Pony Club Association of NSW State Dressage Championships: 19-20 January

Keely O'Hare

Zone 12 Pony Club riders Rena Judd, Emily Smith, Keely O’Hare, Kirra Hubbard, Sarah Lymbery, Tegan Bonet and Chloe Borella-Wade will represent the local area at the Pony Club Association of NSW State Dressage Championships to be held in Wagga Wagga at Equex on the 19th and 20th January 2013.

Zone Chief Instructor and long time supporter of Pony Club, Frank Smith expects the weekend will be a magnificent display of young riders performing at their best.  “Our Zone 12 riders will demonstrate and perform to the best of their ability. They will be ambassadors for Zone 12 showing great sportsmanship, dedication to their chosen discipline and taking everything in their stride, they will compete to the best of their ability. We are proud, they will represent us.”

Local riders have been training long and hard for this event over many months. They have competed both locally and travelled long distances chasing performances and qualifiers.

Rena Judd, an associate member of Ganmain Pony Club, has just completed her HSC and between juggling study and training it has been very challenging, however Rena has the dedication to do well in all aspects of her life. “Training in the heat can be a chore but I love doing my best and my horse Charlie gives me 110% every time. With hard work and dedication and sometimes a little luck on the day you can have success. Just after the championships, I leave home to go to the University of Canberra to study Journalism which I’m excited and a little nervous about. The worst thing is having to leave Charlie at Ganmain with Mum” said Rena.

Chloe Borella-Wade is our youngest competitor for Zone 12. Chloe is a dedicated rider that trains up to 3 hours a day, even in the extreme heat we have experienced. Although Chloe has only been riding her current mount, Ruby for about 12 months, she has done extremely well and is an accomplished dressage rider. “I get up early to ride before it gets too hot and sometimes I ride again in the evening, when it’s cooler. Mum helps me get Ruby ready and watches me ride, giving me directions along the way. I love to ride!” This year Chloe enters Year 7 at Kooringal High but she is passionate about her riding even though she will commence high school this year.

Keely O’Hare will ride in the 13 – Under 15 years age group and has competed in several disciplines of State Championships over the last 12 months. She travelled to Orange last January to compete in at the Dressage Championships, to Albury for the Eventing Championships and is looking forward to competing here in her home town of Wagga Wagga. Keely and her horse Dylan train daily, going over the movements of the tests she will ride. “Sometimes it’s hot and dusty but Dylan just keeps going. I have improved a lot since last year and hope to do well” said Keely.

Riders Kirra Hubbard, Tegan Bonet and Sarah Lymbery have travelled near and far in 2012 competing in Showjumping, Jumping Equitation and Eventing Championships and are all very accomplished riders who will perform well. Emily Smith is a new rider to Zone 12 having moved to Wagga Wagga to study at CSU.

The Equex grounds are easily accessible and spectators are welcome free of charge to watch the State Dressage Championships.  A canteen will operate daily.  All proceeds of the weekend will be used in developing our Zone 12 riders and clubs.

With nine Pony Club NSW State Championships held every year, the State Dressage Championships are the first state championship for 2013. The event has attracted competitors from all over NSW with a team from QLD also travelling down to compete over the weekend.  

The Pony Club Association of NSW looks forward to a great weekend of Dressage. Many thanks to all of the individuals who make this event possible, including the officials, volunteers, state office staff, judges, stewards, announcers and more.

The State Dressage Championships are supported by Sport and Recreation a division of Communities NSW, Mitavite official feed partner, as well as other local sponsors. Zone 12 would like to acknowledge their major sponsor Saddleworld Wagga Wagga, Foodworks Lake Village and Mitavite.  Without the support of these businesses providing rugs and feed for each age group champion it would just not be possible. We greatly appreciate their continued support.

Quick Links

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