General News
23 July, 2021
Presitigous event calls for volunteers
COMMITTEE members of Camperdown’s most prestigious equestrian event are calling for more volunteers to ensure its future.
COMMITTEE members of Camperdown’s most prestigious equestrian event are calling for more volunteers to ensure its future.
The Camperdown Horse Trials committee is seeking potential volunteers and committee members to assist with the running of its internationally-acclaimed three day event later this year.
Current committee member Barry Roycroft said the horse trials was in need of an influx of youth and enthusiasm to assist with the running of the event.
The committee had planned to hold its annual general meeting on Tuesday, July 27 before the COVID lockdown was extended.
“We’re an aging committee unfortunately and we want more enthusiasm to continue to the Horse Trials,” Roycroft said.
“There’s a few of us getting older and we haven’t got the energy we used to have.
“It’s quite a prestigious event and we would hate to see it fold.”
With six currently on the committee, Roycroft said a committee position or volunteer role would best suit someone with kids involved in Pony Club or someone who had an interest in equestrian.
He said those who did not have an equestrian background would also be welcome to test the waters if they wished to help out.
“They just have to come and be able to help, they don’t really need to have any knowledge at all depending on the job they’re given,” Roycroft said.
“If anyone’s interested in the equestrian sport or keen to come and see an equestrian event, we’re looking for interest and people to come and help, even if its only for a few hours.
“It doesn’t matter if you don’t have much knowledge, we have plenty of people who can pass that on to anyone enthusiastic about helping out.
“We obviously want people who are prepared to put in the commitment to come to working bees and things like that. We welcome people to come along and put their toe in the water and if they don’t like it so be it.”
The three day horse event has enjoyed a rich history within the township since it was first run in 1976 as an initiative of the local progress association at the time.
“The idea was to put on an event to attract people to Camperdown,” Roycroft said.
“The event itself brings 750 to 1000 people to the area and they all spend money.
“It’s an economic advantage to Camperdown, which is a side benefit to the event.
“But we’re in a similar situation to other sporting organisations, we’re struggling to get committee members.”
Last year’s edition of the three day event was reduced to two days due to COVID, but the committee is planning to restore the event to its original glory this year.
“It was one of the first events to run after we came out of lockdown,” Roycroft said.
“We weren’t able to run an event in April, but we pushed it back to December and it’s stayed as the second week of December (this year).”
Anyone interested in volunteering or becoming a committee member of the Camperdown Horse Trials can contact secretary Teresa Matthews via camperdownhorsetrials@hotmail.com.