North Canterbury News: December 14, 2023

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SPORT
North Canterbury News, December 14, 2023
NC PonyClubs to host Springston Trophy
By SHELLEYTOPP
North Canterbury Pony Club and
Amberley Pony Club are gearing up to
host the Springston Trophy at the
RangioraShowgrounds in 2024.
The Springston Trophy is the largest
pony club, three­day eventing
competition in the southern
hemisphere.
This year’s winner, Eyreton Pony
Club, one of the North Canterbury
Club’s seven branch members, took out
top honours at the Cromwell
Racecourse.
Next year’s event, will be held from
October 4toOctober 6.
Around 800 people including riders,
aged from six to 25, their management
and support teams, judges, officials,
volunteersand spectators from
throughout the South Island are
expected to attend.
Organising the Springston Trophy is a
huge and costly task, but clubs embrace
it to continue the tradition of the
competition and involve local
communities which benefit from the
influxofriders.
The annual event began in 1972 when
it was hosted by the Springston Pony
Club. Fifteen teams entered, with the
Gore Pony Club winning the inaugural
competition.
It has been held annually ever since,
except for 2020 when is was cancelled
because of the Covid­19 pandemic
restrictions.
An average of 30 to 40 teams now enter
every year.
Moriarty is right on target
ByROBYN BRISTOW
Sean Moriarty is aiming for the top.
The 17­year­old Amuri Area School
student, brought home two bronze
medals from the Oceania
Championships in Brisbane in target
shooting recently.
In adiscipline he has only been doing
for six months, he was placed third in
the men’s air­riflecompetition, and also
in the mixed pairs alongside Piper
Benbow.
In the 50m prone rifle competition
Sean finished 11th out of 60 plus
shooters.
‘‘Perhaps best of all, Igot anew
personal best with every shoot Idid.’’
Sean is no stranger to competition.
During the indoor season in the
winter, he shot for New Zealand as a
junior in 25m prone, and at the end of
the last outdoor season, he also shot for
New Zealand.
The competitions are runaspostal
event against the United Kingdom.
Sean says it was an amazing
experience to travel overseas and
represent his country at the Oceania
championships.
For the men’s air­rifle match he was
standingnext to an Australian, who was
afour­time Olympian.
‘‘So the competition was very real.’’
He learnt alot from the other
competitors, athletes, and officials, who
were supportive and encouraging.
The experience showed Sean this
level of competition requiredalot of
practice, and motivation, especially
when covering two disciplines.
There is now apossibility he may take
part in some trans­Tasman training, and
other development opportunities.
Sean has now set himself the goal of
adding another discipline to his
armoury —3P—where he will compete
prone, kneeling and standing using his
Bronze ... Sean Moriarty with one of the
bronze medals he won at the Oceania
Championships in Brisbane. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
.22 Walther rifle, while continuing with
his Walther air­rifle as well.
He says could not have achieved what
he has without the support of many
people including Gordon Wright of
Rotherham who coached him at indoor
shooting and introducedhim to
competition shooting.
Also Adrian Black of Culverdenfor
helping him learn the discipline of airrifle
and outdoor, and Sarah Black who
makes sure ‘‘I know about all the
competitions and who knows every
result, sometimesbefore Ido’’.
‘‘I am also very grateful for the
sponsorship received from Amuri Lions
Club, Rodin Cars and Amuri Irrigation
Company for my travel to Brisbane.’’.
‘‘I felt very proud when our flag was
raised at the medal ceremonies.’’
The Springston Trophy was last held
at the Rangiora Showgrounds in 2008,
hosted by the Rangiora Pony Club.
Thirty six teams competed on the new
Sally Wigley­designed cross­country
course that year, and the event was won
by the hosts, says the District
Commissionerfor North Canterbury
PonyClub, Deb Christensen.
‘‘Fast forward 16 years and the
competition once again returns to
Rangiora to be hosted bythe North
Canterbury PonyClub with one of New
Zealand’s best young course designers,
Cam Robertson, already hard at work
designing and constructing abrand new
modern and future­proof course which
will serve the showgrounds for many
years to come,’’ she says.
Cam’sdesign is not justfor the
NC SPORTS RESULTS
Springston Trophy, but also to bring
New Zealand’s highest level of
competition to the area by designing and
constructing acourse which can be used
for Equestrian Sports New Zealand.
These competitions will attract some of
the greatest eventing horses and riders
from all over the country to compete.
