Fifield Enduro 2007

June 2007
by Rosemary Laing (Hunter Club)
Once again it was a most enjoyable event. It just gets better every year.
Four ponies and eleven horses contested the event this year. The Hunter team comprised myself and Tinker, Helen “great to have back again” Huckerby and Pebbles, plus Jill Buisman and George and Doreen Sinclair. Unfortunately it clashed with Laurie Smith’s biannual golf week, so he and Barb were missing. We hope to have them back again next year.

Due to dramas with my car over Easter, it seemed like I would not get away on time, but luckily at the last minute, everything came together somehow, and we left more or less on schedule.
Pebbles suffered a bit of lameness in the early part of the week and had to miss a day’s driving, but she came good and performed really well after that. Two of the other pony competitors had to go home before the end of the week, so that left Tinker as the only pony to go the whole distance. She went really well, winning five of the six days, was overall pony winner and had amazingly low heart rates. Four of the horses had to withdraw towards the end of the week with various health problems, but the ponies as usual came through smiling.
The driving was only part of the week’s activities. We were treated to a garden party and a dinner party. It is amazing what you can make to wear out of garbage bags, toilet paper, foil, drinking straws and jewellery ! As well, many happy hours were spent at the rest day big breakfast, the poetry night (see poem), a welcome BBQ and a presentation dinner at the Fifield hotel on the Saturday night.
Finally there was a wedding ! Tinker and I were asked to carry the bride to the Fifield Church. It was the first wedding there in 13 years. We came back from a 41km drive in the morning and set about scrubbing ponies, sulkies and harness. I then decorated my sulky with white ribbon and harnessed up for the wedding. Afterwards, Helen and I gave some rides to the children present.
A big thank you to Norma and Barry Garment and daughter Heather Wythes for organizing the great event that is the Fifield Enduro. Thanks as well, to Max Smith for all the work he does in the camp (especially the hot showers!) and at the rest breaks, and to Kath Smith for her time keeping. It is always good to see her cheery face under that red umbrella. Mention must also be made of Heather’s six year old daughter Elizabeth who made our camp her second home. We really enjoyed her company.