Prowess proved by equestrians

Press, 30 August 1985, Page 20

Prowess proved by equestrians

New Zealand’s prowess in the equestrian field has been proved yet again. A team of six young New Zealand riders earlier this month won the coveted Inter Pacific shield, the Goodwill Trophy, at Goodwood, in the south of England.

Each member rode two show jumping rounds on borrowed horses, with the New Zealanders finishing up with only 16 penalties. The best four out of six scores counted.

The British team was second with 28/2 penalties, and the Australians third with 41 faults. The Inter Pacific exchange is organised through the Pony Club Associations of six member countries, including Canada, Japan, Hong Kong and the Phillipines (grouped together as the Far East), Australia, New Zealand and Great Britain. Teams of six from each country convene every two years in one of the member countries.

Two South Islanders were part of the winning team, Tracey Powell, from Blenheim, and Mark Adorian, from Amberley, both aged 20. The other four North Island representatives were the team captain, Julie Evans, aged 20, from Pukekohe, Belinda Bary, aged 18, from Havelock North, Steven McKenzie, a 19 year old from Hamilton, and Stephen Melling, aged

18, from Kerikeri. The team manager was also a South Islander, Mrs Virginia Johnson, the immediate past-president of the New Zealand Pony Club Association, who comes from Springfield, North Canterbury.

Mrs Johnson said the team was an excellent one. Not only did it perform well in the teams’ event, it also impressed in the “scrambled” dressage and horse trials competitions. These are events in which members of each team are put together in composite teams.

Winning the Goodwill Trophy was perhaps the highlight of the three-week visit, which included many of Britain’s top equestrian attractions.

On one visit, the 36 team members lunched at the famous Burghley House with the owner, Lady Romaine Brassey. They were then allowed to walk around part of the nearly completed European World Championships course which is being held at Burghley next month with the course designer, (and former United Kingdom Inter Pacific team member) Philip Herbert. Team members were also treated to a look at the Vale of Aylesbury hunt kennels, harness driving, a performance of the Household Cavalry at Earl’s Court, as well as a four-day visit to the well-known horse area

of Newmarket. They visited the training yard of Henry Cecil, a distinguished flat thoroughbred trainer who has trained a Derby winner. The Horse Racing Museum, Equine Research Station and the National Stud were also on the itinerary. The British hosts also managed to organise an Inter Pacific attendance at a Buckingham Palace Garden Party. Mrs Johnson said that the teams got to see a great deal of British Pony Club life while being billeted out with riding families, because it was their busiest period. Area championship finals and tetrathalons (which involve shooting, cross country, running and swimming) being held all over the country. "It was fantastic to see the British Pony Club at first-hand,” Mrs Johnson said.

What was immediately impressive was the British regard for protocol, she said. Both horses and riders were always beautifully turned out. Mrs Johnson also noticed the better lower leg position of the British child, and the discipline of the British horses. She attributed these to both the greater availability of good instruction and to the constant working in indoor schools - “with no distractions.”

CAROLE VAN GRONDELLE