National riding clubs to compete | Taranaki Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Taranaki

THE NATIONAL teams event will be held at Egmont A&P; Show grounds in Hawera on January 5-6, 2008.

Every year the New Zealand Adult Riding Club holds an adult teams' competition in both the North and South Islands. For the past few years the North Island Teams Event (NITE) has been held in Taupo and the Coastal Adult Riding Club have sent a team to compete, with this year being the first time two teams have been sent.

NITE teams consist of four to six riders and any four of that team have to compete in four disciplines over two days. On the first day is the obstacle event where riders must ride their horse through, over, and under various obstacles, as well as opening and shutting gates, dragging sacks etc. This event is a real test of both rider's and horse's skill and trust for each other. In the afternoon the quadrille dressage event is held. This involves hours and hours of practice for months before the competition. quadrille dressage is a team of four, with both rider and horse dressed in costume and performing a team dressage test together to a musical theme. It is a great spectators' event. There is no gate charge and the public is welcome. Admission is free.

On the second day, four of the team members compete in a the cross country course and then show jumping in the afternoon.

The Coastal Adult Riding Club has won the hosting rights to hold NITE in Hawera in January, 2008, and at this point there are 14 teams entered covering an area from South Auckland, Waikato, Hawkes Bay to Masterton We are also planning to have three teams compete.