HORSE TALK

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32524, 6 February 1971, Page 9

HORSE TALK

Holiday trek The Rangiora Pony Club has just completed a most enjoyable eight-day trek to Peraki and Duvauchelle. Thirty ponies and horses were trucked to Little River, where their riders had assembled for the 10-mile ride to Peraki. Cooking facilities and some sleeping accommodation were available in a farm cottage lent by Mr W. Hall, while all the older children slept under canvas.

The biggest novelty of the camp for the children was swimming the ponies in the sea; the beach at Peraki was ideal for this. A barbecue was to be held at Wainui, with Rangiora inviting the Banks Peninsula and Little River Pony Clubs to be their guests, but unfortunately bad weather caused this to be cancelled. Then the camp packed up and the riders set off over the Jubilee Road for Duvauchelle.

A large camp of tents and caravans was set up in a circle at the Duvauchelle Show Grounds, while the ponies were yarded close by in the old sale yards. All riders competed successfully at the show, and, on the following day, rode over the hill to Little River where the trucks were waiting to transport the ponies home. Duvauchelle show The committee always welcomes pony club treks and riders wishing to journey over the hill and camp at the grounds; undoubtedly, this helped to produce the excellent entries received in the horse section. Apart from the 30 Rangiora members, about 20 other horses were ridden over the hill, with some families camping at the show grounds and some at French Farm. Many stayed on for the week and then rode back to Little River for the annual show. Margaret Fisher, on Marshall Gold, had a most successful show, winning both the Champion Hack and Jumper, while the Rolleston sisters from South Canterbury took most of the honours in the pony jumping. Also successful were the Wood family from Mt Herbert with its main win being the champion pony under 14.2 hands with Agreement. Kerry Maley, on Tina, won the champion pony under 12.2 hands and Gay Prince, ridden by Ann Wightman, won two pony jumps and was

reserve champion pony jumper to C. Rolleston’s Copper. Area trials Wet weather marred the South Canterbury Area trials, which drew 36 entries. The crosscountry rode well and it was very noticeable that those who rode boldly and completed the crosscountry with distinction were all riders who hunted regularly in the winter. One unfortunate feature was the number ot unfit horses; competitors should realise that their horses need to be very fit for area trials. The team for the championships in May is: P. Letham, The Rock, Barbara Tennant, Martini, and Trudy Kane, Timothy Tip-

toes in the A.I. section; Ann Lemon, Bambi, J. Hamet, Buccaneer and C. Ferriman in the D.C. section. The first four members have competed in the championships before. Problem fences Entries for the Canter-bury-Westland area trials were at their lowest ebb with only 14 starters from the 17 entries received. Mary Watkinson on Beau de L’Aire won the dressage phase in the A.I. section, while Jenny Shand on Ricochet won the dressage in the D.C. section.

The cross - country course had two problem fences, which eliminated seven competitors, and much of this may have been caused by the rough

ground and approaches as the riders could not really gallop on. Only two completed the course in the A.l.—Beau de L’Aire, who was first, and R. Topp on Lookout, second. Five finished in the D.C., with E. McGrath on Pharaoh having the only clear round of the day in first place. Ricochet was second and J. McLean on Hi Lyte, third. The area is entitled to send three in each section, but as only two completed the course in the A.I. it will not be able to send six representatives. Four were named for the Canterbury-West-land team to compete at Timaru in May—Watkinson, McGrath, Shand and McLean, with J. Gould as reserve for the D.C section, and possibly, Russell Topp, who qualified, could go if it is decided to send five competitors.