FROM tiny tots on Shetland ponies to seasoned riders on classy horses, there was some hot competition at Winslow Recreation Reserve on Sunday in the Western District Pony Club's Dressage and Show Jumping Day.
The event was run under Pony Clubs Association Victoria Rules and was for graded pony club riders. The club also ran an open section which enabled adult riders and those not associated with clubs to enter.
The dressage was judged by Sharl Dodgson, Rachael Houlihan and Jenny Groves, who oversaw tests from grade 5 pony club to grade 2 open, with some quality tests being ridden by both pony clubbers and open competitors.
I entered grade 4 and 3 on my horse Wilander for his first outing in more than five years and while not being in the placings I was very happy with the quality of Wil's work. After reviewing the judges comments, I now have a direction to work on with him.
The aim of dressage is to have a soft and supple horse that is willing and able to change direction in different paces with a minimum of fuss.
The horse must work forward into the bridle and be well balanced and round. This may sound easy to achieve, however for those that have ever tried their hand at dressage, they will know it comes only with hard work and dedication.
DRESSAGE RESULTS
5A – Pony Club 1st Maggie Kline, Roxy.
5A – Open 1st Sophie Lemke, Alby; 2nd Lily Everett, Digger; 3rd Pippa Buckley, Evie.
5C – Pony Club 1st Maddison Negre, Bimbadeen Buterscotch; 2nd Maddison Negre, Carrington; 3rd Claire Paulet, Glenesta Fiona.
5C - Open 1st Erica Grant, Josie; 2nd Emily Bird, Storm Water; 3rd Sophie Lemke, Alby.
4E – Pony Club = 1st Erika Grant, Billanbri Josephine; Rachel Farrell, Merlin; = 2nd Hayley Norman, CC; Ryan Hayward, Delrose Park Jasper; Carla Box, Hugo; 3rd Olivia Webster, Connor.
4E – Open 1st Carla Box, Hugo; 2nd Claire Paulet, Glenesta Fiona; 3rd Erika Grant, Billanbri Josephine.
3E – Pony Club 1st Emily Cowell, Kip; 2nd Sarah Matthews, Celtic Santolina; 3rd Brendan McKenzie, Timmy.
3E – Open 1st Bonnie Kingsley, Willhem; 2nd Erin Kinnearly, Lets Get Pickled; 3rd Sarah Matthews, Celtic Santolina.
2E – Pony Club 1st Sarah Cowell, Shabar.
2E – Open 1st Amy Silvester, Thumbprint; 2nd Erin Kinnealy, Grundys Crossing; 3rd Erin Kinnealy, Let’s Get Pickled.
In the showjumping, there was an amazing array of horses and ponies with brave and determined riders.
Classes started at 45cm and rose in 5cm increments to 1.1 metres, run over two rings.
In the lower height classes, it was incredible to see small riders on Shetland or riding ponies bucketing around over jumps that in some cases are were as high as the pony.
These small riders showed amazing courage and for the most part were grinning from ear to ear as they negotiated the course.
There were a few spills as excited ponies got a little full of themselves and played up, however the young riders clambered aboard and set off again.
As the jumps got higher, the competition heated up, with Sohpie Negre, Suze Wood, Bonnie Kingsley, and Brooke Taylor vying for placings in the 1m-plus height classes.
There was some friendly rivalry between the riders and encouragement from the spectators, cheering their favorite on over the jumps.
There were audible groans whenever a pole was knocked down and gasps as a horse that might have taken off too close to a fence, manages to scrape over leaving the pole in place.
Showjumping judges Kate Julius and Robbie Leishman were kept busy keeping track of horse and rider combinations and sorting out clear rounds with final placings as follows:
SHOW JUMPING RESULTS
45cm - Pony Club 1st Maddison Negre, Bimbadeen Buterscotch; 2nd Hayley Norman, CC; 3rd Millie Everett, Digger.
45cm – Open 1st Jayne Taylor, Chase A Vote.
50cm – Pony Club 1st Rachel Pola, Merlin; 2nd Bella Tatchell, My Boy Indianna; 3rd Carla Box, Hugo.
50cm – Open 1st Emma Bruce, Who’s This; 2nd Amy Silvester, Brollie; 3rd Imogene, Paddy.
55cm - Pony Club 1st Rachel Pola, Merlin; 2nd Casey Williams, Clare; 3rd Hayley Norman, CC.
60cm – Pony Club 1st Rachel Pola, Merlin; 2nd Ryan Hayward, Delrose Park Jasper; 3rd Sarah Matthews, Celtic Santolina.
