Equestrian: Local hopes high 'Champs' return to Bay

A team of six riders will be representing Hawke's Bay on home ground this week as the Pony Club Horse Trials Championship come to the Equestrian Park in Stock Road for the first time in 11 years.

The annual competition, which is hosted by each of the 16 nationwide Pony Club areas in turn and is affectionately known as "Champs" opens on Friday with the Bayswater Vehicles Hastings dressage phase followed by Bayleys Real Estate cross country on Saturday and Animal Health Direct showjumping on Sunday. Each team comprises six members riding at three different levels, a new format for this, the 58th Champs.

Hawke's Bay team captain, Nicole Lansdown of CHB Central Hawke's Bay described the event as "the top of Pony Club".

"It's what you strive for as a younger member, watching senior riders compete for their area."

Lansdown, a Massey student aiming to be a vet, is trotting up to her third Champs and her horse, Royalty, has been twice before. The two have shown consistent form. Partnering Lansdown in the A1 section, the toughest division, is Havelock North's Ben Gordon. Although girls outnumber boys at Pony Club, at top-level eventing it's a different story.

Gordon's goal is to go as far as he can in the sport. Having attended Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre, Gordon works on farms around the district and competes in equestrian events as much as possible. His horse, My Gummi Bear, has been lent by owner Ashleigh Forde.

In the DC or middle level of the competition, Hawke's Bay is represented by Grace MacGillivray of Havelock North on Elevation and Central Hawke's Bay's Portia Wright on Nickolas Nickleby. Both have represented Heretaunga Pony Club at Timberlands North Island Teams Championships.

In the 95cm section, restricted this year for the first time to riders 14 years and under, Ruby MacGillivray on Valken and Mollie Moffat on Little Miss Vanilla Twist will be putting on the Hawke's Bay colours. Both have solid CVs having represented their district already in show hunter and show jumping teams and both have just competed at Timberlands 2013.

Lansdown said she has a team of "very strong all-rounders". For the first time reserves are riding as individuals in their Championship class. A1 reserve, Heather Gunson on HH Red Rock, DC reserve Zoe Strawbridge on Roo Baloo and 95cm reserve Olivia Ahlborn on Aorangi Epic Dream are rapt at the idea of being able to compete alongside their team members instead of being relegated to the bleachers.

"They have trained along with them. It's great they get to ride," Hawke's Bay Champs committee chairman Craig Vernon said.

Otago-Southland are the defending champions and the first teams are expected to arrive at the park today. A social function will be held on Saturday night.

The huge amount of work required to host Champs was the reason behind the third major change to the Champs format - non-championship classes. Designed to give the Champs experience to a wider range of riders who are out competing at eventing but haven't been able to commit to the gruelling trial process, the non-champs classes mean each area is bringing a bigger squad to the competition.

"Having the extra riders here will vamp up the experience and reinforce the place of Champs as the premier event on the Pony Club calendar," National Pony Club vice-president Heather Grant said.

"Having Champs on my own doorstep is exciting and challenging.

"Running Champs is as demanding as any three star event with a vast list of requirements from sponsorship to vets to course designers, technical experts for all three phases, catering, entries and the sponsorship to pay for all of it."

"We hope lots of people will come to watch the competition," Vernon said.