Mane event

The formation of a top-class cross country course at the Marlborough Equestrian Park paved the way for a hugely-successful 2025 New Zealand Pony Club Eventing Champs.

The championships, which ran from Thursday to Sunday, are only staged in the South Island once every four years, the last time in Marlborough being 1992.

They were hosted by the Marlborough Nelson West Coast Area Pony Club, whose members put in the hard yards to make the venue suitable for such a high-profile gathering involving nine regions throughout the country.

Firstly, they had to create a suitable cross country course at the Park, which already has well-appointed dressage and showjumping arenas.

Course designer Lucy Shaw from Canterbury was recruited and, alongside former international designer Richard Crowe, who lives locally, they provided the blueprint for a brand-new cross-country track, which would fully test the 122 horses and 105 riders who made their way to Marlborough.

Action at the Park began with dressage on Friday, the new cross country course being put to the test on Saturday and the showjumping wrapping up proceedings on Sunday.

The overall championships were a team championship, but the Moana Johnsen Memorial ODE, named in honour of a local Pony Club stalwart, was run alongside for individual riders.

Marlborough’s Michelle Campbell, the event secretary, said the championships were “really successful”.

“We got some excellent feedback … the visitors were really impressed. That sort of feedback makes you feel that those stressful times and the many hours of work that went into this is all worth it.”

Full results are available at www.marlboroughapp.co.nz