Circuits boost for show jumping

Press, 21 February 1986, Page 22

Circuits boost for show jumping

This show jumping year carries two grand prix circuit points prizes, one for ponies and one for horses.

While the horse circuit has been in existence since the 1982-83 season, when it was won comfortably by Leanne Chambers and Emma Jane, this is the first season that a pony circuit has been pointed. That the pony circuit has been an unqualified success has been proved by the great numbers of travelling ponies, all returning good fees to organising committees as they go round the circuit That of course, was what the circuit was all about in the first instance ... to encourage the spread of top class show jumping Into the far-flung corners of New Zealand? \

As the number of participating organising committees continues to grow, so the object of the exercise becomes even more spectacular. ,

There were no criteria for a pony circuit class, except that the show had to already be on the hack circuit It is somewhat surprising, therefore, that the provisional total prize-money on the Pony Grand Prix circuit is more than $11,600. The big surprise of the season comes in the horse circuit however. , There are only seven more classes on the road this year, but the provisional total prize-money has gone up from about $BO,OOO to more than $90,500. This in a year when New Zealand is said to be having a hard time of it

It does not take too much of a mathematician to come up with a likely estimate of total money available to all grades of show jumpers over the seven-month long season.

Even at a minimum total prize-money stake of $5OOO a show — and many are double that — the sport distributes over $250,000 to its show jumping fraternity.

When one rider can come home with $7OOO in his pocket from four shows in a month there can be no question that show jumping has come of age. In fact, it could almost provide a living of a kind, even without riders having to sell horses. These were the objects of the new show jumping administrative set-up four years ago. What shortcomings there still are — and most of them are small in comparision with the problems the sport faced at the time of "separate development” — there can be no doubt that show jumping has boomed in those few seasons, all for the better.

For the circuits themselves the star of the season so far is undoubtedly that great old campaigner, BallyHoo, with a remarkable five wins. Add another two wins on Flicka to Catriona McLeod’s tally and you have one very successful pony show jumper. Two more ponies, Lisa Cropp’s Daniel, and Phillip Honeywill’s Navaho, have scored on four occasions each, while the best that any horses have been able to do is three wins apiece — from Cottle’s Heritage, Cropp’s Bounty Girl '.and Smith’s Ernie Mite. , The reigning champion, Mr Kincaid, has scored two wins along the way; so have Free Rule, Flicka and Coruba Gold among the ponies, and Buckingham, Beaumont, Nationwide, Crosby and Reservation in the horses. Single wins have gone tb 20 other horses and ponies. In fact, one-third of the competitions held so far have gone to single winners, two-thirds have gone to multiples. » « » The 1986’ Tarmac series started at the Otaeo circuit

show. Leaders after this first ’’ round were: Geordie Bull, Gratis, 1; ? Donna Smith, Ernie - Mite, 2; f Veronica Honeywili, Rutland, 3; Andela Illston, Mechanical, -• 4; Richard Hampton, Rich Hill, 5; Joanne Hillis, Twin- „ law, 6. . The second round will be » held at the Southland circuit show -and the third at the Ellesmere Showgrounds this week-end. Good entries have been received in the dressage ._• classes at this week-end’s cir- ’• cult show to be held at J Leeston. . In the intermediate,.. Sally >_ Field-Dodgson, riding Hunta- ; way, and Wynnis McDonald, from Southland, riding Hiron- - delle, will tussle for top hon- J ours. In the Highland Laddie ? Cup, open to medium grade > horses, some newly upgraded combinations will compete. ’’ In the restricted medium . class, six horses have - entered, while 12 horses are ’ entered in the elementary classes. As is usual, large s, entries have been received in ; the novice and preliminary classes, with 20 and 40 horses having been entered, respectively. I • Pony dressage is proving . quite popular, with 19 ponies entered this week-end. * * * Results of the derby day > competitions conducted by: the Windsor - branch of ’tlie''’ North Canterbury Pony Club ;,, were:- X'.X 17 and over.—Melanie •* Hawtin’s Conquistador 1, Deb- „ bie Winter’s Holy Smoke 2, ■ Zena Chart’s Narok 3. 16 and under: Rosemary Spark’s Commando 1, Vanessa Green and T. Tucker’s Jiminey Cricket 2, Charmaine Clark’s Gypsy , Prince 3, Justin Brown’s t Chandelle 4. . - • • 14 and under: Amanda Brown’s Golden Girl ’ 1, Amanda Stringer’s Idle Talk * 2, Rhonda Cobley’s Kotere .' Mignonne 3, Rebecca 1 Sil- •' cock’s Comet 4. , 12 and under: Caroline. ■ Turner’s Just April 1, Penny;* Cowey’s Benjamin 2, Roland , Eder’s Zorro 3, Vicki ■ Walker's Wee Tim 4. ; • » » -i Because of increasing eh-.q quires about geldings being «? registered with the Pony" Breeders’ Society of New Zealand, it has been decided to allow the registration of geldings up to 147.5 cms and ? aged three years and over who have at least one parent registered with a recognised society. These must be inspected by two society inspectors for .a $4 fee. A member’s registration fee is : $5 and a non-member’s registration tee is $lO. It is hoped • to have inspections for tration at some of the Canterbury autumn shows.

HORSE!

TALK I