Wrap-up of adult riding season

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 7, Issue 337, 29 May 1990, Page 12

Wrap-up of adult riding season

This report taken from Club President Evelyn Cooper's report for the season. The Waimarino Riding Club for adult horse riders, has had an interesting season with an early highlight being the riding club certificates on both riding and horse management held in June.

The club is grateful to Jim Frost for the use of his facilities and to Margaret Harris and Errol O'Brien both of whom travelled a long way for the examinations. Passes were Grades 1 and 2 (riding) and Grooms 1 (horse management); D Hill, F Towgood, J Kinloch, K Hopkins, S Beattie,

Grade 1 and 2; J Emmens, Grade 1 and Grooms 1; K Worthington Grade 3 and Grooms 2; E Cooper Grooms 2; H Godfrey Grooms 1; K McCloud and H Cooper. Social evenings have included video evenings, a talk by Kay Avery on a polocrosse trip to Zimbabwe and a Nepalese National Park holiday complete with slides from Rob McCallum. A Christmas Barbecue was held at Gordon and Jenny Mottram's. In January a team of five travelled to Litchfield for the North Island teams event which was a first for the club. A few practises were held before Christmas and it was quite an exercise fitting the dressage and music together, making an attractive quadrille. Helene Godfrey and Jenny Kinloch are thanked for their time and effort here and Jenny especially for the costumes for the Waimarino Valkries. The result was well worth while with a third placing for the team ride, inspection and gear check, camp and sportsmanship. The

other phases were quadrille, cross country and gamblers stakes. Helene Godfrey missed the event through ill health at the crucial time but was slightly compensated when the team was able to ride the quadrille again at the 1990 day celebrations on 6

February at Makaranui. Team members were H Godfrey, J Kinloch, E Cooper, E Clarke, D Hill and H Cooper. Judy Simpson has provided dressage instruction on at least three occasions this summer, a great help to riders many of whom have attended sports meetings , the Waimarino A & P Show and various one-day events around the district. A team of six also took part in the

Ohakune Pony Club run tetrathlon enabling some of the male members to show their prowess in swimming and cross country running even if riding was not altogether their sport. The club has another group of interested riders from Waiouru (a very transient population due io the nature of the camp), and one or two from other parts of our area so the club is in good heart. Although strictly

witnin the new year the Ohakune Pony Club Adult Fun Gymkhana was attended by members with eight travelling from Waiouru and joining the other 17 riders especially mums and dads on their children's ponies. Outdoor Pursuits Centre members ran the day and the experience gained in secretarial, stewarding and judging duties must be of value to them. The barracking from the sidelines could be heard from the other side of the paddock!