Local equestrian Maja Spyrc has ended her season as a three-time champion in the Silver Series North Zone.
In what her mom Maud Martinsen calls a match made in heaven, Spyrc was paired one year ago with an Ardmore Welsh Pony owned by Reet McGovern Shearer. They train four days per week with coach Beverley Harvey-Clark at Stonegate Equestrian in Stayner.
At 10 years old, this is Spyrc’s first competitive season. She and Belle, short for Fairgrounds Bellwether, have had a lot of success in the ring, coming out on top even when competing against riders who are much older.
A number of top finishes earned Spyrc a spot in the Silver Series playoffs, a provincial level competition.
During the five shows of The Silver Series North Zone held at Ten Sixty Stables and The Essa Agriplex from June to September, Spyrc and her team showed from dusk until dawn Thursday morning through Sunday night.
She came away Overall Champion in The North Zone two-foot Hunter Derby (open to all ages and horses); Overall Champion in The Open Hunter two-foot Division (open to all ages and horses); Overall Champion for the season in Children’s Pony Hunter Division (a pony division open to anyone 18 and under); and second overall for the season in C Equitation on the Flat.
The derby, a judged fast paced bendy 10-jump course, is Spyrc’s favourite, and she met each of the 10 challenging jumps on the course with perfect distances and striding.
“I really love derby,” said Maja, “it makes you feel so free when you are doing it. It’s just so fun.”
Spyrc, has been riding for seven years. She was inspired by her mom’s love of riding, although she did not compete. It was her mom who introduced her to riding when her legs were barely long enough to reach the stirrups. As she advances to the next level of competition Martinsen and Spyrc are grateful to all the family, friends, the coach and owner saying the success is due to an extensive support system who regularly come out to cheer them on.
Spyrc and Belle, who share a special bond, will take on a new challenge for the upcoming season as they advance to higher jumps, which Belle used to do in the higher A division competition.
Jasmine Heinlein photo