Close contest in mini circuit

Press, 3 October 1985, Page 29

Close contest in mini circuit

Golden Girl ridden by Sarah Skates, of Prebbleton, leads the I3_2hh pony section in the John McEwing mini circuit. Close behind are Nicola and Foxton Carmen who share equal points for second placing.

Questionnaire leads the hack section, ridden bv a young rider, Tara Barrett, of Halswell. This combination is followed closely bv Beat the Bullet

The Mary Wakeman and Cobber combination still lead the 14_2hh pony section, with Rebel three points down in second place. The Hawarden/Waikari pony club branch was host for the fourth mini circuit on September 28 in brilliant sunshine With very little between the leaders, the last day on Sunday, at Windsor Pony Club grounds should be an exciting finale. Activities will start at 8.30 a.m. Leaders are:—

Hacks: T. Barrett’s Questionnaire (34), C. Preece’s Beat the Bullet (30), S. Becconsall’s Captain Grey (23), M. Crean’s Trik Time (20). 14.2hh Ponies: M. Wakeman’s Cobber (33), S. Harbison's Rebel (30), S. Johnson’s Zaba (27), S. Topp's Free Rule (24). 13.2bh Ponies: S. Skates’s Golden Girl (32), C. Turner/ Carlyon’s Nicola (28), H. Stafford's Foxton Carmen (28), M. Rutherford’s Galway Snowdrop (27). K. Ward’s Torridan Showman (27).

Planning for the twentieth annual show during Labour week-end at the Ellesmere Showgrounds is well advanced. The event was the brainchild of the then newly-formed junior committee of the Canterbury area of the Horse Society. The first shows built up a reputation of being excellently organised with novelty ring attractions and show"jumping events which drew thousands of spectators. For years the show was held at the Rangiora Showgrounds. Last year it shifted to the South Island equestrian centre at McLeans Island.

Although it has become a more simply organised jumping show, it still runs over two days. While lacking the carnival atmosphere of the past.

this show is still recognised as one of the most popular jumping events in the South Island and draws entries from as far afield as Blenheim and Otago.

Mark Todd and Charisma again produced top form to win the advanced section two at the Bourton horse trials in Warwickshire, England. Todd, riding his new horse. Larking About, finished fifth in the advanced section one.

Andrew Scott is back in New Zealand after a highly successful season with the horses he took to England'by sea last summer for the Humber family. He had wins with The Puzzler at Shamley Green and Hallmark at Iping. He terminated his arrangements, however, when Anzac was put on the market

Andrew Nicholson and his wife, Jayne, are doing well with the novices in their yard, and Ross Renwick was second on the intermediate. Red Squirrel, at Solihull.

Jack le Goff, trainer of the American team until recently, will be in New Zealand in January, and will conduct clinics while he is here.

The individual winners of the challenge cups for the most points gained in the three jumping sections at the Kaiapoi jumping show recently were: Harris Challenge Cup, T. Barrett’s Questionnaire; Fleetwood Challenge Cup, S. Topp’s Free Rule; Begg Challenge Cup, S. Skates’s Golden Girt The Merritt-Beazley Challenge Cup for the pony club teams jumping event went to KaiapqL Second was Rangiora and third was Halswell

The area chairman of the Horse Society, Mr Merlin Preece, has 'cautioned that there is room for improvement in the dress standards of show jumping judges. Standards of dress showjumm’’—

-x> for showjumping, competition riders are under article 258 N.Z.H.S. Rules. “Judges’ dress should complement that laid down for competitors,” he said. “A scruffily-dressed judge is in no position to reprimand riders on their turnout Let the showjumping judges lead by esample in the matter of correct dress.”

Mr Preece would also like to point out that there has been some concern over the standard of course building in this year’s mini circuit. “At Hawarden, the hack ring was built with incorrect distances in combinations and to related fences. The standard of jumping consequently was not good — there can be no other result,” he said. “When the same fences

cause problems in all grades, an observant course builder usually rechecks the distances between fences that they follow those recommended in the N.Z.H.S. Rule Book. “When the direction of a course is reversed, then of necessity there will be changes in the distances in combination fences.”

HORSE

TALK