Trans Tasman Games Exchange 2007
Captain’s Report

The Trans Tasman games exchange was not only a competitive trip, it was a trip of a lifetime filled with laughter, experience, fun and most of all games!

We left NZ on the 12th of April at 6.30am. We arrived in Gawler and were welcomed with great Aussie hospitality. We had many photos with the Aussies for newspapers, and we were fortunate enough to be the highlight of the Gawler horse festival. The competition was fierce and we played 20 games in less than 2 hours. The ponies were good and no one had any problems with them. I was impressed with the way everyone just got on with the job. We had a lot of support from parents and managers, and our coaches did a wonderful job, as we were definitely not the easiest bunch to train. We were fortunate enough to all bond well as teams. And we all had a lot of fun on the trip, as many jokes were passed and nick names given. Everything happened so fast, and we hardly got a moment to think about things, but this was good as it kept our adrenalin pumping.

Highlights:
The national anthem
Riding different ponies
Wearing an NZ uniform
Making friends for life
McLeod’s daughter’s pub and truck stop
Black sheep
Amy, Reece and Ashley’s conversations
Reece wearing makeup to Adelaide
The GINGAS

I had the best time of my life over there and I would personally recommend it to anyone. It is hard to express in words how much fun I had and I never thought anyone could make so many friends in only a few days. I would just like to thank Pat Perkins, Sophie Wilkinson, Anne Russell and Kendall Hinton. Without these people the trip would not have been any fun at all. I look forward to seeing everyone again and I hope the Trans Tasman games become frequent in the many more years to come. If you ever get an opportunity to represent the NZPCA grasp it with both hands as it will be the most fun you ever have!

Savanah Larsen-Church
Senior captain
Turangi Pony Club

New Zealand Pony Clubs Association Junior Mounted Games Team 2007

The 2007 junior New Zealand mounted games team consisted of 5 talented individuals- Morgan Larson-Church, Reece Allison, Ashley Lovett, Amie Bentall and myself Geoffrey Tulett.
We first got together as a team in Hastings during March for a two day training camp with our coach Sophie Wilkenson. We rode ponies that were generously lent out by local pony clubs. This was a valuable experience for all as it brought the team together and allowed our coach Sophie to see where we were at in terms of our skills.

Our next and final training camp was in April in the days before we left for Australia. This intense three day training was hosted in Waikato with ponies provided by Joy Hooker and the Tulett tribe. We stayed in a girl’s boarding house at St Peter’s; our food was kindly prepared by Joy Hooker (many thanks). Over the three days we bonded as a team and sharpened our skills in anticipation of the task ahead. During our spare time we participated in team building activities such as watching an educational movie, tin pin bowling and spending time with each other.
On Wednesday night we stayed in Auckland and we all turned in for an early night because we had an early morning. We checked in at Auckland airport at around 4 in the morning and boarded our flight to Melbourne with mixed feelings. Mostly excitement but with some stress for our managers.

We arrived in Adelaide after switching flights in Melbourne. We then were carted off by bus to the town of Gawler, where we arrived at our home away from home. We were the first to arrive and our new best buddies the slowly began to trickle in. That night we attended a reception dinner and watched trotting races at the Gawler race course. Friday was a quiet day which we spent taking a tour round the famous Lindsey Park stud. We the spent several hours in a classic little Australian town. We then went on to see the set of McClouds Daughters. Our next stop was at the competition grounds to view the equipment. Then we headed back to camp for a swim and some quality time with our Aussie buddies-Jess, Jema, Whitney, Billy and Mat.

Saturday-the day of the competition - We awoke all afire with excitement at wearing the black jersey again. We ate a relaxed breakfast and then travelled on a very quiet bus to the grounds as we (Kiwis and Aussies) did not have much to say to each other.

We whiled away the morning taking a look around the Gawler horse festival and then watched the Champion of Champions competition. This was an exciting event as we saw South Australia’s top riders competing. Afterwards we met our ponies-which really were a nice bunch.
And then the competition began with the New Zealand juniors dominating from the outset and finishing the competition on 57 points to Australia’s 48.

We (the NZ juniors) also came second overall as we downed the NZ senior team to finish in behind the Australian senior team. So all in all it was a very successful day taking out the junior title and finishing second overall.

Saturday night was the formal dinner which was a nice enjoyable affair

Sunday morning we farewelled the Australians and then travelled by train to Adelaide and spent it up big in the malls and shopping centres. It was a fun and interesting day which involved quality time shopping and spending time with each other. The day ended with Ashley, Reece and myself missing the train back to Gawler so we then had to catch the next train 45 minutes later. We spent our last night having a relaxing dinner at a quiet restaurant in Gawler.
So overall it was a very successful and fun trip and I would like to thank the team our coach Sophie, our manager Kendall and everyone that helped make this exchange possible.

Geoffrey Tulett
Junior captain
Matamata Pony Club