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Final episode of the Malaysian Pony Club trip to Queensland
Thursday, July 17th, 2008
by Lorna Fisher
We couldn’t have asked for a more exciting or closely fought team competition. Malaysian Pony Club versus two Queensland teams may not sound to close to the Olympics but anyone looking at the determination on the kids faces would have known it was pretty close to it.
The Pony Club Showjumping team’s competition was run under the Nations Cup format exactly the same as we faced at SUKMA. Two rounds four riders in the team and best three scores over two rounds counted. Two teams on the same score at the end of the two rounds and we would be into a two horse per team jump off.
It was a really special moment to stand together and listen to the national anthems played, I think that was the first time it really hit home to the children that they were riding for their country.
After the first round Malaysia is leading with one rail in hand. Into the second round and the pressure is really getting to the relatively inexperienced Malaysia team, Izad (pic top right) our first rider out gets just a bit too fast and a sudden dive out by his pony at the second last fence see’s him sat in the middle of the fence. Izad is the youngest member of the team and despite being bruised, and somewhat embarrassed he picks himself up and grins and has a standing ovation of the course.
We now know the next three riders must finish if we are not to be eliminated. Anas (pic right) on Guy Creighton's warmblood rides a careful round and holds it together, pulls one rail and the next rider for Queensland pulls one also.
Amanda brings in her second clear round and it is down to Amira if she can go clear we are into a jump off one rail and Queensland A team goes clear and we are 2nd. Clear to the last fence Amira is hanging in there, Norazman (Chef d’Equipe)and I are hanging on to each other barely able to watch….then plop goes that last rail…… the breath let out by everyone was audible!
A special mention for Shorendran who ended up not able to ride his horse who had a sore mouth as part of the team but was leant a horse for the final pairs relay and went like smoke to pull in second overall after literally two practice fences on his new horse.
As Team Coach I could not have been prouder of them, all that pressure, borrowed horses, under lights, and freezing cold, it could not have been more different from home.
They all rode well, kept smiling, were polite and helpful, just wonderful ambassadors’ for their country.
If all goes according to plan Queensland comes to us in October at the National Horse Show with a show jumping team and mounted games team. We will be working hard to give them as good a time as they gave us.
Team Biodata: Chef D’Equipe Noradzman bin Idris Team Coach Lorna Fisher
Riders. Amanda - riding Caboo (Thank you Robert James) Mohd Anas - riding Its Sundown (Thank you Guy Creighton) Shoorendran - riding Blue Arrow (Thank you Martin Pettifer) Amira - riding Gordy (Thank you Max Madden)
Photos below: Amira (pic left) and Amand (pic right).
Thanks to Lorna Fisher for this report and photos.
by Lorna Fisher
We now know the next three riders must finish if we are not to be eliminated. Anas 
