Two prominent members of The New Zealand Hanoverian Society died recently.
Sara Williams was one of the foundation members of the society. From 1977 when we first began she rarely missed a meeting. Nick Williams, an international dressage judge and our second president, always referred to her as Cousin Sara. They were part of the well-known Williams family from Wairoa.
For 12 years Sara was secretary and then treasurer of our society and studbook keeper for ten years. In those days everything was written in long hand. She had an extensive knowledge of New Zealand thoroughbreds and their bloodlines, which was important because Hanoverian-classified thoroughbreds were our foundation brood mares.
Two of Sara’s broodmares were by Witzbold, and she was an ardent supporter of Anamour. The last foal she bred was Archie (Anamour/Dynamit), now ridden at advanced dressage level by Betty Brown.
Sara was a life member of our society.
Berny Maubach was also an active member. He was president of the society from 1988 until 1993, when the combined society split into the present two independent societies.
Berny was briefly a supporter of the Cleveland Bay breed of horses and then became interested in the Hanoverian breed when Distelfink arrived in the country. He imported Dynamit, a registered and licensed Hanoverian stallion.
Berny, who was a former German police officer, lived near Wanganui. He loved his horses and made a special burial ground for his beloved stallions where his own ashes are now scattered.
