternoon, end a lecture at the Repertory Theatre in the evening. Miss Smythe in her short life has already accomplished more than most people twice her age. She has twice, riding Mr Hansens “Flanagan.” represented Great Britain at the Olympic Games; on the first occasion, at Helsinki in 1956. helping to win the bronze medals for third place in the Prix des Nations Teams’ jumping competition. First Trip

Her first trip to the Continent 'With a British show jumping team was made at the age of 18 riding “Finality,” the first show jumper she had trained. Since then she has jumped regularly on the Continent and in Britain and also competed in the United States. Canada, South Africa. North Africa and South America. With her two great horses. ‘‘Prince Hal” and "Tosca.” she has won most of the big jumping prizes in the world. All horse lovers mourned with Pat the death of the former from heart trouble. He was one of the great show jumpers of all time. It is not only as a rider however, that Pat Smythe has gained fame. Her two volumes of autobiography “Jump for Joy” and “One Jump Ahead” show that she is as capable with the pen as in the saddle. She has also produced a series of very successful children’s books which cleverly mingle fictional characters with the real-life inhabitants of her home at Miserden. No-one could be less like the proverbial hard-faced, weather-beaten, horsy female than Pat Smythe. She is always immaculately dressed, in

the saddle or out of it, and noone meeting her casually at a dinner or cocktail party would suspect that this smiling, quiet-spoken girl was a rider whose outstanding characteristics are determination and courage. Many Falls She has had many falls, but these have never shaken her nerve. Just over a year ago at the International Horse Show at White City Pat’s mount, “Mr Pollard,” fell and, as he struggled to regain his feet, cut her head open with a glancing blow of his hoof. Pat consented to retire to hospital but, as soon as five stitches had been inserted in her scalp, discharged herself and rode again in the evening competitions. (A special dispensation from the show authorities allowed her to ride without a crash cap as she could not get one to fit over her bandages.)

As a rider over obstacles Pat Smythe is pleasant to watch. She has not the classic style of Peter Robeson nor the flowing harmony of the D’lnzeo brothers, but she is rarely out of position and her horses go kindly for her. At the Showgrounds on Tuesday 20 horses have been invited by the Canterbury Branch of the Horse Society to jump a course of spread and upright obstacles. Miss Smythe will watch their performances and will then select one or more to ride herself. While riding and jumping she will broadcast a running commentary through a small microphone hanging round her neck, This commentary should prove both interesting and instructive. Lecture The lecture in the Repertory Theatre also should not be missed by anyone interested in show jumping. It is so very seldom that enthusiasts in New

Zealand have the opportunity to hear first-hand accounts of great events in the equestrian world. Never before has New Zealand seen a rider who has twice competed in the Olympic games, a rider moreover, who was the first woman of any nationality to compete there in the great jumping competition which till 1956. had been confined to male riders.