Dusky Bay is still a force

Press, 27 May 1981, Page 30

Dusky Bay is still a force

Competitors from Auckland to Invercargill will converge on Mr R. P. Tennent's property at Otaio, south oi Timaru, for the Wills New Zealand one-day horse trials on Sunday. International riders are ’ amongst the 50 entries for the event, which embraces the three, phases of dressage, cross-country, and show jumping. There are three competitions or sections at the New

Zealand one-day trials. The advanced entrants compete for the Forest Gate Trophy and one of the favourites for this event must be Sharon McFarlane, from Winton, on Callanlight. This 20-year-old former working pupil at the National Equestrian Centre at Taupo, last year won the top section of the national three-day event and travelled back south to win the Canterbury two- day event,

having previously won the Southland two-day trial earlier in the season. As far as experience and winning form are concerned, the Canterbury combination of Florence West and Dusky Bay are way out in front.. They have, in fact, been winning horse trials since 1972. Their record includes a national three-day event win, New Zealand representation against the Australians, and

placings in Australia. Now about 15 years old, Dusky Bay is still a force to be reckoned with in this toughest of all equestrian sports. Gary Sellars, of Invercargill, was in the South Island team at last year's New Zealand three-day event in Taupo, and finished seventh in the advanced section. Also in that team was Lyn Inglis of Motueka who will be at Otaio with her Galliano and a novice, Rise and Rule. North Island riders include the well known racehorse trainer, Eric Ropiha from Woodville, on Silver King — winners of last year's intermediate section at the New Zealand three-day. Joanne Abram, from Auckland, and Raszarda, recently won the Auckland Area one-day trial and last year were winners of the Al Cup at the pony club championships. At Otaio they will compete for the Waiteko Trophy .for intermediate horses.

Joanne Bridgman, of Hamilton, was one of the young New Zealanders who competed at the world champion-

ships at Kentucky in 1978, subsequently selling her horse, Bandolier, to the champion English rider, Lucinda Prior-Palmer. Joanne now rides the promising’** chestnut, Raupo.

Almost half of the entries will be in the novice section, competing for the Ferndale Trophy, and interest here will centre on promising newcomers to the sport with potential for the future.

Indeed, much interest will centre on this event, the following week’s Wills New Zealand three-day event at Ashburton, and other trials this season, as the New Zealand Horse Society is planning to select a New Zealand team to go to the world three-day event championships in Luhmuhlen, West Germany, in 1982.

This will be the first time an official horse trials team has competed internationally, although, of course, New Zealand individuals have competed abroad with success over the past 10 years or so.