Pony Club State Championships Spark Talent in Tamworth

Zone 9’s Mackenzie Peterkin won the class for Pony Club Rider 13 & under 15 years and finished the State Showriding Championships in 3rd place overall. Photo: Julie Wilson

Anastasia Haling from Kootingal achieved great results in the 13 & under 15 years B Grade Showjumping Championships Photo: Julie Wilson

The State Dressage Championships saw Jemma Wood from Toronto Pony Club place 8th overall in the Associate age group events. Photo: Julie Wilson

Dannica Whitty competing at the Tamworth State Championships. Photo: Julie Wilson

L-R: Victoria & Rachael Temm had a successful week of competition, as well as being presented with their Pony Club A Certificates. Photo: Julie Wilson

The 2017 Pony Club NSW State Combined Championships have wrapped up at the Australian Equine & Livestock Events Centre in Tamworth. Competitions ran from Saturday 1^st – Saturday 8^th July including the State Showriding, Showjumping, Dressage and Jumping Equitation Championships. 

380 riders and close to 400 immaculately presented horses took part in the event, showcasing a huge amount of talent that impressed Judges in all disciplines.

Showjumping & Jumping Equitation Judge Katrina Dukats said she was delighted with the competitors, “I enjoyed the exceptionally high standard of presentation of horse and rider and the politeness of the riders”.

The State Showriding Championships started the week off with over 170 riders taking on the very cool mornings for a range of events including Rider, Hack, Hunter, Handler and Mount classes. Over three rings, competition was extremely high with some of the best Showriders in NSW taking part.

In the Under 9 years division, Robin Henry from Quirindi Pony Club in Zone 5 was named the Age Champion, alongside Jacinta Sullivan from Wingham in Zone 9 who was awarded the 9 and under 11 years Age Champion award. Emmerson Mitchell claimed the 11 & under 13 years Age Champion from Denman Pony Club, while Tahnee Sullivan from Wingham also placed consistently to be awarded the 13 and under 15 years Age Champion. In the 15 and under 17 years age group, Katrina Gorman from Zone 7 was announced as the Age Champion, as for the Associates, it was Jessica Craythorn from Wingham Pony Club in Zone 9 who took out the top spot. Zone 9 was named as the Champion Zone for the 2017 Showriding with the highest point scoring riders in Zone 9 named as Tahnee Sullivan, Jacinta Sullivan, Mackenzie Peterkin and Jessica Craythorn. Zone 2 was awarded as the best presented Zone.

On Monday the Showjumping competitors were welcomed into the arena with riders aiming for the top spot across 4 classes. In the under 13’s age group our interstate competitors took the lead with Queensland rider Ben Bates claiming the Age Champion award. The 13 and under 15 years saw William Wood from Armidale awarded the Age Champion, while Aziza Yusuf from Bellinger River Pony Club claimed the 15 and under 17 years title. The Associate Championship grade was the largest of the event with Jessica Towns earning the top place as Age Champion from Gravesend Pony Club. Zone 8 was announced as the Champion Zone for Showjumping with riders Jessica Towns, Phoebe Oates, Liliana Reardon and Amy Egan the highest point scoring riders. The best presented zone was awarded to Zone 24.

Next up was the State Dressage Championships where 150 riders competed in two tests to determine the overall Champions in each age group. In the Under 11 years age group Claudia Smith from Berrima District Pony Club was awarded the age champion, Phoebe Clifton from Bribbaree in Zone 2 was the Champion in the 11 and under 13 years and Alexander Seppelt from Londonderry Pony Club claimed the Champion 13 and under 15 years award. Both Shilo Harvey from Matcham Valley and Dannica Whitty from Mangrove Mountain scored equal highest points for the championship, winning the 15 and under 17 years and Associate age groups respectively. This pushed Zone 24 into the top spot for the Champion Zone award with riders Ella Bourke, Lucah Sturgeon, Shilo Harvey and Dannica Whitty as the highest point scoring riders in the zone. Zone 24 was also declared as the best presented Zone.

To finish up the Combined Championships, Jumping Equitation was the last event of the week where riders are judged on their riding style and control of the horse whilst jumping. Riders competed over four classes with a range of tasks to complete during their jumping round such as lengthened strides, crest release, and more.

In the Under 13 years age group, Alyssa Smith from Geary’s Gap Pony Club was awarded the Age Champion alongside Katie Simcock from Tall Timbers who was announced as the 13 and under 15 years Age Champion and Zoe Campbell from Corindi named as the 15 and under 17 years Champion. In the Associate division the stakes were high for Forest Hills Pony Club sisters Rachael and Victoria Temm who were successful in being named the Age Champion and Reserve Champion for the second consecutive year. The Temm sisters were also officially presented with their successfully passed ‘A’ Certificates – the highest certificate attainable by riders in Pony Club. The presentation of the certificates follows an examination which they had successfully completed earlier in the year. Once again it was Zone 24 who claimed the award for the Jumping Equitation Champion Zone with riders Katie Simcock, Brooke Joyner, Maddison Jones and Olivia Johnson announced as the highest point scoring riders in the zone. Best Presented Zone was awarded to Zone 14.

For many of the 2017 Combined State Championship riders, their performances at Tamworth would determine their chances of earning a place on the NSW Team for the 2017 National Championships being held in Toowoomba, QLD. Dannica Whitty from Mangrove Mountain in Zone 24, being one of those riders, had great success at the Championships in Tamworth,  awarded the Associate Dressage Champion, and top 10 in the Showriding. Dannica was fortunate to earn a place in the NSW Dressage and Formal Gymkhana teams along with 50 other riders. NSW will send teams to compete in Showjumping, Dressage, Eventing, Mounted Games, Tetrathlon and Formal Gymkhana.  The full list of selected riders that will compete at the Nationals is available on the PCANSW website.

All photographs from the Championship are available through our official event photographer, Julie Wilson Equestrian Photography.

Thank you to the generous sponsors of the Pony Club NSW Combined State Championships; Horseland, Equissentials, Showgirl Equestrian and Horse and Hound Specialists. 

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