It’s probably one of the most deserved life memberships around.<\/p>\n
Secretary of the Central Otago Pony Club for the past 15 years, Queenstowner Janice Jones was recently awarded life membership, which also earned her the same status with the Wakatipu Pony Club.<\/p>\n
Jones \u2014 whose pony club involvement started in Dunedin, aged 5 \u2014 became secretary of the Wakatipu club in 2008. They then nominated her for the Central Otago Pony Club\u2019s secretaryship three years later.<\/p>\n
She has also helped organise events, managed teams and been the club\u2019s go-to person, while her and her husband Trevor\u2019s business Jones Contracting has also been a generous sponsor.<\/p>\n
Four years ago, Jones, whose three children have all been through the club, broke a leg after being bucked off her horse.<\/p>\n
Postponing surgery, she turned up four days later in a wheelchair to act as secretary for area champs in Cromwell.<\/p>\n
Two years ago, she received a \u2018volunteer recognition\u2019 award from New Zealand Pony Clubs Association.<\/p>\n
As to what has kept her involved, “it\u2019s watching the younger riders coming through, seeing how they\u2019re achieving, just out there having a lot of fun \u2014 reminds me of my days at pony club, when I was five.”<\/p>\n
The sport, she says, is “awesome for kids, it gets them out and about, gives them some reality checks when one day their horse is going well and then the next day their horse could be lame”.<\/p>\n
Having told others she would step down if she was made a life member, she says “there were quite a few concerned faces” when it came to pass.<\/p>\n
“I haven\u2019t been allowed to [stand down], so it seems like I\u2019m in it for life.”<\/p>\n