Kiwis ride to Five Nations glory

RIDE ON: Team New Zealand leading the opening ceremony of the Five Nations Campionship on Friday.

Team New Zealand won the Five Nations Championship mounted games teams title in Kaikohe on Sunday while English rider Sarah Farnsworth took out the individual title.

One of two teams from the hosting nation, the five riders to take out the inaugural title were Kevin Egging, Steven Hooker, Amy Wiltshire, Hannah Burrows and Rebecca Benge. Runners-up in the IMGA (International Mounted Games Association) event were Australia Green, while third place went to the other New Zealand entry, Team Kiwi.

Spokesperson Nancy Te Whata noted the duel for the title went down to the wire, a battle between the top two teams who were separated by only half a point at the conclusion of competition. She also said Team Kiwi stepped up by going into the final day in 5th place before eventually finishing 3rd overall. Featuring local lad, Danny Kopa, Team Kiwi rode "really well" in their final, Te Whata said, and came close to stealing the runners-up spot. The remaining sports were Australia Gold 4, and South Africa 5. Even with two other nations, America and Canada, conspicuous by their absence - both withdrawing at the last minute - Te Whata noted the success of the three-day event which began on Friday exceeded everyone's expectations.

"[It was all] Really really cool. Good turnout from the public, more than we were predicting. Brilliant weather, good atmosphere. The visiting riders loved their stay in Northland. Some were telling us this was one of the best trips they had ever been on."

Up to 30 different disciplines were contested over the three days in various divisions, along with barrel racing and polo cross events. Organisers attempted to replicate a carnival atmosphere throughout the weekend with gourmet food stalls and local artisans and craft markets, as well as having children's entertainment including pony rides and bouncy castles etc.

The Far North certainly turned on fine early summer conditions for all three days of the event, with scorching temperatures endured at the inland location of the Kaikohe A&P Showgrounds by a crowd some estimates put at 500 at its peak on Saturday. The event was generally injury-free, although several of the older ponies were retired with various minor niggles, not completely unexpected considering the hard ground conditions, Te Whata noted. In addition, an English rider suffered a sprained ankle on the first day which forced her to withdraw from the competition.

The prizegiving ceremony wound proceedings up late on Sunday night at the nearby Kaikohe Golf Club. Another great thing to come out of hosting the Five Nations in the Mid North was the wider perception that Kaikohe had a venue capable of hosting a major event.

"The Kaikohe Showgrounds is very undervalued," said Te Whata, noting there was certain aspects of infrastructure which needed looking at (such as sewerage) but, "what an excellent venue it is!"

IMGA president Keith Martin remarked the Five Nations Championship was the first inclusive competition for all non-European member countries and was a very important move in the sport's evolution.

"The growth in popularity of mounted games, the increasing geographical spread and the large numbers of new riders participating each year all demonstrate very clearly that it's a developing sport and a lot more growth to come," said Martin, adding the IMGA had 21 member nations on four continents with several other countries hoping to join the organisation.