ARCA Interclub Winter Challenge

photo's at the bottom of the report.

ARCA Autumn Gymkhana Challenge Report
by Sarah Dansie

Well, folks, the MARG inaugural interclub ARCA Challenge has come and gone. Team Magenup returns VICTORIOUS. Well, okay… not exactly victorious. But we definitely won third place. *\o/*

They say the early bird catches the worm, so the convoy met at Forrestdale Peak at 5:45am. By 5:48am Helen was handing out name badges. Secretary, much? On pit crew duty we had our Official Chef d’Equipe, Caz; our Official Team Photographer, Brooke Benbow; our Official Team Hillbilly and Scribe, yours truly; and Officially Not Just Fleur’s Mum, Robbie. Riding us to hitherto unknown GLORY was the courageous Team Magenup. This crack squad of nervous wrecks and weak bladders was comprised of the following rabble:

Emma Maney on Movie Star (Jamie)
Helen Elston on King Law (King)
Beth Evans on Krytselle Park Rising Mercury (Honda)
Kate Elston on General Montgomery (Monty)
Fleur Litster on Eden Silver Sails (Ed)
Niki Cottingham on McCallum (Bobby)
Jenny Lemessurier on Swannie
Susan Leeming on Banjo
Liz Wollaston on Shakia

Everyone was pretty sure they had forgotten something, but no one really knew exactly what or why they needed it. It didn’t seem to matter, because Beth had four of everything, colour-coded and alphabetised. It’s why we love her so.

We should have known Emma was in for a big day when her taillights failed halfway down the Kwinana Freeway. Jamie was so ready to shine he’d shorted out his float.

By 7:15am, we were at the Wanneroo grounds checking out the facilities. And by checking out the facilities, I mean Helen was having her first nervous wee. Emma was ODing on her “special calming spray” and Honda was applying to air traffic control for clearance. He provided some impressive aerial maneuvers on the grassed area in homage to Monty’s flapping tailbag. The practice must have paid off, because later in the day Beth rode a clear round in the showjumping.

First event was Best Presented Club, and after some Caz-style primping and expert boot polishing (my GOD, I can shine a boot, people), we looked the part. There was an audible gasp around the grounds when we failed to take out first. The photos snapped by our personal paparazzi speak for themselves, and hey, those second place ribbons don’t look so shabby, either.

In the walk/trot/canter ring, Magenup dominated the rider classes, with firsts from both Beth and Helen, seconds from Kate and Susan, a fourth from Niki, and a fifth for Emma. Caz, Robbie, Brooke and myself dominated ring-side; we’re pretty sure our seismic cheering and stomping registered on the Richter scale. In the walk/trot ring, Liz scooped up fourth in her rider class and whattaya know… that just about took us up to 10:40am and Helen’s second anxiety-induced whiz. I held King while she made her pant-grabbing dash.

At 11:00am, Emma turned drug dealer. Helen copped a mouthful of the “special spray”, presumably a “try-before-you-buy” arrangement that blows Emma’s “personal use” defense right out of the water. But don’t worry Em, your secret’s safe with us. We think. Jenny and Swannie provided cover for the shady drug deal by distracting us with her fourth placing over in their Pony Hack class.

The cheer squad had barely turned around and it was time for Champion Rider in the walk/trot/canter ring. Helen and Beth both rode lovely workouts, and Kate got a look-in for Reserve, but we were pipped at the post. Team Magenup was undeterred. We still cheered our asses off.

After that, it was a mad dash to the walk/trot ring where Liz and Shakia claimed a blue ribbon victory for Pleasure Hack. Jenny and Swannie followed up with a clean sweep and took first for both Pleasure Pony and Hunter Pony. And just to make it all look easy, these two class-acts ponied-up at the last minute and blitzed the competition in Pairs. Guys, I said it on the day and I’ll say it again – looked like you’d been practicing for weeks, and it was a well-deserved win.

While we were lighting up the walk/trot ring with our special brand of Magenup Ass-Kickery, Emma and Jamie, and Fleur and Ed were showing their style in the walk/trot/canter ring; they secured first and third place respectively in Hack 15-15.2hh.