‘‘He is hoping to provide acrosscountry
course which will be enjoyed
and will test riders from all walks of life
for years to come, Deb says.
The club is seeking funding help to
keep entry fees down so competitors
from all over the South Island can
attend.
Anyone wishing to help the North
Canterbury Pony Club fund the event,
phone Helen Christensen at 027 733 6569
or email helench42@gmail.com.
Amberley Bridge Club
Monday Evening:Jannene Cumming &Jan Roose 1, Lynne John &Ian Pettigrew 2,
Jill Coberger&Paddy Macfarlane 3.
ThursdayAfternoon: North/South: Judith Driver &Jan Roose 1, Denise Lang &May
Milne 2, Diana Faulkner&Helen Phillips 3. East/West: Nancy Hassall &Hugh
Bradbury 1, Nola McKissock &Diane Watson 2, Irene Carson &Mary Warren 3.
RangioraBridge Club
Grey Pairs: North/South: Denise Lang/Sue McIlroy 1, Sharyn Rudolph/David
Rainey 2, WarwickWyatt/Janelle Crawley 3. East/West: Lynda Cameron/Denise
Frater 1. Marilyn Eliet Lorraine Tullett 2. Margaret Barron/Virginia Ffitch 3.
Summer Pairs: N/S: Robin Hassall/Sue McIlroy 1, Jan Roose/Judith Driver 2,
Des Steere/Helen Thornburgh 3. E/W: Lyn Edwards/Adrienne Paine 1, Sue
Solomons/Moody Shokry 2, Lesley Shipley/Denise Frater 3.
Junior Evening: N/S: Julie Smith/Ben Prain 1, Annette Caldwell/Gail Dunlop 2,
Lady Ann/Jill Midgley 3. E/W: Helen Russ/Lynette Tillman 1, Murray Messervy/
Gerard McCrea 2, Margaret Cornwall/Diane Graham 3.
Christmas Pairs: N/S: Jim Knight/Ken Fox 1, Ann Blackie/Alan Blackie 2, Steve
Noad/Veronica Hall 3. E/W: Gaynor Hurford/David Rainey 1, Louise Tapper/
Janelle Crawley 2, Derek Wilson/Kevin Kuch 3.
Rangiora Bridge Club 2023 competition results
Saturday afternoon: Cherry Pairs: Liz Partridge &Sue McIlroy; Thomas Pairs:
Margaret Pickering &Janice Pickering; Oxford Pairs: Adrienne Paine &Lyn
Edwards; Pocock Pairs: Heather Waldron &Colleen Adam; Grey Pairs: Heather
Waldron &JanicePickering. Individual: Robyn Dawson.
Monday afternoon: Rimu Pairs Senior: Jan Roose &Judith Driver; Rimu Pairs
Junior: Margaret Cornwall &Lynette Tillman; Rata Pairs Senior: Shirley Symns
&Lyn Edwards;
Rata Pairs Junior: Nita Sheasby &Lynette Tillman. Individual Senior: Jan
Roose.
Presidents Senior: Joyce Gray; Presidents Junior: Wayne Hutchings; Overall
Individual Senior: Jan Roose.
Mixed Teams: Sharyn Rudolph, Lynette Tillman, Margaret Cornwall, Pauline
Miller, Dawn Simpson.
Wednesday evening: Premier Pairs Senior: Barry Smart &Lynda Cameron;
Premier Pairs Junior: Karen Manson &Kerryn Lange; Plate Pairs Senior: Robyn
Hassall &Gaynor Hurford; Plate Pairs Junior: Shula Guse &Julie Elliott.
Individual Senior: Gaynor Hurford; Presidents Senior: Gaynor Hurford;
Presidents Junior: Shula Guse; Overall Individual Senior: Gaynor Hurford.
Open Teams: Gaynor Hurford, Liz Duke, Jenny Shore, Dawn Simpson
Most Improved Senior Player: Marion Lomax.
Junior night: Best Improved Junior 2years: Lynette Tillman; Tuition Cup 1year:
Ben Prain; JuniorOverall Pairs: Helen Russ &Lynette Tillman.
Anniversary pairs: Overall: Andrew Findlay &Diane Findlay; Senior:Gaynor
Hurford &Dawn Simpson; Intermediate: Janice Pickering &Maree Felstead;
Junior: Rhondda Bergman &Jeff Bergman.
Bridge tuition is being held next year from April 15. Go to rangiorabridgeclub.
co.nz to register your interest.
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