Brodie achieves childhood dream at State Dressage

Dreams came to life at the recent Equine Performance Pty Ltd State Dressage Championships held from the 21 to the 22January at Orange Showground.

State Dressage is the first of nine Pony Club NSW State Championships for the year. This year’s championship was hosted by Zone 3 and attracted 190 competitors from all over NSW and QLD.

For one competitor from Stoney Range Pony Club, this was the scene of childhood dreams coming true. Ever since Brodie Howe was a child she dreamt about winning three Pony Club NSW State Titles in a row in the same discipline. “One of my goals ever since I was young has been to win three PCA State Titles in a row for the same discipline, so I was so thrilled that I could do this with my horse Will,” said Miss Howe 15 and under 17 age champion.

With success in other events, Brodie is well on her way to achieving above and beyond her childhood dream having also won two State Showriding Championships in her age division. This takes Brodie’s total winnings to five overall, as she has won three Dressage and two Showriding Championships.

Brodie was very happy with how both she and her horse Doongara Will Power performed on the day. “The tests were harder than in previous, but I trained hard and I felt that they were two of the best tests I have ever done. My horse Doongara Will Power (Will) performed extremely well over the entire event. I was so thrilled that I could do this with my horse Will. He has been a very good horse to me these last 3 years and has taught me the right way to ride a horse.  Wouldn’t have achieved what I have to date without him,” said Miss Howe.

With Dressage out of the way, Brodie is now setting her sights on future events. “I am training both Will and my young stock horse Nick for my next upcoming events. I am competing at Canberra Royal Show, Australian Stock Horse Nationals in Tamworth and also Sydney Royal Easter Show, within the next couple of months. I am also in training for the PCA Teams of Fours for Sydney Royal Easter Show,” said Miss Howe. Pony Club NSW would like to wish Brodie the very best in these events, we look forward to the results.

The next State Championship for the Pony Club year is the Marsh Carney Saddlery Sporting and Campdrafting Championships. This year’s event held over the same weekend will be hosted by Zone 4, located at Trangie Showground, Trangie from the 14 to the 15April 2012.

The Equine Performance Pty Ltd State Dressage Championships is supported by Naming Rights Sponsor Equine Performance Pty Ltd, Sport and Recreation a division of Communities NSW, Mitavite official feed partner, as well as other local sponsors.

Megan wins her third State Dressage despite storms and grey ponies

Flash flooding and hail threatened the recent Equine Performance Pty Ltd State Dressage Championships held over the weekend of the 21 to the 22January at Orange Showground.

Competitors arriving early on the Thursday night were met with a severe storm and heavy rain that caused flash flooding at the showground and horse yards. Spectators watched as the showground swiftly turned into a small lake as they sought shelter in near bye buildings. Thankfully the water receded by the morning and the weekend progressed without incident.

This was the first of nine Pony Club NSW State Championships for the year. The event hosted by Zone 3 attracted 190 competitors from all over NSW and QLD. Competition was close with riders competing across two separate Dressage tests with the overall champion being determined by their collective placings.

Top scores occurred across all age divisions. In the under 13 age group Jessica McDonald was the age champion riding horse Deltry Belucci from Wallsend Pony Club. Local Bathurst Pony Club rider, Sarah Farraway on Rum ‘N’ Coke took out first place in the 13 and under 15 age group. In the 15 and under 17 age group, the age champion was Brodie Howie riding Doongara Will Power from Stoney Range Pony Club. While in the 17 and under 25 age group, Megan Bryant from Cowra Pony Club, placed first on her horse Mr Jackson.

 The Champion Zone with the highest scores overall was local Zone 3. Champion Zone 3 riders consisted of Alexandra Wolters Mannix, Toby Farraway, and Sarah Farraway. Zone 25 riders took out the Fitness Check prize. While NSW was the Champion State with winning riders Sarah Farraway, Brodie Howe, Megan Bryant, Caitlin Hawkins and Jessica McDonald.

Experienced competitor and winner of the 17 and under 25 age group Megan Bryant missed the storms on Thursday night but had to overcome other challenges over the weekend in order to take out the age champion title.

“The weather was of course one of the challenges at Orange, it was very unpredictable. I was lucky enough to miss the storms but I had enough trouble trying to dodge grey ponies as my horse seems to have a fear of them,” said Miss Bryant.

Overall, Miss Bryant was very happy with how both she and her horse Mr Jackson performed over the weekend. “I am very happy with my performance at State Dressage this year, I have only had Mr Jackson for twelve months and previously he had only done a bit of trail riding. It was an amazing feeling to win on a horse I have trained myself and it shows all the hard work has paid off. My horse really tried his best in both tests, even though he made a few minor mistakes in the 3C, I was still very happy with him as I knew he gave it his all,” said Miss Bryant.

This was Miss Bryant’s ninth State Dressage and third age champion win. “I competed in my first when I was eleven. I have competed six different horses over the past nine years placing on all of them and winning champion three times. 2008 with Talinga Cavalier, 2009 with Donnabella and now 2012 with Mr Jackson,” said Miss Bryant.