Beth and Honda scored first for Hack over 16hh, then Niki and Bobby took out second in Hack over 16hh. Emma showed them how it was done and came out on top for Hack 15-15.2hh. Kate swiped second for Hack 15.2-16hh.

The excitement was enough to send this little chicken screaming for the coffee van. It was a haven I would return to throughout the day, mostly on account of the guy serving it. *fans self* It also gave me the chance to give the Handy Pony course an eyeball on the way past. It made me pretty nervous, and I wasn’t even riding… Fleur and Ed did Team Magenup proud over the obstacles, coming 6th overall. Ed even got the gate for Fleur when she couldn’t quite reach, like the true gentleman we all know him to be. Jenny and Swannie made a similarly painless pass. Susan and Banjo gave the course a red-hot go, and Susan demonstrated some true grit and beautiful horsemanship to bring Banjo back from some challenging behaviour to complete the course. She did the club proud, and garnered some very positive remarks from other riders on the sidelines. T’was beautiful to watch, Susan. Niki and Bobby tackled the course from a more unusual angle – Niki demonstrated how “handy” her “pony” could be without a rider when they parted company halfway through. WHAT? It’s an important SKILL, people. Right, Niki? Jamie gave Emma a run for her money with the sack of cans, but after a small sideways dispute, they completed the course without further incident.

Soon after, Jenny almost managed to keep her Champion win in the walk/trot ring quiet, but I saw it at the last minute and was embarrassingly loud. Sorry, Jenny.

12:55pm, and guess who’s holding King while Helen pees? AGAIN.

Team Magenup continued to flog the competition in the afternoon Pleasure Hack classes. In the 15.2hh – 16hh class Kate, Susan and Helen cleaned up fourth, fifth and sixth respectively. Beth and Honda got another first in the 16hh and over class, and quite frankly, they were starting to get a BLUE TINGE. Niki and Bobby picked up a fifth in their Pleasure Hack.

Show Hunter time, and Emma and Jamie kicked things off with a third in the 15-15.2hh, where Fleur and Ed also took out fifth. Kate and Monty showed their Magenup colours and won first in the 15.2hh-16hh class. Susan and Banjo snaffled third. In the 16hh and over, Beth outshone the shiny for yet another taste of blue, and Niki and Bobby’s performance earned them a third, too.

I was running out of paper to record the results, but I didn’t have time to go looking for more, because yep, you guessed it… HELEN HAD TO PEE AGAIN.

There’d been whispers and general nervousness amongst the Team Magenup riders when it came to the showjumping, but it turned out all our fears were unfounded. After a couple of practice jumps, Emma and Jamie were ready to have a crack at the 30cm course, on the proviso they could duck out if Emma poohed her pants. The dirty stop-out rode a beautiful clear round, and gave Caz and I another excuse to get mighty loud ring-side. Beth on Honda and Susan on Banjo were not to be outdone. They joined the winners club with their own blue ribbon rounds.

And yep, you can’t win all those ribbons without facing some consequences. In the walk/trot/canter ring, Emma and Jamie were suitably punished with Reserve Champion Hack 15-15.2hh. Kate and Monty faced the music with Reserve Champion Hack 15.2-16hh. Beth and Honda REALLY got what was coming to them when they took out Champion Hack over 16hh. Do the crime, do the time, guys.

Four o’clock found horses and riders back at the floats for a bite to eat and a recap. After that, Team Magenup headed back down and perched atop a grassy knoll to see out the braver of the showjumpers going through their 1m+ paces. Would you believe that Helen had to pee again? No? She did. Honda kept an eye on things back at the floats, and we thoroughly appreciated his regular “All’s well” tree shaking signals. Next time, I say we give him semaphore flags and see if he can guide in any planes, Beth.

We continued to impress with some loud cheering over our dual third placing for the High Point Club Trophy and Handicap Club Trophy at presentation time. A sterling effort, considering the winning high point club had 30+ riders on the day. We packed up our horses and ribbons and trophies and headed home – exhausted but triumphant. A fantastic day had by all, and we hope to see some new faces out there for Team Magenup next time!

A HUGE thanks to Brooke Benbow from Perfect Pony Photographics for coming along for the day and being Magenup's Personal Photographer.
She can be contacted on perfectponyphotographics@live.com.au