Pony Club NSW Hosts Combined State Championships

By: Leanna Haines/PCANSW

Alex Cross from Berkeley Pony Club in Zone 22 competed in the Associate Age group to win the class for Show Hack over 15.2 hands and not exceeding 16 hands high at the State Showriding Championships. Photo: Julie Wilson Photography

Eleanor Miller from Canberra Riding Club in Zone 16 claimed the Associate Age Champion award in the Advanced Combined Training Championships. Photo: Julie Wilson Photography

Jaime Lee Clissold from Moree Pony Cub in Zone 8 competed in 5 championship disciplines for great results throughout the event. Photo: Julie Wilson Photography

The Pony Club NSW 2016 Combined State Championships were held at the Bicentennial Equestrian Park in Camden from the 2^nd – 10^th July. For the first time, six Championships were held at the one venue across 9 days, with Showjumping, Showriding, Jumping Equitation, Dressage, and Combined Training disciplines. 

The event attracted over 400 riders and their families from all over NSW and some parts of Queensland and Victoria to the town of Camden to compete. All six Championships determined the highest point scoring riders in each age group, presented with a sash, trophy, Mitavite Feed Prize and Kersey Wool Rug thanks to Horseland.

The State Showjumping Championships began on Saturday 2^nd July, with four rounds of jumping across four age groups. Jorjah Drysdale from Milton Pony Club was awarded the Under 13 years Showjumping Age Champion, along with Isabel Hamer who claimed the 13 & Under 15 years age group title. Sam Watson from Crookwell Pony Club took out the 15 & Under 17 Years Age Champion, while Madeleine Prell also from Crookwell claimed the Associate Age Champion. Zone 8 were announced as the winning Zone for the Showjumping Championships, and NSW was named as the Champion State.

The State Showriding Championships were fantastic to watch with over 200 riders competing under the watchful eyes of well-known judges Christie Hall, Joanne Maunder, Kate Reid and Rosemary Gough. Jett Newman from Hills District Pony Club claimed the Under 9 Years Age Champion riding Wyatt Park Angel Dust. Ella Bourke from Matcham Valley was awarded the 9 & Under 11 Years Champion for the second year in a row, while Harriet King from Gunnedah claimed the 11 & Under 13 years title. Sophie Walker from Mangrove Mountain was declared the Age Champion among the 13 & Under 15 year old competitors and for the second year in a row Sarah Olsen was awarded the 15 & Under 17 Years Champion. The Associate age group was the largest, with 50 riders competing across a range of classes. Jordon Hogg from Warren Pony Club in Zone 4 was named the Associate Age Champion riding her magnificent hack; ‘Pure Indulgence’. It was the Sydney region of Zone 26 that claimed the Champion Zone, with riders Sarah Olsen, Jett Newman, Elouise Clare and Georgie Batten scoring the highest points.

On Wednesday 6^th & Thursday 7^th July, the Jumping Equitation Championships were held across 4 arenas with 4 classes in each Age Group. At the conclusion of the classes, the highest point scoring riders were awarded with a range of ribbons, trophies and prizes. Tara Seppelt from Londonderry Pony Club in Zone 19 was named the Under 13 years Champion, while Olivia Johnson from Mangrove Mountain in Zone 24 was declared the winner of the 13 & Under 15 years event. Matilda Seppelt claimed yet another title for the Seppelt Family from Londonderry, winning the 15 & Under 17 years division riding her horse ‘Tsarina’. In the Associate age group the family rivalry continued with Rachael Temm from Forest Hills Pony Club claiming the Age Champion award two points ahead of her own sister Victoria Temm who was declared the Reserve Champion. Zone 23 was announced as the Champion Zone, with riders Rachael Temm, Victoria Temm, Macy Reen and Julia Percy scoring the highest points in their zone.

The State Dressage Championships attracted over 170 riders this year, each performing two Dressage tests over two days. In the Under 11 Age Group, Ella Bourke from Matcham Valley Pony Club claimed her second Age Champion award for the week, while Shelley Kleven from Nimmitabel was awarded the 11 & Under 13 Years Age Champion. Tahlia Coleiro from Glenorie Pony Club was declared the 13 & Under 15 years winner and Sarah Olsen also claimed her second Age Champion title from Hills District in Zone 26. The Associate age group was won by Hannah Dodd from Hills District, while Claudia Hobson from Kurrajong claimed the Reserve Champion out of a very strong 40 riders. Zone 26 was once again named the Champion Zone, with riders Hannah Dodd, Tahlia Coleiro, Renee Herboldt and Sarah Olsen earning the highest points in the Zone.

2016 is the first year Pony Club NSW have held a State Combined Training Championship, and with a great response from entries it looks likely to remain an annual discipline. In the Under 11 years Age group, Alyssa Smith from Geary’s Gap Pony Club in Zone 16 was announced as the Age Champion, Jorja Power from Walcha in Zone 13 claimed the 11 & Under 13 Years division, and Jacinta Bell from Londonderry was declared the 13 & Under 15 years Champion. In the 15 & under 17 years, Sarah Olsen from Hills District scored the hat-trick with a third Age Champion title to her name, while Cassandra McCarroll from Mudgee Pony Club was awarded the Associate Age Champion award. Zone 19 was declared the Champion Zone, with riders Jacinta Bell, Tess Mison, Sophie Phillips and Tara Seppelt as the top scoring riders in the Zone.

With the Cross Country course at Bicentennial Equestrian Park out of action, the annual One Day Event Championship was re-adjusted as the Advanced Combined Training Championship, with riders competing in Dressage and Showjumping phases slightly more difficult than the straight Combined Training Championships. With just three Age Groups, Anna Roper from Mangrove Mountain was awarded the 13 & Under 15 Years Age Champion, Macy Reen claimed the 15 & Under 17 Years age group, and Eleanor Miller from Canberra Riding Club was announced as the Associate Age Champion. Zone 24 took home the Champion Zone award, with riders Anna Roper, Claudia Fuerschke and Baylee Stapleton scoring the highest points in their Zone.

Thank you to all Pony Club riders who participated throughout the event, as well as the Executive Committee, parents, volunteers and officials who assisted with the Championships. The Pony Club NSW State Combined Championships are supported by major sponsors Horseland and Mitavite – Official Feed Partner. Partnering sponsors also include Macarthur Stockfeeds, Camden Council, Starlight Browbands, Equissentials, Jojubi Saddlery, HorseWyse Magazine Australia, Equitana Melbourne and Ranvet. Without these wonderful sponsors the event would not have been possible!

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Tahlia Coleiro from Glenorie Pony Club in Zone 26 rode her magnificent horse “Hillcrest All About Marvin” to claim the 13 & under 15 years State Dressage Age Champion for 2016. Photo: Julie Wilson Photography