Local horse rider steps it up for International trials

Local horse rider Claire Martin recently participated in the three-day Polo International Horse trials from 3 to 5 October at the Kyalami Park Club in Midrand.

The 25-year-old has set impressive standards for herself during competitions with her thoroughbred gelding, Mark In Time and won the trials last year. Martin has been competing since she was a young rider with ponies and achieved provincial colours in that regard.

The duo’s winning streak does not seem to be short – winning the FEI CIC 2* title at Oaksprings in Kwa-Zulu Natal and more recently a podium finish at the 2014 Discovery KZN eventing championships. When Claire is not collecting trophies with Time, she is completing her MSc Medical Plant Science at the University of Pretoria.

“I adopted Mark In Time from the Highveld Horse Care Unit three years after he retired from racing and we have made a great team. Together we have won a couple of great races and we look forward to more in the future”

The 5km Polo International horse trials offer riders an extensive terrain including ditches, water complexes and cross country. This year’s event introduced the 5km Pink Pony Walkathon which was to raise awareness for breast cancer.

The event’s organiser Pat Parker says the trials were set up to develop local athletes into the international sphere while offering a beautiful day out for the whole family.

“The event is in its second year now and we already have a few of our local athletes that will take part in the 2016 Olympic Games. The walkathon was initiated with Cansa to raise awareness to breast cancer as it is October and we had a couple of celebrity cancer survivors. All the proceeds from that went towards Cansa,” Parker added