The New Zealand Pony Club 2021 Jones Contracting Eventing Championship was held in Cromwell over the long weekend with dressage, cross country and show jumping divisions showcasing a new cross country course built specifically for the national competition.
It has been 15 long years since the competition was last hosted in Cromwell and 55 riders along with their supporters and horses have enjoyed the three-day event with the overall winning club being announced as Canterbury.
Otago and Southland placed third across the competition, a position president Geff Hewson is proud of.
“Our pony club performed well, placing third in a national competition is certainly a fantastic achievement and having the new cross-country course now on our back door step we are able to utilise the course for the coming 15 years,” he explains.
“Each year the event is hosted by a different club, and next year’s event will be hosted in the North Islands Taranaki district,’ he adds.
The $130,000 refurbishment of the course was completed in time for this year’s competition and although it was built specifically for the event, it will see Otago and Southland into the future helping with ongoing training and further Central Otago based events, the first coming up in May.
Riders have enjoyed competing on the new course providing positive feedback across the long weekend.
Sunday’s rain cleared just in time to continue the third and final days cross country event as well as allow competitors to take part in the final prize giving celebrations.
The Otago and Southland Area Pony Club wish to thank their sponsors and supporters, in particular Placemakers Cromwell, Alexandra and Queenstown, as well as Jones Contracting.
