View Hill Pony Club claims another Springston Trophy

The Winning View Hill Red team (Image: Jane Thompson)
The Winning View Hill Red team (Image: Jane Thompson)

View Hill Red Pony Club team has won another Springston Trophy, this time very conclusively.  In doing so they spoiled the hat-trick for Eyreton Blue, who finished second, 12.2 points behind. View Hill White were third, finishing off an excellent weekend for the pony club based just out of Oxford, Canterbury.

View Hill Red last won the coveted Springston Trophy in 2012 when the event was held at Waihora. The team led the other 36 teams right from the dressage, and never looked like being headed off. Two of the team, Jordan Shrimpton on Mister Puzzle, and Mya Plotkin on Marco Polo  finished on their dressage scores.  Jessie Fitzjohn was the captain of the team and was delighted with the win. “We always want to be competitive, but we came here to also have fun. We have a knack for making silly mistakes, but we hoped to do our best.” They certainly were the best this weekend.

All the View Hill pony clubbers at the Springston Trophy (Image: Jane Thompson)
All the View Hill pony clubbers at the Springston Trophy (Image: Jane Thompson)

The prize giving was an unmounted one, and the riders all did a great job of trotting into the arena and lining up well for the photos. There was obviously a lot of camaraderie between all the riders, and it looked like more lifelong friendships were well underway.

Jo and Tricia, two of the hardworking people behind Awatere's hosting of the Springston Trophy
Jo and Trish, two of the hardworking people behind Awatere’s hosting of the Springston Trophy

This year’s event was hosted by the Awatere Pony Club who did a magnificent job of organising such a big event for such a little club. They only have ten riding members, but, with the help of the Seddon and Ward communities and the neighbouring pony clubs, and a huge amount of energy and passion, the event went off extremely well.

Geraldine Rae, Vice President of NZ Pony Club Association
Geraldine Rae, Vice President of NZ Pony Club Association

Geraldine Rae, NZ Pony Club Association Vice President summed this up well in her speech at prize giving. “You have shown what small can do, by supporting each other. I will never drive through Ward and Seddon again without remembering what went on this weekend and without thinking of how much respect I have for this Committee.”  Some of the committee of eight described themselves as “dedicated nutters” but they really did a fantastic job. The Redwood family, who came up with the idea of hosting the Springston Trophy, and had the cross country on their magnificent farm, must take a lot of the credit. They took it on with the aim “to revive eventing in Marlborough” and with that beautiful cross country course to utilise, it is a great start to achieving that goal.

Jakob Pascoe and Monkey Puzzle showjumping in the Springston Trophy intermediate class (Image: Jane Thompson)
Jakob Pascoe and Monkey Puzzle showjumping in the Springston Trophy intermediate class (Image: Jane Thompson)

The showjumping day, held at the Ward Domain, had a very wet start with huge downpours from very early in the morning making ground conditions difficult for the showjumping and getting trucks out of the grounds. However the sun was soon back, the tractors got busy and the prize giving was held in brilliant sunshine.

Okuku Pony Club marching proudly into the prize giving
Okuku Pony Club marching proudly into the prize giving

A sought after prize was the Horsemastership award and this went to Springston Pony Club this year. This is awarded to the team showing the most sportsmanship, concern for horse welfare, and doing right and kind to their horses, coaches, supporters, and each other. The Wooden Spoon prize went to Okuku Pony Club. They won not just a wooden spoon, but a lovely locally handcrafted rimu spoon.

The Springston team were fourth, and also won the Horsemastership award
The Springston team were fourth, and also won the Horsemastership award

In the Senior A section, Todd Magner riding Kawhaka Concorde from Greymouth Green team came out on top adding nothing to his dressage score. Jessie Fitzjohn on Whats the Buzz was second, with Sinead Henderson on Lewiston from Amberley Blue third.

Brodie Robertson and SR Livingstone from the Eyreton Navy team lead the second senior section from go to whoa, with Lilly Anderson on Victory Hawk from Clyde second and Anya Johnston on Sweed Addition (West Taieri Mosgiel composite) third.

