Pottinger to star on small screen

No one could ever accuse 1988 Seoul Olympics eventing bronze medallist Tinks Pottinger of blowing her own trumpet
Pottinger, from Tinui, features on the popular TV One programme, Country Calendar, tomorrow evening but was loath to talk about the experience yesterday.
Not because she didn't enjoy it but because she was "pretty embarrassed" at being the centre of attention.
"Honestly, it's no big deal," she said
"I'm not sure how many people will be interested, hopefully there will be a few who are entertained."
Pottinger did reveal, however, that the main thrust of the programme was the three-generational aspect of her family's involvement in equestrian sport.
And to that end it also involves her 85-year-old mother Tiny, who represented her country in dressage in her competitive days and is the Equestrian Sport New Zealand patron, and 17-year-old daughter Amanda, a rising star who won the Pony Speed of the Year title at this year's Kelt Horse of the Year Show.
A media blurb from TV One suggests, however, that the content will be much more interesting than Tinks Pottinger makes out.
"It's early spring and deep in the Wairarapa hills an expert horsewoman is gently schooling a young rider on the finer techniques of show jumping," it says.
"Calls to 'sit deeper in the saddle' and to 'loosen the left rein' can be heard over hooves beating on the limestone surface of a jumping arena at Anerley Farm, near Castlepoint, east of Masterton.
"The teacher is former Olympic champion Tinks Pottinger. The student, Tinks's 17-year-old daughter Amanda & "
As the story unfolds Amanda has six months left to compete in pony classes before she turns 18 and has to move on to the horse competition in her chosen sport.
Good results at the Horse of the Year show are therefore their number one target.
The secret of the Pottinger success is perhaps summed up best by Tiny White, who collected equestrian titles throughout the length and breath of the country in the 1960s, 70 and 80s.
She is quoted as saying: "We're a pretty competitive family and none of us goes out thinking 'this is just another jump'. It must be genetics."
And there is a telling comment from Amanda too: "I don't want to come out of the ring with regrets or wish I had gone a bit faster. Mum always says you've got to give it everything, you only live once.".
Country Calendar screens on TV One on Saturdays at 7pm.