Overseas Tours

Games

The New Zealand Pony Clubs Association sent a Games Team to compete in the International Prince Phillip Mounted Games in Perth Australia on the 26th July 2008. Riders were 16 yrs and under on 1st January 2008.

Team Members were:
Morgan Larsen-Church [Turangi], Ashley Lovett [Waikouaiti], Michael Thomson [Pauatahanui], Steven Hooker [Cambridge], Hannah Trott [North Taranaki], Stacey Managh [Coach].
No managers had come forward so at the last minute I changed my holiday plans and did managerial duties until Morgan’s mother Betty Larsen came over on the 20th and took over from there. This allowed me to go off sightseeing with Allan but we were back to cheer the team on and take plenty of photos at the competition.

Prior to leaving the team met at Steven Hooker's place for two days of intensive training, with Stacey being assisted by well known games rider and Coach Scott Borland. Scott had quite a fitness regime and proved to everyone that he was the fittest of all. Morgan received a nasty kick that required plenty of arnica and elevation of his leg, it was also a ploy to get out of the early morning run….. but we don’t recommend doing this.

We left NZ on the 11th of July, non-stop for Perth where we were met by other teams and the Australian officials. The Tour was 17 days and included teams from Australia, Great Britain, Canada and USA. NZ is not usually included in this event but each year the host country may invite a fifth country. This is the second time Australia has extended the invitation to us, we hope it continues to do so.

We were hosted by three different families and enjoyed a wide range of activities including visiting a Wildlife park, Gravity centre, a horse trek, fun games competition, Pony Club rally, outdoor pursuits centre, camel ride, golf and of course shopping.

The main competition was held at The State Equestrian Centre in the Swan Valley region. Ponies were pooled in five groups of five ponies, each group having a range of sizes from 12.3 to 15.1 hands, most groups had at least two ponies round the 13.2hands. Teams rode four games on each of the groups of ponies, so every team rode each group of ponies. Twenty games were played, all in just over 1 ½ hours. Points were allocated for each game, and a great battle ensued between the host nation Australia and Great Britain with placings seesawing with each game, going into the last rotation GB were in front with 77, Australia had 74, NZ 67, Canada 54 and USA 48.

Overall placings: Great Britain 1st 96, Australia 2nd 95, New Zealand 3rd 82, Canada 4th 66 and USA 5th 61. NZ won the Litter, Fishing and Windsor Castle races and were second in the Ball & Bucket, Hurdle, Pony Club, Balloon bursting, Spillers, and Tyre races. Some great riding and horsemanship skills were shown.

All the riders had a great time and many friendships were forged with Pony Clubbers from the other nations as well as the people billeted with. Everyone thanks the New Zealand Pony Clubs Association for accepting this invitation and giving them the privilege to represent their country. As the riders say, ‘it was awesome and the best two weeks of our lives.’

Thank you to everyone who supported the team in any way, it was a lifetime experience and one they will never forget.
Barbara Harvey [Manager] [Posted 26/8/08]

Click here for the photo gallery from the trip!