In the intermediate section A, the leader after the first two phases, Zoe MacClure on Rednalhgih Hayman from Pleasant Point Maroon, put in a clear round showjumping to take the win. Lucy Cochrane on Inspector Gadget (View Hill Red) was second with Rebecca Anthony on Otairi Sarge from Nga Tawa Gold third.

In the second section, Jordan Shrimpton on Mister Puzzle from View Hill Red kept her lead after dressage until the finish, with Jamie Atkinson on Ahurir Dusk from Halswell second and Grace Hyslop on Ace of Hearts (Pleasant Point Maroon) third.

img_9895Another to lead after the dressage and win at the final count was Katherine Hadler on Hakuna Matata from Springston in the Junior A section. Josefin Lerbs on Penelope from Waimea was second with Isabelle Ussher on Wembleybrook O Driscoll from Hurunui third.

Lucy Baker also kept her dressage lead to win the Section B of the Junior on Smart Spark, from Halswell Pony Club. Mya Plotkin on Marco Polo (View Hill Red) was second with Lucy Tregenza on My Kinda Magic (Pleasant Point Maroon) third.

Riders from the Waihora Pony Club are wearing the same jerseys that their aunts/uncles/mothers/fathers wore at the very first Springston Trophy! They were made especially for the first event, and have been worn proudly every year since.
Riders from the Waihora Pony Club are wearing the same jerseys that their aunts/uncles/mothers/fathers wore at the very first Springston Trophy! They were made especially for the first event, and have been worn proudly every year since.

We’ve got more stories to tell and photos to share about the Springston Trophy so keep an eye out for them in the next few days.

For full results, you can visit Equestrian Entries.

Team Results

1st View Hill Red 126.6
Lucy Cochrane Inspector Gadget
Jordan Shrimpton Mister Puzzle
Charlotte Thomas Picollo
Mya Plotkin Marco Polo
Jessie Fitzjohn Whats The Buzz
Georgia Helms Eyredale Warrior
2nd Eyreton Navy 138.8
Maria van Kuijk Antara Whiskey Mac
Elizabeth Wylaars Wairoa Ruskyn
Molly Moffatt Pollyanne
Johanna Wylaars Corivale Fairylights
Kirsty Jacomb Glenmark
Brodie Roberts SR Livingstone
3rd View Hill White 142
Jordan Kruger Bamboozle
Emma Van Vianen Ka Pai Kiwi
Imogen Morrison Muffin Man
Caitlin Shrimpton Cambridge
Maddy Tait Island Road
Brittany Fowler Concordia
4th Springston 144.6
Niamh Rayne My Hallucination
Rosa Millar Corcovado
Katherine Hadler Hakuna Matata
Caitlin Rayne Southwind Summer Rose
Danni Gubb Little Ginge
Ciara Rayne Captain Jack
5th Nga Tawa Gold 150.1
Rebecca Anthony Otairi Sarge
Eloise King Shevchenko
Christy Lo Ocean Bay
Laura Hare Yandina
Charlotte Edwards Facade
Victoria Haig PL Hobson
6th Pleasant Point Maroon (2age) 151.6
Zoe MacClure Rednalhgih Hayman
Grace Hyslop Ace of Hearts
Rhiannon Simpson Rednalhgih Meeuws
Lucy Tregenza My Kinda Magic
7th Halswell 153
Abbey Baker Retail Therapy
Jamie Atkinson Ahuriri Dusk
Brigette Mackay Westwood Dalmar Ricochet
Lucy Baker Smart Spark
Isabella Ashworth Mr J F Hawk
8th Clyde 155.6
Hazel Gibson Beaumont Long Pockets
Annabelle Jones Halcyon Motzart
Milly Robinson Silver Scout
Lucy Harrex Damontez Jewel
Millie Harrex Turbo Timer Maxine
Lilly Anderson Victory Hawk
9th Greymouth Gold 160.4
Gretchen Anderson Tallyho Cleopatra
Brooklyn Rutherford Medora Classic Touch
Ella Rae-Wood Tallyho Primrose
Ruby Rae-Wood Dreamtime Jazz
Maisie Hopkins Awatuna Classic Rose
Rebecca Wardle WS Sponge Bob
10th Rangiora All Stars 164.5
Molly Grigg Shogun
Georgia Williams Tedriffic
Annie Airey Cubby
Mikayla Green Star’s Ransom

 

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