PHOTO: Supplied
Riders, ponies and horse-floats took over Foxton earlier this month.
Pony clubs from around the North Island competed for the Show Hunter Championship title.
Representing the North Taranaki Pony Club, the Huntaways finished a close 2nd in the team event at the annual Manawatu Pony Club run event.
Wellington Gold was first and Carlyle (Waverley) was placed third out of 23 teams from the North Island.
Joint coach Holli Marshall said the event had been held since 2007 and the level of competition had grown and improved every year.
“Riders have been training, trialling and working hard with their horses and ponies. Many people made this event a success,” she said.
Huntaways team captain Cassie Herbert said it was a successful end to a great event.
“Everyone in the team rode really well and we all had some real good individual results which made the team come out on top,” she said.
Besides Herbert, the Huntaways team comprised Victoria Berrie, Samantha Megchelse, Olivia Thomson-Booth, Summer Henderson, Phillippa Grayling, Maya Henderson and Arni Spurway.
This was the first year that both the North Taranaki Teams had been placed, with the second North Taranaki Pony Club team, the North Taranaki Turbos, coming sixth.
Each team has two members compete in the different height sections with the highest team combined score winning.
Herbert said she was thankful to manager Kelly Megchelse and coaches Lydia Quay and Holli Marshall for all their help and support.
Herbert said Deanika Vink of the Turbos also turned in a great performance.
“Deanika had a fantastic day topped off with a first placing,” she said.
She said team mate Samantha Megchelse’s also had an amazing day.
“Samantha was placed first in two of her individual events.”
Victoria Berrie had a great show as well Herbert said.
“Victoria had improved on her performances from last year to be individually placed.”
This article was published in the North Taranaki Midweek on Wednesday, October 16, 2013