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Pony Club foundation members, from left, Pam Hood (nee Jeffs), Mary Stevens, Coila Bevan (nee Ferguson) and Ian and Jenny Ferguson.
The 70th anniversary of the Warkworth Pony Club was celebrated in style on Sunday, November 24, with a morning gymkana/ribbon day, followed by an afternoon jumping and salmon speed competition.
Club foundation members attended from as far away as the South Island and the anniversary cake was cut by Patron Jennie Georgetti and youngest club member, Jasmine Druce, 5.
Club president Sandi Webb welcomed everyone to the celebration and remarked on some of the club’s milestones – building the clubrooms in the 1990s and building the original cross country course, which was subsequently removed when Stage 1 of the Warkworth Showgrounds went ahead. The water jump was opened to mark the 50th Jubilee.
She said the club was growing and the grounds were also utilised by the Warkworth Dressage Group and the Mini Driving Group.
“We are still here in the same clubrooms with the dirt floor – the biggest struggle that we face is trying to obtain a lease from Auckland Council so that we can update our rooms,” Sandi said. “We would also love to put in an all-weather arena so that the grounds can be used all year round.”
District Commissioner Kim Sterling, who could not attend, sent a message congratulating the club, and the committee and organisers of the anniversary celebrations. She said the Warkworth District was in a strong position, with both Warkworth and Matakana branches continuing to grow.
“We also have, for the first time in a long while, a good base of experienced riders and are looking to send strong teams to all inter-club events, as well as North Island Showjumping Championships and Timberlands Eventing. It is also exciting that several of our riders are applying or trialling for Waitemata Rodney Area teams.”
