Stu Schroeder donates the historic jumping bell to the Dunstan Horsefeeds NEC Christchurch.
It’s not just the Christmas bells that are special at this time of year. This beautiful jumping judge’s bell took centre stage at a very special ceremony last weekend during the Showjumping Canterbury K & J Blair Christmas Cracker.
But after sounding out at pony club events for over 55 years, its days in the arena are now long gone, and it’s been gifted to the Dunstan Horsefeeds NEC in Christchurch.
The bell has a wonderful history, being passed down through three of Canterbury’s most staunch jumping judges who have held the hefty brass instrument since the 1970s. They were Rolly Kendall, Alan Mahoney and the last surviving custodian, Stu Schroeder.
“It is quite heavy but has a nice ring to it,” says Stu.
It was gifted to Christchurch Pony Club by Bunny Lodge, a cattery on the main south road out of Christchurch, and first used in jumping at Ellesmere Pony Club in 1970.
At the time, it was held by Rolly and used many times before he died in 2000. His daughters passed it on to Alan, who held it until he died in 2008. Then it was passed on again, this time to Stu who is the final surviving member of the original jumping judging trio, and has held it ever since.
The history of the jumping bell.
Stu continued judging, and also became head measuring steward for the Canterbury A & P Show, and for the Royal Agricultural Society region spanning from Waimate to Nelson/Blenheim.
Recently, Stu had the bell refurbished with a little help from his daughter, and now he’s donated the bell to the NEC, to be displayed where many can admire it.
“The bell was part of that history and it was an emblem we took with us,” says Stu.
“It meant a lot to us because we were there for the pony clubs mostly, and the more we could do for the wee kids … well that’s what we worked for and virtually lived for.”
But not everyone used it.
“It was heavy, so we needed a bit of muscle to ring it, but it is definitely part of the history and part of us.”
Nowadays Stu still lives in Halswell, and enjoys his retirement. Delivering the bell to its final resting place is one of two tasks Stu wants to complete before he turns 90 years old in March. The other is to pass a medical so he can keep his driver’s licence.
“I went to the doctor and he said to me after exam, ‘you won’t get your licence this time … you’ve had about 4 runs into hospital recently’. I said, I only went there for a ride in the ambulance!” he laughs.
A wonderful legacy.