HORSE TALK

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31071, 28 May 1966, Page 15

HORSE TALK

Championships The New Zealand Pony Club Championships are over and for the competitors from the Christchurchllurunui - Greymouth area they contained all the usual joys and sorrows. Once again a beautifully built cross-country course was used, planned and built by Mr Harwood. Every fence was solid, with plenty of rails and at least one competitor’s verdict was—- “ Fabulous, a lovely course to ride.” However one fence, number 10. did cause a lot of grief. This was an open ditch, about seven feet wide, with the landing two to three feet higher than the take off. One horse and rider fell three times at this obstacle before struggling to the other side, and a number of eliminations occurred here also. Results

This year results were as follows:—Al Cup: Annette Baxter with Delmon Lad 33 penalties, 1: John Taylor with County Cork 46 penalties. 2: Bill Rutherford with Cavalier 49 penalties, 3. The Knox - Thompson Trophy for the best dressage performance was also won by Annette Baxter.

The Dorothy Campbell Trophy: Peter Gasin with Geronimo 43 penalties, 1: Colin Mackintosh with Peter Pan 44 penalties, 2; Fiona Takaberry with Pentagon 45 penalties, 3. The winner of the Dickens Trophy for the best dressage performance in this section was Jillian Banbury.

Good Performance For Annette Baxter and Delmont Lad this win was a well-deserved success as they have been most consistent and often a little unlucky in previous tries at this event. This win, after their win in the Waikato Trophv last year at the N.Z.H.S. National Championships confirms them as one of the best combinations in this sport. It is remarkable that two of the best ‘'eventers” in Canterbury, Harvest Moon and Delmont Lad are both on the 14.3 hand mark —just out of pony class. It is unfortunate that Miss

Baxter has other commitments which make it impossible for her to travel north again for the national championships and also the Three-Day-Event run by the Horse Society.

Of the local team the most pleasing performance was that of W. Rutherford with Cavalier. He now seems happy and at home with his horse—not always a state easily or quickly achieved by a new combination. They produced quite a good dressage test for a score of 49 penalties and after this did nothing wrong, so when som e competitors with better dressage scores made mistakes Mr Rutherford moved up and finished in third place. Kathryn Waters and Master Simon made an encouraging first start for although their dressage was not among the first place-getters, they had only one step on the the cross-country course and a clear show jumping round. Mary Watkinson and Aqaba were fifth in the dressage but were eliminated in the cross-country at the open ditch.

Of P. Thompson and Flyaway, the story is one of sorrow. Flyaway appeared lame in his dressage but started the cross-country in his usual free and delightful style. Towards the end the picture changed and he fell x over the last fence. After remounting they finished the course but Flyaway was too lame to start the show jumping. Veteran

Year after year familiar names appear on championship programmes, but one with perhaps the longest history' is a North Island horse. So Long, who was a place getter in the championships held at Blenheim in 1958. On that occasion he was ridden by Megan Symes. He has made many more appearances with other riders and this year was ridden by M. Otto. Notwithstanding advancing years, So Long still looks as capable and fit as ever. He finished close behind the placegetters. Two rails down in the show jumping cost him third place.