Equestrian riders and fans representing 23 schools from the Hawkes Bay to Wellington invaded the Solway Showgrounds on Tuesday for the St Matthews Interschool Equestrian Event. The competition ? which attracted about 160 people - has been running for ten years with riders competing for a cup donated from the MastertonA and P Association. As well as the cup the top six teams receive sponsored prizes such as saddle blankets and reins. The riders all brought their own horses, with some camping at the showground ready for the 9am start. The riders then compete for the day with a mounted prize ceremony at 3pm. Competing were some well-known riders including Amanda Pottinger, daughter of Tinks Pottinger who represented New Zealand at the Olympics in equestrian. Amanda won the Gambler Stakes ribbon riding her horse Tauhara Silver Fern. Former New Zealand representative rider Hamish Cameron and his wife Carol were also at the competition supporting their two daughters Emma and Georgie. Emma and Georgie will both be representing Wairarapa in the upcoming New Zealand Pony Championship being held at the Solway Showground in two weeks and will be hoping to keep the family tradition up, competing for the same title their father won in 1979. Both Tinks Pottinger and Hamish Cameron were heavily involved in the day. Along with Neil Thorborn they built the course that was used for the competition. St Matthews puts all the money they make from the event back into the sport and have recently bought a horse jump with the school name emblazoned on it that will feature at the National Pony Club Championship in a fortnight There were a strong crowd of parents and supporters at the event and all were happy that equestrian is being taken seriously as a sport and that the students were being given a chance to compete as a team, rather than an individual pursuit.
