Inter-Pacific Exchange - Hong Kong July 2011

Day 10 Report from Alison Hall - Tasmania's representative in the Australian Team

From Alison:-

Scrambled Teams Event:

There was “one person from each country in each team, plus a Mafu, or groom, from Camelot. The mounted games were on these tiny little Mongolian ponies, bareback and most of them buck, don't steer or stop really well.”  

Each team had two ponies.   Most riders fell off – the ponies “would be hooning along and all of a sudden they would put on the brakes, dart sideways and buck. It wasn't far to fall, and a good laugh. Once you started slipping you couldn't stop, they were so slippery and little! “  Games included a baton relay, riding up and leading a pony back, egg & spoon, and apple bobbing.  After that, there was cycling, which involved riding tiny mini-bikes around the outdoor arena, where several puddles caused spills and pile-ups, luckily with no major injuries!  A rock wall climbing challenge followed, then a basketball hoop contest, followed by swimming carrying a blown up rubber horse.  “It was great fun and a good laugh”.

That evening they went to Chimelong circus, a talk from Colleen Kelly was on Saturday morning, with the draw for horses and jumping practice Saturday afternoon.

New Zealand have a blog on their website with photos of some of the facilities.  Check out the tour from a New Zealanders point of view.

http://www.nzpca.org/tours/inter_pacific/index.php