Showjumper wins sports maker award
Waipukurau showjumper Claire Wilson received an unexpected surprise at the Central Hawke’s Bay Pony Club’s AGM earlier this month.
For her work with the club, Wilson was presented with Sport Hawke’s Bay’s Sports Maker Award for the month of May.
“She’s an amazing volunteer,” said pony committee member Jane von Dadelszen. “Our club is full of wonderful people who all contribute but when it came to thinking about who to nominate for this award, we couldn’t go past Claire.”
Until recently, Wilson was the assistant chief coach for CHBPC — a role which required her to coach across all ages and levels. She has also staged the ‘Winter Olympics’ at her family’s Mt Herbert Farm for nine years, with this year’s event raising $20,200 for Flemington School and the Hawke’s Bay Rescue Helicopter Trust.
To top things off, Wilson also hosts a fundraising Triathlon with a Twist at her property. This year’s second annual event raised $2035 for St John ambulance at Porangahau.
Wilson said she was very surprised to receive the award at the pony club meeting.
“Stunned, in fact! It could have gone to a number of people in the room. These successful events could not have got off the ground without the many people I have supporting me . . . It’s a huge team effort.”
Wilson has traded in her coaching role at the pony club after being appointed as the rider’s representative to Equestrian Sports New Zealand’s (ESNZ) Jumping Board. As an upper-level showjumping competitor, Wilson believed she could bring bring a different perspective to the jumping board.
Wilson will be appointed to the board on July 1, replacing fellow former Olympic Cup winner Maurice Beatson.