Congratulations to Sarah Nelson on her amazing year preparing for this event and the performance she put in!
Earlier in the year, Sarah was selected to represent NZ through the Pony Club Association at 3 Tetrathlon Championships in Europe.
She has just returned from the grueling three championship competition in Europe. Starting off at the World Tetrathlon Championships at Punchestown near Dublin, Sarah finished 35th overall, and was the top point scorer in her team. Her team finished 8th overall.
For tetrathlon, Sarah had to swim a 250m race; run cross country over 1.5km, pistol shoot and ride a 2* cross country course on a horse she had only ridden for 20 minutes before. Sarah drew Fred, a 15.2hh pocket rocket and they were one of the few clear rounds. The results that Sarah and the other NZ competitor achieved were remarkable given neither had ever held a pistol before April, and neither had any running or swimming race experience.
The next weekend saw the competitors move onto Castle Irvine near Belfast, with the competitors staying in the castle and competing in the castle grounds. Sarah achieved personal best times in the run, swim and shoot phases, but retired from the showjumping as she and the horse she was riding weren't gelling. Her team came 8th again, as loosing Sarah's high points cost them dearly.
The final championship was the UK championship near Warwick. Sarah rode one of the few clear show jumping rounds, got another running and shooting personal best, and the team finished 6th overall.
What an amazing experience and superb results. We look forward to catching up with Sarah and seeing where she's off to next.
Congratulations again !!
