JULY 2007 NEWS REPORT

July got underway with the Pony Club Nationals in Toowoomba, Queensland.  Upon our arrival it was clear that Queensland Pony Club Association (QPCA) were going to less than perfect hosts.  The Tent City was unbelievably cold for those who stayed there overnight.  I was fortunate enough to be accommodated in the very nice boarding house along with some of the parents.  Sue Brown did her usual great work and organised for the SA Pony Club to foot the bill and have all the kids moved from wet tents to the boarding house.  This was fantastic of the SA Pony Club to do this and make it all possible. 

Our first meeting saw the QPCA announce they had changed many of the National rules including allowing only 4 riders in a team after we had selected and send 6 riders.  Fortunately this was later overturned with the help of all the other states who were equally concerned about the effect it would have on their team members who were to miss out.

The dressage warm up tests for the Eventers showed they were a little nervous and this carried through to the official tests with both riders placed well down in the field.  Jim Cope was asked and gratefully assisted with the cross country course walk.  His experience proved valuable as the areas he saw as” tricky” proved to be the problem jumps on course.  Hayley had a run out at the water jump but was otherwise clear and Georgie Boyd was clear in good time.

The warm up class for the Showjumpers went well with all riders finishing and Katie Cope finishing 3^rd in the Associates.  Many of our riders made the jump off but the last fence sorted a few out although it was a fair fence. In between classes Lauren Matten was working hard at regaining the form she had at last year’s Adelaide Royal Show and progress was being made. 

Another Queensland first was the mounted Trot Up (I think this in the Norfolk Island rules for Showjumping!). Then there was the Official Dinner. The MC unfairly singled out and named our team for talking whilst people were on stage invoking a strong response from me!!  Enough of the negative – Glenys Nunn Cairns speech was amazing,  the facilities at the showground were great and Guy Creighton’s courses were challenging and well thought out. 

The first of the official events started with us winning the Associates (Sam Mulden) and the Juniors (Georgie Boyd) and the mood was great. The one rounder saw Georgie Boyd finish 5^th and in the two round Nations Cup event she finished in 3^rd place which gave her the title of overall “National Junior Pony Club Champion” which was no mean feat considering the standard.

The Junior teams results saw NSW finish in first place with zero faults over two rounds, both SA and Queensland finished with 8 faults over two rounds, but we had to settle for 3^rd place as they went back to the times taken. The whole team performed very well and were a credit to South Australia.

In the Associate competition our team finished in 4^th place and again the team were a credit to SA.  It was very unfortunate for Sarah Heath who had to withdraw her horse from the competition due to an illness.  Katie Cope however was selected to represent Australia at an up coming International Pony Club competition.

We finished the Nationals with a great party attended by all including my old mate Swen Peters who drove up to Toowoomba to catch up. Oh and I nearly forgot to thank Belcam who put on a tour at short notice at the beginning of the trip.

Thanks to all who helped out, particularly the Greatest Back Up Team on Earth!!  Congratulations to Georgie Boyd who came from nowhere in December to become National Champion in July with some hard work and dedication.  We have the nucleolus of a great team for the next Nationals in Sydney in 2009.  Bring it on!

The big news for us this month is that Stephen Devine one of the junior riders in the SA team at the Nationals is set to start working for us here at the Northern Equestrian Centre.  We also welcome Karen Holland to the team who will be working part time from Monday to Wednesday mornings.

The first show of the season was at Northern Districts Showjumping Club.  Octavious jumped really well in his first D Grade competition as did Traktion who got his first official points by placing 3^rd in the same class.  Serena won the A & B Grade class by finishing slightly quicker in the jump-off round than Anthony Thomas’ Sandstones.

I was course builder and judge for the jumping section of the Showman competition held at the Northern Equestrian Centre. Congratulations to Cooper Oborne and Angela Donaldson who finished first and second respectively.  Lucy Forrest was 3^rd on a replacement mount (our horse Octavious) as her own horse Darwin was injured only a few days before the competition. Everyone involved should be commended for their efforts.  It is a great concept and I hope all sections of our equestrian codes support this event for our young riders in the future.

The following day at Mallala Traktion performed very well to finished 4th in the D Grade with Octavious again jumping well with just one down in the same class. Kinnordy Serena finished 2^nd in the B & C and then Traktion finished in 5^th place from a strong field including A & B Grade horses in the Young Horse Class.  Stephen got off to a flyer winning the Junior Championship on his own horse and also rode Octavious well for 4 faults.  It was a great day for us all round.