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Malaysian Pony Club competes in Queensland Showjumping and Derby Challenge
Sunday, June 22nd, 2008
by Lorna Fisher, reporting from Queensland, Australia.
Who would have thought that one week after the SUKMA Games we would be heading to Queensland with one team of Pony Clubbers at exactly the same time as another team of junior riders headed for Hong Kong. June 2008 is turning into an amazing month for Pony Club Riders.
It has taken us a year to finally get to Queensland. The invitation arrived from Caloundra Pony Club and the Pony Club of Queensland in 2007 and then Equine Influenza hit Australia, the equestrian world shut down, and we waited.
There are seven of us in the Malaysian Pony Club contingent. Myself as Team Coach come Chaperone, NorAzman fresh from his job as team manager for Selangor at SUKMA becomes Chef d’Equipe plus the five riders.
We arrived in Brisbane after a long trip via Sydney and then spent a few hours getting to know the Quarantine officers who took one look at our Team Shirts, said ‘Equestrian team are you?’ and we were lined up for spraying of boots, chaps, spurs, whips and hats. An hour later we finally made it through the exit signs and into the safe keeping of Martin and Vicky representatives of PCAQ who had patiently waited to ferry us up to the sunshine coast were we would be staying with our ‘families’ for the duration of the competition.
Staying with pony club families is a great opportunity to meet fellow enthusiasts and their horses. The riders were soon out there learning how to put on rugs and getting to know the locals.
The following day was our day off so we headed for the famous Australia Zoo that was created by the late Steve Irwin and is now run by his family. Amazing place, great animal conservation message and every native animal you can think of.
A visit to the Sandale Saddlery shop run by Steffi a great friend and sponsor to Pony Club in Queensland had us trying out Stuebben saddles, craving Stuebben bridles and leaving with slightly smaller items……. Sigh
All of us are staying with different Pony Club families many of whom are not only feeding us and giving us beds and extra warm clothes (feels pretty cold at night compared to Malaysia!), transporting us around and showing us the sights, but lending us their horses as well. The horses we are using were brought from the various properties to Caloundra Pony Club which will be the venue for the competition. Our riders couldn’t wait to meet their horses and start training for the competition over the weekend. Coach in charge of the training is the legendary Guy Creighton, three time Olympian for Australia, he is a great Coach and a good friend to Pony Club with the ability to teach all levels. He had organized the matching up of the horses and riders and had everyone swinging over a metre with a smile on their face by the end of Friday.
We all agree that the best things about the trip are the great people, their lovely horses and their incredible hospitality. We are in very good hands and really looking forward to the weekend.
The Team Chef d’ Equipe Noradzman bin Idris Team Coach Lorna Fisher
Amanda Sivaraj riding Caboo 10yrs ex racehorse D/C grade Showjumper. Loaned by Robert James Caloundra Pony Club President.
Amira Syahirah binti Mohd Zulkefli ridng Gordy 9yrs ex racehorse, very quiet, has won a lot of pony club showjumping and eventing. On loan by Max Madden, but helping us with him are Vicky and Christy Ansell.
Muhammad Anas Danial bin Noradzman riding It’s Sundown, 12yr old warmblood owned by, and on loan from Guy Creighton. Originally a dressage horse that’s now being used by Guy’s daughter for showjumping.
Shoorendran a/l Nageswaran riding Blue Arrow, 13yr old ex racehorse. D/C grade Showjumper owned by, and on loan from Martin Pettifer PCAQ Committee Member.
Izad Rushdi bin Paiza riding J.C., 12yr old Appaloosa pony, an all-rounder and an eventer that does everything well. He has had 8 eventing starts, and has won 7 of them. Also on loan from Robert James.
by Lorna Fisher, reporting from Queensland, Australia.
The following day was our day off so we headed for the famous Australia Zoo that was created by the late Steve Irwin and is now run by his family. Amazing place, great animal conservation message and every native animal you can think of.