InterPacific Exchange Report 2
April 29, 2001

Hi all you Canadian Pony Clubbers

On Saturday, April 28, 2001 when it was only Friday, April 27 in Canada the 5 Canadian riders, coach and chef d'equipe competed in the first of two riding competitions to be held during our tour of New Zealand. It was the Scrambled Teams event, a one-day horse trials competition held in Hawera. Each team consisted of 5 riders from 5 different countries;so each team was missing one country (there are 6 countries involved int the exchange). Jane Stone coached the team without a Canadian and I managed a team with the Nz coach, Kay Hogan. At the end of the day one of the teams did win but what Jane and I noticed was that although individual riders' performances were not recognized, the Canadians did very well!!

Katie Shipley was FIRST, John Jamieson was SECOND and Matt Gaglione was SIXTH. all this on borrowed horses that the riders had one hour to get the hang of the day before. Matt was originally paired with a lovely chestnut but others couldn't ride their horses very well so in the end Matt competed on the third horse he tried, getting his first ride on it the morning of the competition. (Three Australian riders took 3rd, 4th and 5th!) Faye Merrett was a rider on the second place team and Paula Rainford on the third placed team.

Heather Crampton
Canadian Inter Pacific Exchange Team chef d'equipe 2001