Pony Club success

The South Wairarapa Pony Club team enjoyed success taking out the top spot of first overall at the Wellington area Prince Philip Games held at Belmont, with six clubs taking part. The South Wairarapa team was Jeremy Thurston, Piper Marshall, Xanthe Furket, Sam Millar, Lucy Marshall and Lou Lou McNelly.

Prince Philip Games, which are held throughout the world, require a high level of pony skills plus athletic ability and team work – and a quick nimble pony. Each event is relay stile with competitors lancing rings, placing flags, picking up items as they race along at high speed. Some games require dismounting and then vaulting back onto their running ponies. These are quite incredible to watch and have clearly required hours of practice to perfect.

The idea for the games came from Prince Philip who promoted them as a fun way to improve pony skills. The Mounted Games, as they are called, have been taken up enthusiastically all over the world, these days there are inter nation contests in which a New Zealand team competes. Examples of the games both in New Zealand and overseas, including the recent World Championships held at Denmark, can be viewed on You Tube. Just enter ‘Mounted Games’. They make exciting viewing.