Welcome to the Facebook page for Springston Trophy 2026, we are glad to have you on board. Please find our first Newsletter below.
Newsletter 1
Welcome to our first newsletter for the 54th Springston Trophy proudly hosted by Ashburton Pony Clubs: Mill Creek, Methven, Rakaia and Tinwald. We look forward to hosting you for this memorable event that provides a magic platform for rider growth and pony club camaraderie.
Dates are Thursday October 1st to Sunday October 4th, 2026.
Competition Running Order:
Thursday October 1st – Welcome & Cross Country Walk at the Rakaia cross country course
Friday October 2nd – Dressage at Ashburton A&P Show Grounds
Saturday October 3rd – Cross Country, teams will travel to Rakaia for cross country
Sunday October 4th – Show Jumping & Mounted Prize Giving at Ashburton A&P Show Grounds
Camping and Facilities
Teams will camp at the Ashburton A&P Grounds. We are fortunate to offer more than 270 yards, along with horse wash bays, toilets, showers and unpowered camping sites. There are also numerous motel options in Ashburton.
Work has begun to create a new cross country course at Rakaia and the organising committee is delighted to have the talented Anna Poole as Course Designer. Technical Delegate is Lindsay Carruthers, Assistant TD - Tim Robinson, Chief XC Judge - Stuart Bishell and Assistant XC Judge – Ron Miles.
Springston Trophy Guardians are - Blue Clark, Viv Butcher, Lester Truman and Penny Frew.
Nomination Form
The Team & Draft Rider Nomination Form will be circulated via email from the NZPCA in May and will also be available on
https://www.sporty.co.nz/springstontrophy/home-1
Nominations close Monday 13th July 2026. This is also the closing date for remits and discussion topics for the 2026 ST AGM.
Entry Fees
The nomination form must be accompanied by the nomination fee of $100 per team (non-refundable), this fee is included in the total team entry fee (not extra).
The team entry fee is $600.
Teams consist of 6 riders:
Seniors - 105cm, 2 riders 24 years and under (all ages as at 1st August 2026)
Intermediates - 95cm, 2 riders 17 years and under
Juniors - 80cm, 2 riders 14 years and under
If a club cannot form a team of 6 riders, there are other eligible team compositions. These include:
Team of 5 riders (2 in each of 2 classes and 1 in the remaining class)
Team of 4 riders (1 rider in each class plus one rider in any of the 3 classes)
Borrowed riders (to make up a team of 4 or a team of 5 if the 5th rider is in a different class)
Composite team (to allow riders who would normally miss out due to their Branch/Club being unable to field a team, to be able to compete)
Two Age Group team (4 riders making up 2 classes)
The Draft riders register is for those riders who have not been placed in a team and is also an opportunity for a Branch/Club to register a vacancy for a rider. The organising committee will hold this register.
This is a brief overview of the potential makeup of teams so that branches/clubs/riders are aware of the options available. Please consult the ST rules for more detail at this link:
https://www.sporty.co.nz/springstontrophy/resources
If you have any queries about team compositions after reading the rules, please email us. We would love as many riders as possible to be able to attend the event.
Information and Enquiries
Please direct all enquiries to our email:
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Updates will be posted on both our Facebook page “Springston Trophy 2026” and also
https://www.sporty.co.nz/springstontrophy/home-1 Newsletter 2 will be available late March.
Sponsorship Opportunities
We are offering a range of sponsorship opportunities. The aim is to create rewarding partnerships for businesses through sponsorship packages, from event naming rights through to supporter packages suited to pony club families and small businesses. There are also opportunities to set up trade stalls to showcase products or services to attendees. Please contact Kim Solly (027 220 2009), Penny France (021 812 489), Kate Oliver (022 350 5902), or Kate Moorhead (027 553 3084) to discuss sponsorship opportunities.
Please start your planning and mark October 1st on your calendars!
Warm regards,
Ashburton Pony Clubs - Mill Creek, Methven, Rakaia and Tinwald.
Also check out other Workshops in Ashburton, Trips & Adventurous Activities in Ashburton, Arts events in Ashburton.