60cm – Open 1st Casey Williams, Clare; 2nd Casey Williams, Jake; 3rd Emma Bruce, Who’s This.
65cm Pony Club 1st Rachel Pola, Merlin; 2nd Erica Grant, Josie; 3rd Emily Cowell, Kip.
65cm – Open 1st Taylor Newman, Cloudy Horizon; 2nd Emma Bruce, Who’s This; 3rd Jayne Taylor, Chase A Vote.
70cm – Pony Club 1st Jayde McDuff, Spadanza; 2nd Rachel Farrell, Merlin; 3rd Camille Pola, Saintly.
70cm – Open 1st Sian Jehu
75cm - Pony Club 1st Karly Brumley, Calipso; 2nd Sarah Matthews, Celtic Santolina; 3rd Maddison Negre, Carrington.
75cm – Open 1st Erin Kinnealy, Lets Get Pickled; 2nd Erin Kinnealy, Grundy’s Crossing.
80cm – Pony Club 1st Jayde McDuff, Spadanza; 2nd Maddison Negre, Carrington; 3rd Karly Brumley, Calipso.
85cm - Pony Club 1st Sarah Cowell, Shakar; 2nd Jayde McDuff, Spadanza; 3rd Maddison Negre, Carrington.
85cm – Open 1st Brooke Taylor, Bronte Park Lillee; 2nd Emma Bruce, Game Hunter; 3rd Carly Brumley, Calipso.
90cm – Pony Club 1st Jayde McDuff, Spadanza; 2nd Sarah Cowell, Shakar.
90cm – Open 1st Brooke Taylor, Bronte Park Lillee.
95cm – Open 1st Brooke Taylor, Bronte Park Lillee; 2nd Emma Bruce, Game Hunter.
1m – Open 1st Brooke Taylor, Another Darcy; 2nd Bonnie Kingsley, Leura Lane.
1.05m – Open 1st Susan Wood, Another Darcy; 2nd Bonnie Kingsley, Leura Lane; 3rd Sophie Negre, Voodoo Child.
1.10m – Open 1st Susan Wood, Another Darcy; 2nd Bonnie Kingsley, Leura Lane.
Portland and District Adult Riding Club held their Marg Reefman Memorial Navigation Ride last Sunday.
There was a large field of 52 riders who braved the inclement weather to enjoy a day out in the Annya forest.
Navigation rides involve entrants following a set track, with competitors given directions, and clues they need to decipher.
This has been known to result in competitors getting lost in the past, however Judy Jenkins, one of the organisers, was happy to report no one lost on the day.
There were two divisions consisting of a 15-kilometre track and a 25-kilometre track. Riders leave from the starting point at two-minute intervals in groups of two, although groups of three were allowed for this event.
The 25-kilometre track took an average of two hours and 30 minutes to complete, with the 15-kilometre track taking an average of one hour 50 minutes.
Riders' ages ranged from five years old to veterans.
RESULTS
Overa ll Winning Pair of the Marg Reefman Memorial Shield: Jennifer Todd and Cindy Garland
15km Junior 1st Heidi McGrath/Jalina Gladwin, 2nd April Sullivan, 3rd Jorja Adams.
15km Open1st Abby Clark/Mark Camphus, 2nd Naomi Eastman, 3rd Kelly McLean.
15km Veteran 1st Cathy Bones/Kris Blacksell, 2nd Nick Jenkin/Kerri Jewel
25km Junior 1st Olivia Williamson/Danika Koeing, 2nd Maddie Raymond/Lara Edwards, 3rd Tegan Lane/Nikita Bourke.
25km Open 1st Rhiannon Garland, 2nd Lisa Ellis/Lauren Pridmore, 3rd Terri Williams.
25km Veteran 1st Cindy Garland/Jen Todd, 2nd Ann Miller, 3rd Jenny/Bill.
COMING EVENTS
June 15 Hiform nutrition and information evening at Horseland Warrnambool. Phone 55626788.
June 20 Colac Pony Club ODE.
July 4 Combined Training and Dressage (Official) Colac & Dist RC (round 1 SWAG series) Phone Megan 0428 550 808.
July 18 Dressage (official) Grampians RC. Entries close July 7. Phone Matt 0409 109 073.
July 18 Heywood Pony Club Showjumping at Yarraman Park Portland indoor arena. Phone Kelly Gannon 55292001.
July 25 Melton Plains RC Showjumping (Official). Phone Sally 97476201.
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