HORSE TALK

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30841, 28 August 1965, Page 11

HORSE TALK

One-Day Event The first Pony Club oneday event of the season at Rangiora drew 73 entries, an indication of how popular this form of sport is becoming. To many competitors, the day must have taught one lesson. The rules must be observed and learnt thoroughly. The cross-country course was very fair and attractively built and should have caused very little trouble to any rider. However, more than half the competitors were eliminated. The cause of elimination was usually some error which could have been avoided. It was noticeable that the youngest competitors, in the under 13

years class, had less eliminations than the older competitors. Belfast Pony Club The Belfast Pony Club One-day Event will be held tomorrow on Messrs M. Williams’s and R. G. Harvey’s properties, Styx. The starting time is 8.30 a.m. As there are 109 entries the starting time and the draw will be strictly adhered to. The first cross-country class will start at 11.30 a.m., after the dressage phase. Partnership Danny Boy and Margaret Grenside, three times winners of the Forest Gate

Trophy in the national horse trials championships, have proved their ability in many ways. Danny Boy, an 11-year-old 16-hand gelding by a Pictavia colt from a Hunting Song mare, possesses a very honest nature and a calm temperament.

He was used as a station hack before Miss Grenside bought him and she has now had him five years. He did very little for his first two years as his owner was still riding in pony classes. A versatile horse, Danny Boy has taken prizes in hunter classes, handy hunter, and round the ring events, as well as dressage combined training, horse trials and F.E.I. (A Grade) events. Their only start in the Al Cup was in 1963 when they were placed third.

Last year, Danny Boy’s stablemate of the time. Snail, jumped 6ft 2in in a puissance at Palmerston North. Not to be out done, three weeks later Danny Boy cleared 6ft at Hunterville. Miss Grenside and Snail were chosen as Olympic reserves—a meritorious performance for such a young combination.

Show Jumping Mr B. G. Rutherford, the manager of the New Zealand equestrian team that visited Tokyo in 1963 and 1964, is negotiating for a team of Mexican riders to visit New Zealand in the coming show season. As yet there is nothing definite but if negotiations succeed, a team of riders only will come and mounts will be found for the riders in New Zealand. At the Ascot Jumping Show, Saba Sam, one of New Zealand’s Olympic show jumpers, gained second place in the Renault Grand Prix ridden by Miss Pat Pharasjyn. The first round resulted In 11 clear rounds being jumped. In the jump-off. North Flight, a half-Cleve-land Bay was 2sec faster than Saba Sam after they had once again jumped clear. Glencoe, ridden by Roycroft of Australia, was third. Saba Sam and Tide, the two Olympic horses, are expected to return to New Zealand in October.