Diana Cunningham Is An Accomplished Horsewoman

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29841, 6 June 1962, Page 11

Diana Cunningham Is An Accomplished Horsewoman

mHE hundred or so trophies A which are scattered in her home at 68 Albert terrace give tangible proof to Miss Diana Cunningham s ability as a horsewoman. But the trophies are only part of Miss Cunningham's story Thev do not tell of the hours of training and practice the constant devotion to duty which have made this 19-year-old girl one of the Dominion’s best woman show jumpers ~ Miss Cunningham was riding almost as early as she was walking and when she was 11 she was an accomplished r.der —and a successful ore She won many onedsy events at this age and it was clear then that here was a rider of great potential She has fulfilled that promise with a string of victories as long as your arm. but these victories have only

been achieved through thorough practice and a deep knowledge of the technicalities of her sport. Victory has often meant a special effort too. as in the case of the area trials at Waikari in January. She had a fall in the crosscountry event when her horse. Harvest Moon, stepped into a gorse hole, and her collar-bone was broken. Ignoring the pain she remounted and finished the remaining six obstacles. Then, with her shoulder s.rapped. she completed the F.E.I. events, finishing with top points.

She has won events under all sorts of conditions in both show and F.E.I. events. She has qualified five times at area trials before representing Canterbury at pony club and Canterbury championships. She has also won the

Dorottiy Campbell Trophy for riders under 17—at Blenheim in 1958—but perhaps her most distinguished effort is her feat in twice winning the A.l Cup. a performance that has never been equalled Miss Cunningham has had her horse since it was a three-year-old and unbroken. With the assistance of her father she broke and trained it herself and has since ridden it in her show career. Harvest Moon is not a big animal, it is only 14.3 hands and so her performances aga.nst bigger animals are all the more meritorious.

A holder of the A Certificate in horsemanship. Miss Cunningham is club captain and instructor at the Ferrymead Pony Club, which, through her influence, attracts 40 or 50 riders to a rally.