Bungendore Community Bank PCANSW State Showriding Championship: Results

Kiah Bruest, Griffith Pony Club, Zone 21 (Photo: courtesy of Barry McGregor Photography)

Zone 24 team (Photo: courtesy of Barry McGregor Photography)

Brodie Howe, Stoney Range Pony Club, Zone 22, 17 and Under 25 years’ age champion. (Photograph taken at the 2011 State Showriding Glen Innes)

Around 245 competitors and their horses, along with another 300 family and friends, travelled to Bungendore over the weekend of 7-8 December for the last Pony Club NSW State Championship for the year. The 2013 Bungendore Community Bank State Showriding Championship held at Bungendore Showgrounds was hosted by local Pony Club Zone 16.

Ellis Brooke from Bungendore Pony Club Zone 16, was the Under 9 Champion. Jorja Power from Walcha Pony Club, Zone 13 was the 9 and Under 11 Champion. Jaime-Lee Burns from Bouddi Pony Club, Zone 24 took out the 11 and Under 13 age group. Sarah Louise Olsen from Hills District Pony Club, Zone 26 was the 13 years champion, while Juliet Sharpe from Cudal Pony Club, Zone 3 was the 14 years champion. In the 15 and Under 17 age group Montana Breust from Griffith Pony Club, Zone 21 won the 15 and Under 17’s. While Brodie Howe from Stoney Range Pony Club, Zone 22 was the 17 and Under 25 years’ age champion.

The Champion Pony Club Zone was Zone 24, while Zone 2 was the best presented Zone.

For 17 and Under 25 years age champion, Brodie Howe, this is her fourth State Showriding Championship win and amazingly her seventh State Championship title overall.

“Six of them on Doongara Will Power and one on my pony Hidden Secret. Four are from State Show Riding Championships 2006 (Hidden Secret), 2011, 2012, 2013 (Doongara Will Power), three are from State Dressage Championships 2010, 2011, 2012.”

Brodie’s advice to young Pony Clubbers hoping to be just as successful? “Never give up! Always follow your dreams. They won't come easy but if you work hard at them it will pay off in the long run and will be well worth it! Work hard but keep it fun. Always listen to the people around you, you can never have enough advice and support. I have had some very good coaches along my riding career, one being Gill Rickard, she has gotten me to where I am today. Pony Club is a great place to start off and gives you a go at every discipline so you can see where you want to focus on most. I love it and will stick around for a long time even after I’m too old to ride!!”

 “My Family is the reason I do this. They make it fun and enjoyable and are with me every step of the way. I wouldn't be where I am today without them. Have to say a huge thanks to my amazing horse Doongara Will Power. He is a true legend and has carried me through so much. This horse can do anything we put him up to and he never seems to stop amazing me. From Hacking around and Dressage to Jumping and Campdrafting he really does have it all.”

Full steam ahead for Brodie, with 2014 set to be another busy year with Brodie planning on competing in the Pony Club NSW State Showriding and her first Pony Club NSW State Campdrafting Championship on her horse Will Power. The State Campdrafting Championships involve riders demonstrating their skills at cutting a beast out of a mob in an enclosure and then manoeuvring it around a set course.

As well as competing Brodie would love to give back to the Pony Club movement and support the next generation, “I would like to get to pony club a bit more to help instruct the next upcoming stars!”

 All this, and in her spare time Brodie plans on heading to the Stock Horse Nationals, Sydney Royal and Canberra Royal for open Stock Horse Classes. Brodie has also done her “first break in this year with a yearling stock horse. Can't wait to get her out under saddle next year. Looking forward to bringing up my next rising stars that will hopefully follow in Will Power's footsteps. We are starting to breed our own Stock Horses, and have our first foal due this year. I am looking forward to building up my own stud and producing my own little champions one day.”

Congratulations Brodie and all of the Pony Club NSW State Showriding Champions, we wish you all the best in achieving your future goals.

As the final State Championship for the year, the Pony Club Association of NSW would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone that has contributed to the running of our state championships and state events this year. Thank you to sponsors, event organisers, volunteers, host pony club zones, judges, officials, competitors and their families for your support.

Our first State Event for 2014 is the twenty second annual Pony Club NSW State Instructional Camp for the top seventy riders in their various disciplines from the 5-10^th January at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre, Horsley Park.

The Pony Club NSW State Showriding Championships are supported by Naming Rights sponsors Bungendore Community Bank, State Championship rug sponsors Flametree Inc, major sponsors Ranvet and Global Entries Online, Sport and Recreation a division of Communities NSW, and Mitavite official feed partner.

Quick Links

• To find a Pony Club near you visit the state website on www.pcansw.org.au
• Pony Club horses for sale on Horsezone