The New Zealand Pony Club has just announced that the age limit for NZPCA competitions will be changed to fall into line with the membership age limit of 24 years and under.
This will come into effect for Eventing and Mounted Games very shortly, and will be in place for Zone Games and Area Eventing Trials in early 2017 as well as for the NZPCA Eventing Championship to be held in Northland in April 2017.
Adjustments have also been made to the age groups for Area Eventing Trials and Junior Pairs for Zone Games.
For the NZPCA Eventing Championships, the AI trophy (110cm) will now be open to those 24 years and under, the DC Trophy (105cm) for those under 18, and the Mark Todd Trophy (95cm) for those under 14.
The Mounted Games age limits will come into effect for 2016-17 and are:
| 14 yrs & under | 24 yrs & under | 24 yrs & under |
| Junior Pairs | Open Pairs | Open Teams |
The NZPCA Dressage Championships and Area Dressage Trials will not immediately change, however, as increasing the age limit to 24 years and under will have an effect on the structure of and how the Dressage Championships are run. It has therefore been decided not to introduce the new upper age-limit until 2018. Further consultation will be done on how this will be introduced.
The age limit for other Pony Club eventing competitions, including Springston Trophy, Bruce Forbes Teams Training and Timberlands as well as those run by local branches and clubs, will still be at the discretion of the local organising committee.
Likewise the upper age limit and age groupings for the North Island Show Jumping Championship, the South Island Show Jumping Championship and Manawatu Show Hunter Championship are at the discretion of the events’ local organising committees. The increased age limit applies to all gymkhanas, jumping, ribbon days and other pony club competitions run throughout the country.
