Deputy mayor puts gold first

The New Zealand equestrian team - from left, Jim Eillis (chief executive), Mark Todd, Caroline Powell, Rangitikei's Sarah Harris, Andrew Nicholson, Jonelle Richards and Jock Paget.

Rangitikei district deputy mayor Sarah Harris is stepping down from local politics to go for team gold in equestrian eventing at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

The mum of three has been a Bulls ward councillor for the past six years and deputy mayor for three but as Equestrian Sports NZ's high performance director, she has targeted a team gold medal in Rio.

Sarah is one of the driving forces behind the team that is such a power in the world of eventing and her workload is increasing hugely.

"As much as I have found local politics interesting, I can't give the time to it any longer,"she said.

She had taken the position of high performance director in 2009 after the 2008 Beijing Olympics where the Kiwi riders had floundered badly.

"It's difficult for riders who are all doing different things, from showjumping to dressage, to work tightly as a team."

When she took up the role, national coach Erik Duvander and she were given a brief to change the eventing high performance programme and get the Kiwi athletes back on the podium - and they made a great start when they won a team bronze at the London Olympics last year.

With her director role now a fulltime position, it means she often travels (at least four times a year) to Britain where the programme is based - and she's off again next week.

With a nanny and a very supportive husband, Tim, the family cope well when she's away, she said.

The family farm is 16kms from Bulls at Scotts Ferry and Sarah works most days from her office at the back of the house where large windows look on to lawns, gardens, fields and trees.

"I love farm life. I was brought up on a farm, so this is perfect for me."

While on council, this energetic, super-fit mum was on the Bulls Community Committee, "Enjoying Life on the Rangitikei", a council representative on the board of Sport Wanganui, Creative Communities Committee and the Sparc Rural Travel Fund Committee.

Looking back she believes she made a difference.

"I came to council wanting to see our young people healthier and more active and to have opportunities within the district with strong leadership and good support," she said.

"I think we have achieved that."

Sarah is proud of the Swim 4 All programme which ensured eight free swimming lessons for children in years five to eight across the district. The funding for this programme will continue for another three years.

"Being deputy mayor allowed me to have more influence around the council table, and I think I have earned the respect of other councillors."

Working with Equestrian New Zealand means Sarah is on the road every two weeks to meetings at head office in Wellington as well as her overseas travel. The high performance riders - mostly in their mid-20s - are based in Britain.

"Here they were used to winning and it's entirely different in Europe because there are so many great riders and to go from winning at home to maybe coming 60th over there is a very big adjustment."

But there is no question of staying in New Zealand for a rider who is competitive and wants to go further.

"They can't just sit here. New Zealand is the breeding ground and we have great coaches but the reality is we're simply not big enough.

"The riders have to market themselves and it's hard work. They ride other people's horses to make money - it's hard for them, it really is."

Sarah is convinced the high performance training and strategies will make a difference and gold at Rio is now a real possibility.