Ferrymead Branch

Ferrymead Photo Gallery - March 2007

In 2003 Ferrymead created history, by being the first club in 34 years to win the Springston Trophy three times consecutively.
2003 Team photo: Left to right: Aaron Stevens & The Sundance Kid, Pippa Warwick & Ohoko St Elmo, Sarah Duncraft & Tuahara Silver Fern, Lucinda Rolton & Phenomenon, Jayna Dineen & Onawi, Jasmin Percasky & Escafay.

Introduction
Ferrymead Pony Club was formed in 1958 as a branch of Christchurch Pony Club. It is situated at 239 Port Hills Road, Hillsborough, Christchurch and provides equestrian services to this area and the inner Harbour Basin of Lyttelton. The club occupies 14 hectares of The Duncan Park situated between the Horotane and Avoca Valleys. The club has a lease of this reserve until 2021.

The club offers members:
· regular instruction from NZPCA qualified Coaches
· participation in the annually revised Rider Development Program
· clinics, seminars and services from visiting specialists
· participation in team events
· school holiday training
· grazing, both permanent and temporary
· advice

Facilities include:
· 60m x 80m floodlit all weather surface dressage arena with spectator facilities
· fully serviced club house
· outside pens
· covered yards
· power sites for clipping
· cross country course (preintro to pretraining heights, some training jumps)
· access to hill areas for fitness training
· resident Caretaker

Rally is held on the second Sunday of each month. Fun days on the fourth Sunday of the month are also available. School holiday training involves dressage and jumping clinics, the cost of which is heavily subsidized by the club. The club's Rider Development Program is based on the NZPCA Certificates and is revised annually. Cup Day and the Christmas Party are held on the second Sundays in November and December, respectively. Mid winter rally is usually at the beach, and a trek is usually undertaken in January.

Members are expected to:
· pay their subscriptions and any other dues on time
· attend rallies
· attend a minimum of four working bees annually
· assist with running the two biannual One Day Events
· adhere to the Fair Play Charter and the club rules
· exercise and care for mounts according to NZPCA principles

Parents of members are expected to:
· support the member
· adhere to the Fair Play Charter and club rules
· attend working bees and the One Day Events
· attend the Annual General Meeting
· contribute to the functioning of the club

The annual subscription is $86 per riding member, $20 per non-riding member, or $170 per family. A joining fee of $20 applies. Permanent grazing is $45 per calendar month, payable by automatic payment one month in advance.

The club has an active Committee of over 12 members, meeting every third Monday of the month except January. The AGM is held on the third Monday in February. Two Committee members attend the monthly meeting of Christchurch Pony Club.

Ferrymead Pony Club's recent achievements:
· won Springston Trophy 2001, 2002, 2003, 5th in 2006
· won the Prince Phillip Cup and the ChCh PC Shield for games in 2006
· won Collier Trophy in 1999 & 2006, 2nd in 2001, 3rd in 2002 plus won the Horsemastership Trophy
· 8th placing at South Island Pony Club Show Jumping Champs 2001
· member in the Canterbury Area Pony Club Dressage Team 2001, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
· member/s in the Canterbury Area Pony Club Horse Trials Team 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004
· won Scandal Trophy Team Dressage Cup plus two individual dressage trophies in 2001; members won the Scandal Trophy, the team Dressage Cup plus nine individual dressage trophies 2003; members won cups at Scandal Trophy competition 2005, 2006
· 1st & 4th in the Windsor Teams Show Jumping Teams Event 2002

The club hosts two One Day Events per year in late spring and summer. The cross country course is one of the few in Canterbury set on a hillside, allowing combinations to test their fitness and skill under unique conditions.

Ferrymead has a strong reputation for providing quality instruction and actively promotes dressage instruction as a basis for achievement in jumping. This is reflected in the quality of the club's combinations, with Ferrymead consistently having members representing the Canterbury Area at both Dressage and Horse Trials NZPCA National Championships.

In 2003 Ferrymead created history by being the first branch in the 32 year history of Springston Trophy to win this prestigious competition for three consecutive years. The team won the dressage by 12 points, with all six combinations then achieving clear cross country rounds the following day, one of only two of the 43 teams entered in the competition to do so. Show jumping under atrocious weather conditions on the third day culminated in a decisive lead of 24 points. Equestrian Amanda Brown coached the team for these three years. Anna Oborne and Olivia Gerve have both acted as Managers.

A Brief History
Ferrymead was formed in 1958 by a group of young riding enthusiasts as a branch of, and with advice and support from, the Christchurch Pony Club. The branch of 69 members met on the property of the first President, John Scott, near the present Coca Cola factory.

After months of negotiation, the club secured the lease of Mary Duncan Park on 1 October 1962. The park was infested with weeds after 16 years of neglect, and committee members faced the arduous task of clearing these, resowing, reticulating water, planting trees, leveling ground, repairing fences, building pens and railed yards, constructing a driveway and front entrance, and moving a cottage for a resident caretaker and a club house onto the grounds.

The club became an incorporated society in 1967, with 90 to 100 members.

The club won national recognition early in its life through one member who is now the Patron, Diana Cunningham, winning the DC Trophy in 1958 and the A1 Trophy in both 1961 and 1962 at NZPCA Horse Trials Championships on Harvest Moon. This achievement was unique in New Zealand.

In 1969 the Christchurch Riding Centre for Disabled Children was established. Ferrymead assisted by making the club facilities available to them until the RDA acquired their own. A riding class for blind children was also supported at Ferrymead.

Successive committees have continued to beautify The Duncan Park and improve facilities for members