Three Gladstone pony fanatics rode their way to success in the New Zealand horse and pony national championships in Dannevirke last weekend. Brothers Henry and Charlie Booth and Georgia Brown competed at the championships and all received winning ribbons over four different classes. Henry won the New Zealand champion supreme pony (over128cm) with Tamsweg Royal Mascot, which was the first competition for his pony. "Last weekend was the best competition for me because it was the first time I had taken him to a competition," he said. Henry and Charlie's mother Raymonda Booth was thrilled with the supreme pony award. "When we bought him we were told he needed to go six feet under so we got him for only a couple of thousand dollars. We decided to give him one last try and between Henry and local instructor Kate Holmes we now have a supreme champion pony." "It's just wonderful," she said. The supreme champion prize was not the only win for Henry. Parera Merlin and Henry won the junior equestrian equitation championship to add to his success. Charlie who has only been competing for a year won the champion led rein pony on Dragonwyck Peeping Tom. Georgia won the national supreme champion pony (up to 128cm) riding Eastdale Legacy. "I've been riding for seven years and it was probably my toughest competition," she said. All three children are keen to keep riding but say it is only a hobby. "I don't mind if I don't win a competition it doesn't really bother me," Henry said. Georgia also keeps her calm if she doesn't perform well at a competition but intends to keep competing for a while yet. "I will keep riding and will probably still be riding when I'm all grown up," she said.
