Pony carts compete at Clareville

Driver Jill Udy, Hawkes Bay, with her Welsh pony Holly in the dressage event. PHOTO/CHRIS KILFORD

Wairarapa Shafts and Wheels Driving Association took over Clareville Showgrounds during the weekend.

Bob Macfarlane, publicity officer and co-convenor for the club, said the weekend "went very well" and there had been a lot of positive feedback from the competitors.

Twenty-five competitors had come from all over the lower North Island and within Wairarapa district.

Mr Macfarlane said it was more of a "fun weekend" compared with some Wairarapa Shafts and Wheels Driving Association's more serious events.

The club was also celebrating its 25th anniversary.

Tara Ormandy and groom Liz Louk from Dannevirke wait their turn in the dressage event with Solo, their pony. PHOTO/CHRIS KILFORD

"It was a bit damp early on Saturday but after that the weather was perfect."

Saturday's events included graded dressage and a scurry -- a short fast cone course. On Sunday was a "much tighter" cone course where competitors had to move around 20 sets of cones without disturbing them in the lowest time to win. The second part of the day featured either a 12km or 8km marathon around the outskirts of the showgrounds.