HORSE TALK

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32216, 7 February 1970, Page 9

HORSE TALK

Show circuit (MRCUIT show time has arrived once again with the first horse show at Dunedin today and tomorrow. It will be followed by the Southland area's show at Gore on February 14 and 15. The competitors will then travel back to Waimate for the North Otago-South Canterbury area show on February 21 and 22.

The final show of the southern circuit is the

South Island “Horse of tbe Year” show to be held at Rangiora on February 28 and March 1. Some excellent jumping should be

seen at this show which will be run on the same lines as the very successful “Horse of the Year” show at Rangiora last year. N.I. team A North Island team will be competing in the circuit which should encourage exciting competitions.

Canterbury riders travelling south include J. Cresswell with the A grade, Geelong, I. Knox with the A grade, Avapeak, and the improver, Standout, Helen Kendall and Jane Inglis with the C Grade, Loch Lomond and Acapulco, and Beth Lemon with the A grade. Markham, and C grade Gidget. The im-

prover horses to travel south include Watutsi (Mrs G. Thomson), Tosca (L. Diggs), Okitu (M. Nelson), Cairo (R. Miller) and General Pizaro (J. Topp). Area trials

The ChristchurchWestland area trials were held on the properties of Messrs Payne and Milligan last Sunday to select the team to take part in the New Zealand Pony Club championsihps at Auckland next May. The cross-country was a distance of one mile and three-quarters, incorporating 20 jumps. The course was solid and well built and with rather rough, ground all riders had to really keep their wits; about them. Most of the : refusals were caused! through bad riding. The I difficult fences in the D C I section were a battened; wire and a wide ramp,; both of which were maxi-; mum height. In the Al! section, the problem fence 1 was number six, which! formed the first of a com-; bination of three fences. ; Six chosen

Mary Watkinson on Beau de L'Aire won the Al section with 30 points in the dressage and a clear in cross-country and in the show-jumping. Stephen Montgomery on Sansi, with 50 in the dressage and a clear for the next two phases, was second. Richard Rutherford on Faenza with 32 in dressage, 20 in the crosscountry and a clear in the show jumping, was third. The winner of the D C section was Elizabeth McGrath on Pharoah with 41 in the dressage and then a clear in both phases, while second place went to Lynette Topp on Handyman with 50 in the dressage and then clear. Third was Paulette Smith on Sirocco with 53 in dressage and then clear. As she was not available for the team, Raewynn Shorty who was two points behind, took her place in the team. Jane Inglis on Acapulco will be the emergency.