Te Akau Owners of the Month - May

Time to meet a very special trio of happy Te Akau owners - Donna & Robert Rudd and Joy Siebert (mother of Donna)

Where were you born and raised?

Joy: Born and raised in Central Auckland and have spent the past fifty-four years, since marrying in 1960, as a Papakura resident in South Auckland.

Robert: Born in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK, and immigrated with my Mum & Dad and older brother to NZ at the tender age of three. My birth country holds a special place in my heart, however very much a Kiwi when it comes to the All Blacks and other NZ sporting teams.

Donna: Born and raised in Papakura and since marrying Robert in 1994, have lived in West Harbour, Auckland.

What were your early sporting pursuits and favourite family holiday memories?

All of us in our younger years played some form of sport through school (netball or rugby) or the local athletics club. We enjoy watching all sports and are avid followers (even in bad times) of the Warriors and the Auckland Blues and of course Robert and son James follow the English football games religiously.

Do you feel a special affinity with any particular place in New Zealand?

Donna: Early memories of family holidays were attending the then two day Thames January race meeting which meant we stayed in Thames for a few days. Robert & I have travelled through the UK and Europe (Robert worked in the UK for ten years and always enjoys the opportunity to return) and in more recent years we have enjoyed spending time catching up with my brother and family in Perth, for a couple of weeks in January. You can always guarantee the weather will be fine and hot!

When were you first introduced to horses and racing?

Joy: My father, Vern (Darkie) de Thierry was a very good mate of the Ellerslie stalwart trainer the late Graham Chisholm, so through that association attending Ellerslie races was a regular outing. My late husband Rex had an uncle (Gordon Mitchell) who trained horses and his cousin is Peter Mitchell (of Bonecrusher fame).

Donna: Based on the above, it would have been very unlikely that social racing would not have been in my blood. We travelled far and wide as a family to most weekend race meetings in the North Island.

Robert: My interest is partly a by-product of marrying Donna. While not as passionate as Donna & Joy, I am enjoying the thrill of having a small interest in our horses with Te Akau and being part of the excitement racing offers. Also while working in the UK I managed the audit of the Tote Board and that of course meant we had to choose Royal Ascot week and the Epsom Derby meetings as two of the many on course audits. Being part of such must do events on the English social calendar was very special, particularly being within such close distance to the Royal family members there.

How were you introduced to owning a horse with Te Akau and which horses do you own?

Donna: Over the years we have owned or had a share in a horse. Mum and Dad purchased a chestnut Masthead colt at the Claudelands sales many moons ago. He was adorable but slow. Robert and I leased a filly with a group from Robert's work and had a lot of fun with her.

Trackside is the most popular channel on the TV in our kitchen and Karyn (Fenton-Ellis) is always in our kitchen on a Saturday morning with The First Call, so that was probably the catalyst to look at Te Akau's website and syndication. We purchased our first share back in August 2012 and since then have added another four to our portfolio. We have shares (albeit small ones) in The Musician (Minstrel Court), Scandinavian (Dylan Thomas), Frock (Road to Rock) and just recently the Melbourne Cups 2014 Syndicate: 1 c Zabeel - Miss Zapper and 1 c Pentire - Zambezi, purchased by David at the Karaka Premier Sales this year. Without doubt the most exciting moment was being on course at Thames when The Musician won at only his second race day start. It was only a maiden race but felt like the Melbourne Cup - a huge thrill. All of the horses we have shares in are special and we are excited about their future and watching them develop into what will hopefully be very good racehorses.

What do you like most about owning horses with Te Akau?

We can't speak highly enough of the Te Akau team: David and Karyn, Jason, Pam, Tommy, Steve, Daniel, AJ, just to name a few of the dedicated staff that rise at the crack of dawn each morning and care for these fantastic animals. Whether it be at the trials, or the races, or visiting at the stud you are always made to feel very welcome and special. David and Karyn complement each other so well and the results achieved by Te Akau are proof that they have a winning formula. David and Karyn's hospitality when we visited the farm was so warm and welcoming and the communication network via website or e-mail is exceptional.

Where do you live and what do you and your family do?

Donna: Robert and I have two teenage children: Renee is in her first year at Auckland University doing a B.Com and James is in Year 12 doing his second year of Cambridge exams.

Robert is a chartered accountant by trade and I have a background in HR and Administration, however for the past nine years we have owned and operated our own seven day a week business ( with the help of a part time staff member) on the North Shore.

Joy continues to live in the family home at Papakura and does volunteer work. Mum is very independent and thoroughly enjoys her interest in the horses. It is also a plus that her favourite jockey, Matt Cameron, is number one stable rider for Te Akau. It was a very long six weeks for her waiting for him to return recently from injury!!

What has been your favourite pet?

Donna: In addition to the children, our home is also shared with our two cats (Rosie & Mittens), three turtles, many tanks of tropical fish and our beloved big adorable German shepherd, Asher, who has just turned four and has pride of place at the base of our bed each night. He is such a softy and since he was a puppy has always had Trackside left on for him as company when we are out! We have also been SPCA kitten foster parents for the past three years.

What is your favourite subject of reading and favourite restaurant?

Donna: We don't get a lot of time for reading except when on holiday and our favourite restaurant now is HOME. There is nothing nicer on a Saturday or Sunday evening than sitting down to roast beef and Yorkshire pudding and all the trimmings with a couple (or three) glasses of wine and watching weekend sport.