Pony Club NSW Combined State Championships a Huge Success

Zone 25 was awarded the Champion Zone for the State Sporting Championships, with (L-R); Chloe Shultz, Amy Shultz, Anthony Shultz from Gloucester Pony Club and Joshua Osmond from Dungog Pony Club scoring the highest points in Zone 25

The Associate Zone Team ‘Flaming Marshmallows’ from Arcadia Pony Club were awarded the Champion Zone Team with riders (L-R): Rachael Temm, Chloe Pearse, Nikki Henderson, Angela Begg & Victoria Temm

Dr Frank Kelleher & Mr Phillip Logue were presented with Pony Club NSW Life Memberships at the Championship, recognising their many years of dedication towards Pony Club.

In the State Polocrosse Championships riders from Wee Waa Pony Club in Zone 5 were the winning team with riders; Jimmy Schwager, Libbee Anderson and Dylan Dixon pictured with Championship Umpires from the Quirindi Polocrosse Club Brett Stackman and Peter Forsyth.

By: Leanna Haines/PCANSW

The Pony Club NSW 2016 Combined State Championships were held at the Quirindi Showground and Racecourse from the 10th-17th April. The event included State Championships in Sporting, Campdrafting, Team Penning, Mounted Games, Team Sporting and Polocrosse disciplines. 

The event attracted over 300 riders from all over NSW and some parts of QLD along with their families to the small town of Quirindi, just outside of Tamworth for a week of strong equestrian competition. The State Sporting Championships began on Sunday 10th April, with races including bending, flagging and barrels. Anthony Shultz from Gloucester Pony Club was awarded the Under 11 Years Sporting Age Champion, along with Amy Shultz who claimed the 11 & Under 13 years age group title. Riders from Queensland were hard to beat with Amanda Mills winning the 13 & Under 15 Years Age Champion, Shanae Gray claiming the 15 & Under 17 years, and Nicole Strathdee named the Associate Age Champion all from north of the border.

The State Campdrafting Championships were fantastic to watch with over 200 head of cattle supplied by Windy Station and Martins Stock Haulage. Amy Shultz from Gloucester claimed her second title for the event, being awarded the 10 & Under 13 Years Age Campdrafting Champion, Clancy Martin from Merriwa earned the title of 13 & Under 15 Years Age Champion, Jack Hart from Breadalbane won his age group for the 15 & Under 17 Years, while Lauren Hunt from Merriwa was declared the Associate Age Champion.

2016 marks the first year Pony Club NSW has held a State Team Penning Championships, however the quality in competition from the eighteen teams who took part made it clear that this discipline will stick around for years to come. In the Junior 13 and under 17 years competition it was the Coffs Harbour team who took the championship, comprising of Kye Moran, Peyton Stokes-Marshall and Josh Berry. In the Associate competition (17 and under 26 years), the Queensland riders took out the top 3 places, with Tammie Stower, Juantee Fisk-Walsh and Natasha Schultz declared the Champion team. 

The Mounted Games Championships were held on Wednesday and Thursday, with 120 riders forming teams of five through a series of 10 fast paced races. The Forest Hills Junior Pony Club team re-claimed the title for the second consecutive year as the Club Team Champions after a successful ride-off against the Woonona Pony Club team who shared equal points at the conclusion of events. The Forest Hills Team included Elouise Bacon, Niamh Lennon, Benjamin Minness, Ruby Reeves and Ella Pearse.

In the Associate Zone division the Zone 23 team from Arcadia Pony Club were sashed the Champion Zone team with Victoria Temm, Nikki Henderson, Rachael Temm, Chloe Pearse and Angela Begg.

Another new discipline was introduced this year, being the State Team Sporting Championships, which were another great success with an outstanding number of teams entering from all over NSW and QLD. A series of 10 sporting races were held across the Junior and Associate age groups on Friday 15th. The Junior competition was dominated by the Zone 19 Team from Londonderry Pony Club, including Michael Crawley, Jared Newham, Chloe Ronneberg, Aaron Newham and Georgia Procopio. In the Associates, Zone 9 riders Jennifer Mitchell, Daniel Kelly, Katie Kelly, Mathew Kelly and Lilian Macrae took home the Award for Champion Associate Team Sporting Team.

The State Polocrosse Championships were held on Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th, with twelve junior single-section teams testing their Polocrosse skills under the close supervision of local Umpires from the Quirindi Polocrosse club and Technical Delegate, Wayne Mills. The Wee Waa Pony Club team from Zone 5 were unbeatable with riders Jimmy Schwager, Libbee Anderson and Dylan Dixon claiming the 2016 Champion Team title. Being the first State Polocrosse Championship for many of the Polocrosse competitors Umpires and spectators were delighted to see fantastic sportsmanship, fairness and even a little kind coaching going on between teams on the fields. The Association were pleased to present a Good Sportsmanship award to the Zone 9 Team from North Dorrigo Pony Club including Lila Raymond, Jemma Beaumont and Hailey Donnelly for their outstanding attitude towards helping other teams during the competition.

During the week, Quirindi Pony Club hosted a Championship Dinner in the Jockey Club at Quirindi Showground with over 150 competitors attending. On behalf of the Pony Club Association of NSW, President Di Cullen made a formal presentation at the Dinner to recognise and present two Life Memberships to Dr Frank Kelleher and Mr Phillip Logue who have dedicated many years towards Pony Club NSW.

Thank you to all Pony Club riders who participated over the week, as well as the parents, volunteers and officials who assisted with the Combined State Championships. The Pony Club NSW State Combined Championships are supported by major sponsor Mitavite – Official Feed Partner, Quirindi Veterinary Group, Liverpool Plains Shire Council, Quirindi RSL Club, Marsh Carney Saddlery, Warragundi Beef Company, Windy Station, Martins Stock Haulage, Bennett Polocrosse, Quirindi Pony Club, Wee Waa & District Pony Club, and Zone 5 Pony Clubs! Without these wonderful sponsors the event would not have been possible!The next State Pony Club event will be held in Camden from the 2nd-10th July for the Combined State Showjumping, Showriding, Jumping Equitation, Dressage, Combined Training and One Day Event Championships. 

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