Clevedon Pony Club re-opens at new site

Clevedon Pony Club held it’s re-opening and reunion for past members last Saturday.

The event was held to thank Manukau Parks, Clevedon Community Board, and local Manukau District pony clubs who let Clevedon members use their facilities during the relocation period.
Clevedon Pony Club was established in 1968. Pat Bryant who lived where Woodzone now is on North Road, was running a riding school and decided there was enough interest to start a pony club in the area.
Local families soon became involved and early rallies were held on the Clevedon polo grounds top field. Around 1974 the club moved to the Clevedon A & P Showgrounds. Manukau City Council purchased the grounds in 1997, adding a further adjoining 50 acres purchased from the Munro Family in 2004.
This 50 acres is now being developed as a rural/ equestrian area, with the equestrian groups and Clevedon A & P being relocated – or in the process of relocation.
This relocation has created new opportunities for Clevedon Pony Club.
Most obvious is the new clubhouse, a NZ Pony Club Association level cross country course and the ability to function with less conflict with usage from the many groups on the Grounds.
Last Saturday was a celebration for all the hard work involved with getting the club set up again in its new location.
The celebration started with a cross walk for riders from the Manukau District pony Clubs, Whitford and Pointways Pony Clubs. Andy Bowles lead the cross walk, accompanied by the cross country designer and Builder, Robbie MacLean.
The cross country course caters for a wide range of riders, with height levels ranging from 45 cm up to the more imposing 1.05 cm spreads. A water jump complete with carved fish and eel complement the park setting and will be evolved to create a focal lake feature for the park.
On completing the course walk riders then mounted their horses and lined up in front of the building for the opening function.
Invited guests and attendees included representatives from Manukau Parks, Clevedon Community Board Chairman Maurice Hinton, Board members Logan Kemp and Mark Balemi, ARC councillor Jan Sinclair, Clevedon Ward councillor Maggie Burrill, and Hunua MP Dr Paul Hutchison. 
A special thank you went to Clevedon Community Board member Mark Balemi, who has been instrumental in spearheading the show grounds development.
With the ribbon being "pulled" Riders went out to jump the course and festivities began in the clubrooms.
The reunion was well supported with around 50 people who spent the late morning/early afternoon catching up and walking the grounds.

PICTURED: Guests attending the Clevedon Pony Club re-opening and reunion last Saturday  walk the new cross country course. The club has been relocated to a new site on the extension of the Clevedon A & P Showgrounds.