Selwyn Times: April 17, 2019

SELWYN TIMES Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
Wednesday April 17 2019 19
Darfield High rides to win in dressage
Darfield High School
equestrian manager Nicky
Voss writes about the
school’s recent success
DARFIELD HIGH School won
the Canterbury interschool
dressage for the fourth year in a
row.
The school entered three
teams on March 27, including a
non-competitive side. One took
out the compeititon and another
finished 14th out of more than
20 teams of riders from Timaru
to North Canterbury.
Each class had 26-27 riders,
and placings were hard fought.
The winning team comprised
of Charlotte Thomas, Georgia
Allison, Katherine Hadler and
Caitlin Rayne.
Charlotte rode two
outstanding tests, scoring more
than 70 per cent for both, with
a win and a second on her
chestnut mare. Katherine also
IT IS safe to say the Selwyn
under-19 baseball team won’t be
sneaking up on any teams next
year.
They finished fourth in their
inaugural national campaign,
bouncing back from an early
loss to be surprise contenders
over the three-day tournament,
had an outstanding day, with a
win and third in both her tests
on the ever-consistent Hakuna
Matata. She also took out best
level one rider for the day.
Georgia also performed
extremely well, finishing third
and ninth on Hokey Pokey.
Caitlin performed two lovely
tests on her event Brentwood
Surprise, finishing fourth and
20th, showing that different
judges see different things.
Sophie Allison was a lastminute
addition and performed
extremely well in her first ever
level two tests on a young horse.
She finished fourth and ninth
in her two tests, but caught the
judges’ eye and won one of the
turnout prizes for the day on
the beautiful gypsy cob cross
Willowslee Perfect Storm.
Mikayla Wycliffe had an
outstanding day on the beautiful
and talented NS Hey Mickey.
Mikayla has been competing
which finished on Sunday in
Pakuranga, Auckland.
Co-coach Neil Davidson said
he couldn’t have been prouder of
the effort.
“We are delighted with
how the boys played,” he said.
“Considering it was our first
time and most of the team are
converted softballers – top four
was a great achievement.”
for a short time in dressage
and managed to come fourth
in a tough level two class and
seventh.
Ella van der Wilt performed
two lovely tests on her lovely
black mount to gain mid placings
in both tests. Her sister Emma
had a more difficult couple of
rides but thoroughly enjoyed her
day. Millie Wilson, riding a new
The team lost early to Howick-
Pakuranga Hawks 10-7 but
bounced back offensively to beat
Bayside 10-6.
pony this season, got my award
for the biggest smile, but she also
performed very well, gaining
more than 60 per cent for both
tests and mid-class placements
for both tests against some far
more experienced riders.
Sarah Gerritsen was pleased
with both performances at level
two on her lovely grey Stella.
Showing superb lengthened
TALENT: The Selwyn
under-19 baseball team
finished fourth at their first
ever national tournament.
New Zealand age-group
representative Jacob Davidson,
impressed both at catcher, fill-in
lead-off hitter and pitcher.
The team lost their semi-final
to eventual champions North
strides, she was very pleased
with how far the mare has come.
Chloe Cameron was all ready to
go, but unfortunately her horse
pulled up lame and she had to
retire for the day.
This was the last dressage
day for Georgia Allison, who
has competed and been part of
every winning team since 2016.
She will be greatly missed in the
team, but it warms my heart that
we have so many super riders
coming up and that equestrian
will remain strong in Darfield.
There is a real feeling of pride
in the equestrian teams, which
is shown by the camaraderie
between the riders and the
parents, and the level of
professionalism they exhibit in
their behaviour, attitude and
pride in their appearance.
I would like to thank Georgia
for all of her work behind the
scenes.
•More sport, pages 22-23
Young baseballers prove they’re contenders at national event
• By Jacob Page
TROPHY
HOLDERS:
Darfield High
School’s
winning
dressage
team –
Charlotte
Thomas,
Katherine
Hadler,
Nicky Voss
(manager),
Georgia
Allison and
Caitlin Rayne.
Shore. “Defensively, I thought our
fielding was phenomenal. Both
infield and outfield was great,’’
Neil Davidson said.
He said the performance
proves there is a strong group of
young baseball players coming
through in the district, and with
90 per cent of the team returning
next year, they could only get
better.
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