Horsezone Proud Sponsor of National Interschool Championships: 2-5 October

Events for the 2012 National Interschool Championships kick off tomorrow 2 October and will run through until Friday, 5 October.

Approximately 300 competitors from all Australian States and the Northern Territory have gathered at the Toowoomba Showgrounds for this exciting competition, which covers a wide range of events including Dressage, Jumping, Eventing, Showman, Combined Training and Interschool Challenge. Many of these competitors, along with their 'crews' and other supporters, have travelled huge distances with their horses, to compete in this event. Toowoomba Showground is packed with horses and people!

Competition may only start tomorrow but today was a busy day for competitors with the trot up, education program and opening ceremony.

As Horsezone is a sponsor of this event, we were invited to participate in the education program. I went along today and had a great session with competitors, spreading the joy of Horsezone and giving tips about the best way to photograph horses for advertisements. Volunteers from across all state teams participated in the session, some practised standing up our lovely model horse, Classic, while others took the photos. Thank you to everyone for your interest and participation!

The opening ceremony, held late this afternoon, was kicked off by the Scots PGC College Pipe Band, with the type of pomp and ceremony that only bagpipes can produce. Then all teams proceeded to bounce into the arena, with their mascots (cute dogs and stuffed animals) and flags. I say bounce because they were such an excited bunch! From the ear to ear grins, all participants were obviously thrilled to be there, but I think Western Australia (pictured) and Queensland were the noisiest and most boisterous. It was a wonderful spectacle and lovely to see the competitors really getting into the spirit of the Nationals - their enthusiasm was infectious. See more photos in the Gallery.

Events on tomorrow's program include Edwards Saddleworld Toowoomba National Interschool Showman Challenge and the Pryde's EasiFeed National Freestyle Championship.

Stay tuned for more reports and photos.

by: Jo Johnson/Horsezone

Quick Links

• Read more about the National Interschool Championships and view program
• Visit the National Interschool Championships photo gallery