Annabella Were and her horse, Riley
As selection to compete for Waikato at the Eventing Championship is on the line, Easter’s Kihikihi Horse Trials is the next hurdle to clear for some of New Zealand’s best up-and-coming equestrians.
Ōtorohanga Pony Club’s eventing team. From left, back row: Addisyn Dingwall, Emily Smyth, Eden Honeyfield, Annabella Were and Olivia Smyth. Front row: Eva Davis, Lily-Rose Morehu and Gemma Honeyfield
Riders from Ōtorohanga Pony Club could well be in the running after two teams, the Buzzy Bees and Kiwis, placed second and fourth respectively at the Timberlands North Island Eventing Championships held in the South Waikato.
However, top scores in Kihikihi may prove vital, club coach Jo Fox said.
“We don’t know who will be putting their name forward yet, so it might all come down to getting a good score at Kihikihi. If they keep progressing in their riding, making the Waikato team would be their next goal.”
Those who qualify will represent the region in show jumping, dressage and cross country at The Eventing Championship in Hastings running from April 18 to 20.
“Riders post their scores, send them in and then the best team will then be selected. Soon after Easter, kids from all around the region will to know whether they’ve made the Waikato team.”
She was pleased with the results from Tokoroa.
“Our Buzzy Bees team was struggling after the first day, but the cross country changed things quite a lot and they ended up finishing second overall, so we were very happy with that,” Fox said.
Warkworth District Pony Club topped the table with Ōtorohanga’s Buzzy Bees in second, a Te Awamutu Pony Club team in third and Ōtorohanga’s Kiwis rounding off the top four.
Some riders competed for both the Buzzy Bees and the Kiwis – to do so they needed two horses, one for each team.
Te Awamutu Pony Club eventers, from left: Grace Gower, Emilia Howes and Isobella Roycroft
