Tinks Pottinger is the New Zealand team coach
The first ever Trans-Tasman competition was held back in 1985, the year prior to the 1996 Gawler World Championships. The original aim of the Trans Tasman competition was to give riders, especially New Zealand riders and those Australian riders who had never been to Gawler before, a chance to see what the going and the terrain was like prior to coming to the World Championships. The Gawler course, which included the ‘Gawler Hill’ was a tough track and it was felt that a Trans Tasman competition would allow people to experience what it would be like the following year.
The inaugural event was won by New Zealand with Tinks Pottinger (NZ) taking the individual title and from that time the event has continued to give riders from both countries a chance to gain international experience without the expense of going too far from home.
The plan for the Trans Tasman was that it should take place every two years in between the Olympics and World Equestrian Games and each country would take turns to host the event. Up until a few years ago all the New Zealand Trans-Tasman competitions took place at Taupo but in 2012 the event moved to Kihikihi and ran as a CIC3* to coincide with the CIC-W that was also happening at Kihikihi. In Australia after the event being run at Gawler it was then held at Melbourne and then shared between Melbourne, Adelaide and now Sydney. The 2011 Trans Tasman event didn’t take place because of the timing of Adelaide so for the first time ever the Trans Tasman was run in an Olympic year - 2012 at Kihikihi.
Chief of Selectors Jim Dunn (pictured above) wasn’t involved in the first few Trans Tasmans but in 1991 he went to New Zealand as ‘Chef’ where the team consisted of Derek Piper, Andrew Hoy, Gill Rolton, Peter Haynes and Heath Ryan.
“I think the Trans Tasman event has been a really good thing for our sport,” said Jim. “I know there are a few riders who have been able to take themselves and their horses overseas to Europe to gain some international experience but the Trans Tasman makes it’s slightly more affordable for riders and Equestrian Australia. The other thing that is so good about the Trans Tasman is that it gives the High Performance officials a chance to see how the riders work together as a team. It’s much better to get a feel of how everyone fits in and iron out any issues at Trans Tasman level rather than wait until you have riders at World or Olympic Games. From the riders point of view they get to experience a team situation and the chance to work within that framework. This year’s Trans Tasman is looking like being a really good one and as long as the right team win at the end of the weekend I’ll be happy!”
The team of 1995 where Nikki Richardson (nee Bishop) pictured below won the individual title.
From left: Nikki Bishop, Derek Piper, Shane Rose, Anna Savage, Jim Dunn
History (or at least the history that we could find – because information on the Trans Tasman isn’t easy to find) shows that out of the 14 Trans Tasman events which have been held New Zealand have won the title ten times and Australia four, with Australia holding the present title. No doubt the riders who make up this years Australian team will be keen to keep the winners trophy on Australian soil and, with only the jumping phase to go, it's looking promising for the Australians
Bringing history full circle Tinks Pottinger is at this year's Trans Tasman as New Zealand's team coach
May the best team win!
Trans Tasman Results
1985 Tinks Pottinger 1st (individual) New Zealand team won
1987 Vaughan Jefferis 1st (individual) New Zealand team won
1989 Andrew Scott 1st (individual) New Zealand team won
1991 Andrew Scott 1st (individual) New Zealand team won
1993 Jo Wilson 1st (individual) New Zealand team won
1995 Nikki Bishop 1st (individual) New Zealand team won
1997 Can you help us with who won the individual this year? New Zealand team won
1999 Can you help us with who won the individual this year? New Zealand team won
2001 Andrew Grayling 1st (individual) Australian team won
2003 Megan Finlayson 1st (individual) New Zealand team won
2005 Megan Jones 1st (individual) Australian team won
2007 Sonja Johnson 1st (individual) New Zealand team won
2009 Stuart Tinney 1st (individual) Australian team won
2011 No Trans Tasman held
2012 Shane Rose 1st (individual) Australian team won
2013 ????
