Waikato leads pony club championships

Press, 25 May 1985, Page 3

Waikato leads pony club championships

Waikato leads the New Zealand Pony Club championships after winning the Teams’ Dressage Challenge Cup by a big margin, during the second day of competition. Waikato contestants took three of the top six placings in the dressage phase of the national competitions, being held at Riccarton Racecourse. A Waikato rider, Judith Charleston, on High Rate, gained the individual dressage lead from another Waikato team member, Bernese Muir, who led the Al section after the first day of dressage on Thursday. 'F Judith Charleston won the Knox Thompson Perpetual Challenge Cup. The chief dressage judge for the Al class, Mrs Pam Reid, said Charleston's winning effort was a “beautiful test."

Joanne Taylor, riding her 14.2-hands grey gelding Blue Stratos, also for the Waikato team, was second equal in the D.C. class, for riders 16 years and under.

Other Waikato riders, Mary Wayne on Aristocrat, Bridget Cashmore on Casino, and Rich-

ard Gardner on Tirohanga Pepper Pot, complete the prize-winning team. First place in the D.C. class went to an Otago-Southland rider, Charlotte Young, on her attractive chestnut, Ryvahd. She won the Dickens Perpetual Challenge Cup. The other second-equal placegetter in the D.C. class was Paula Bygrave, riding Legend Royalty, for Waitemata-Rod-ne Rolding third place in the Al class is Caitlin Metz riding her tall chestnut, Captain Mac, representing Gisborne-Wairoa. Mrs Reid, chief Al dressage judge, said she was “thrilled” with the improvement in dressage standard during the few years since she had judged at the championships. She attributed the improvement to the tuition now available to riders, and to riders becoming much more aware of the importance of flat work in training a horse to jump well. One of the D.C. dressage judges. Mrs Barbara Blackie, said that the standard in the D.C. arena also was “of a pretty good standard.”

Waikato is well ahead at this stage with an aggregate score of. 217.11, from Hawke’s Bay (on 260.45) and AshburtonSouth Canterbury-North Otago (on 262.00). Waitemata-Rodney, on 277.10, is fourth.

The cross-country and show jumping are due to begin at 9 a.m. today. Results.—

Al Class — Dressage: J. Charleston’s High Rate (25.33) 1; B. Muir’s Happy Wanderer (30.22) 2; C. Metz’s Captain Mac (34.89) 3. D.C. Class — Dressage: C. Young’s Ryvahd (33.78) 1; P. Bygrave’s Legend Royalty and A. Stevenson’s Harlequin (34.67), equal 2.