The largest pony club event in the southern hemisphere attracted 40 teams from around the South Island, including several from Otago and Southland.
Canterbury-based View Hill Red topped the overall standings with a total score of 138.48 after the dressage, cross country and show jumping events, closely followed by the Halswell Pony’s Club’s Crusaders team (140.14) and North Otago Pony Club Red (142.35).
A third place finish for the North Otago Club was a fitting way for it to mark its 70th anniversary and suggests that home-field advantage does make a difference in the sport.
The Crusaders also won the dressage title and the horsemanship award went to Kaiapoi Pony Club Black.
The wooden spoon award, presented to the top-placed team which competed but did not have enough members to be officially scored, was won by the Waihora Pony Club Zonkeys. Springston Trophy event secretary Susan de Geest said the calibre of horsemanship on display was first-class, especially from the Canterbury-based clubs known for their championship-winning pedigree.
She said overall, the event had gone "extremely well".
"Everybody came to this event with an extremely positive attitude and that’s how it’s continued throughout the weekend. There’s some very, very experienced riders and some exceptional clubs here."
Other Otago and Southland teams to finish in the top 10 were the combined Invercargill and Waimea Pony Club team, fourth, North Otago-Waimea Navy, seventh and West Taieri-Waikouaiti, eighth.
