Horse Tolk

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31935, 12 March 1969, Page 11

Horse Tolk

The Big Show The Horse of the Year Show was an outstanding success, and the Canterbury committee must be given full credit for the good organisation which existed throughout the three days. There could not have been a better venue than the Rangiora showgrounds. Both arenas provided perfect conditions and, as a consequence, the jumping was superb. The riders probably wish they had the services of the Rangiora A. and P. staff at all the summer shows. The organising of such a large programme to suit

all competitors must have been a colossal task, yet it worked smoothly. However, the use of two bells in the main ring—one for A grade horses and one for working hunter events—caused confusion. Town Boy Town Boy and Mr C. Clarke have once again proved their supremacy throughout the circuit and taken the elusive Horse of the Year title for the first time. The title was very much in doubt until Sultan, ridden by Miss J. Robinson, rolled the last rail in the jump-off to take second place.

The win for Mr Clarke was the most popular of the show. Throughout the show and circuit he was an example to all riders, with his sportsmanship in victory or defeat.

Many riders did not show the same consideration for their horses and too often a rail down meant severe punishment for the unfortunate horse, even when the fault belonged to the rider for bad misplacing at (i fence.

This tendency in the ring and out by some qf our top riders is deplorable and damages the sport's public image. Town Boy and Mr Clarke must make riders realise that sympathy between horse and rider is all important in winning show jumping competitions. Town Boy has a clean set of legs that would be the envy of any show hack. It proves that a clean jumper, intelligently ridden, does not hit fence* if he can help It

Among other A grade horses, Geelong, ridden by Miss J. Cresswell, winner of the South Island Horse of the Year title at Invercargill and fourth in the Horse of the Year at Rangiora, proved his versatility. He has a phenomenal spring for such a small horse. Geelong’s best competition of the show was undoubtedly the Puissance, in which he was second to Town Boy after a great duel. The final fence stood at 6ft 3in and Geelong made a great effort but just rolled the rail behind, leaving Town Boy to win the event The stylish little horse, The Shah, ridden superbly throughout the show by Miss S. Crosbie, of Inver-

cargill, never quite managed to win a red rosette but its consistency was never in doubt. Miss J. Robinson’s two greys, Sultan and Aquaba, winner of the six-bar competition, both jumped consistently. Sultan’s best efforts were in the Beath Cup Table A competition, in which he beat Town Boy. Clear Round

Mrs R. R. Bain’s polished performance in the lady rider competition gave her a well deserved win. In the timed jump-off against Justice, last year’s winner, ridden by Miss M. McPhail, of Gisborne, Mrs Bain did not ride for speed but kept Hunter’s Moon perfectly balanced and jumped another beautifully ridden clear round. Justice, a little unsettled, brought rails down to leave Hunter’s Moon and Mrs Bain popular winners. Mrs Bain’s achievement on Hunter’s Moon and Harvest Moon must make an all time record for this show.