With a busy year ahead, Miss Bryant is “planning to compete Mr Jackson at State Jumping Equitation and maybe State Eventing if he is up to it,” said Miss Bryant. The Giddiup State Jumping Equitation Championship will be at Bi-Centennial Park, Camden from the 19 to the 20 May. The One Day Event will be from the 6 to the 7 October at Albury Wodonga Equestrian Centre.

The next State Championship is the Marsh Carney Saddlery Sporting and Campdrafting Championships. This year’s event held over the same weekend will be hosted by Zone 4, located at Trangie Showground, Trangie from the 14 to the 15April 2012.

A special thanks to Zone 3 for hosting the championships, and many thanks to everyone involved who contributed to such a successful event.

The Equine Performance Pty Ltd State Dressage Championships is supported by Naming Rights Sponsor Equine Performance Pty Ltd, Sport and Recreation a division of Communities NSW, Mitavite official feed partner, as well as other local sponsors. 

Photograph courtesy of Barry McGregor photography.

Glen Innes shines at Zone 13 Jamboree Written By Megan Scrivener

From Friday 6 to Sunday 8 January Walcha Pony Club hosted the 52nd Zone 13 Jamboree. Over 190 riders from ten clubs in the zone converged on Walcha Showground to compete in several disciplines including dressage, drafting, showjumping, hack Classes and sporting events. In what were three very warm conditions, keen riders from all clubs produced some outstanding results.

Glen Innes Pony Club riders were on top of their game for the three days claiming several trophies including the Sub Junior and Senior Team aggregates. Luke Kiehne, Sam Donnelly and Brendan Weiss all performed superbly for their club and greatly assisted with the final club pointscore pushing Glen Innes 13 points ahead of Inverell to claim top honours and take out the JM Sinclair Memorial Cup. Congratulations Glen Innes.

Inverell performed consistently throughout the competition, and in what was an extremely close contest Inverell’s Reece Graham claimed the the Mervyn Beard Memorial Trophy for the overall fastest flag race. Host club Walcha also had some great results placing them third overall. Walcha took out the Campdraft Trophy, and their top performer over the three days was Shae Partridge who won her dressage, took out champion in her age group, the junior overall highest pointscore and was a member of the winning Walcha team which posted the highest aggregate score in the junior division.

Armidale performed superbly in the hack classes, and wasted no time in taking out the Dressage title on the first day of competition. Armidale also claimed the Trophy for the highest aggregate Associate Team, with Sam Hanlan also winning the highest overall pointscore for an Associate rider.

Tenterfield claimed the Bundarra Trophy for highest pointscore which is contested by the six smallest clubs attending the Jamboree. Bundarra, Emmaville, Guyra, Kingstown and Uralla all had riders place in finals and take out events. 

Congratulations to all the riders who attended this year’s Zone 13 Jamboree, and those who came away with age champion and reserve ribbons. You all can be very proud of the wonderful sportsmanship shown over the three days. Uralla will host Zone 13′s next Jamboree to be held in January 2013.

Riders saddle up for State Dressage

Riders are saddling up for the upcoming Equine Performance Pty Ltd State Dressage Championships to be held at Orange Showground this weekend the 21 to the 22 January 2012.

With nine Pony Club NSW State Championships held every year, the Equine Performance Pty Ltd State Dressage Championships are the first state championship for 2012. The event hosted by Zone 3 is expected to attract around 200 competitors coming from all over NSW. A team from QLD will also be travelling down to compete over the weekend.  

Dressage is a discipline where competitors must ride standard written tests from memory and are judged on their ability to perform in harmony with their horse. Riders competed across two separate Dressage tests with the overall champion being determined by the collective placingLocal event organiser and Zone 3 secretary, councillor and treasurer Kathryn Mannix is anticipating a fun weekend of strong competition. “With 198 riders the competition will be strong in each age division and again a good number of Queensland riders coming all the way down. They are usually a very strong team and feature in the placings,” said Mrs Mannix.

Fielding a team of 21 riders, “Zone 3 riders are looking forward to the  Championship in their backyard,” said Mrs Mannix.

According to Mrs Mannix, “the Orange showground looks a picture at the moment with all this summer rain we’ve been having and the temperature has been a beautiful 23 – 25 degrees with a breeze, perfect riding weather.”

Spectators are encouraged to attend, with a full canteen in operation from Friday afternoon. “Local attraction the Slow Summer Festival also kicks off on the 20^th January in Orange so there will be plenty to do when the riding finishes,” mentioned Mrs Mannix.

Competitors are reminded that back numbers are available from the office on the ground from 2 pm onwards on the day prior to competition. The Fitness Check is from 3 pm Friday the 20^th January. Gear Check will be commencing 8 am sharp each day of competition, with competition to start 8:30 am each day.

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 Equine Performance Pty Ltd State Dressage Championships is supported by Naming Rights Sponsor Equine Performance Pty Ltd, Sport and Recreation a division of Communities NSW, Mitavite official feed partner, as well as other local sponsors.