Pony Club Victoria held its State Showjumping and Dressage Championships at Tonimbuk recently with the East Gippsland Zone well represented and achieving some exciting results.
The showjumping was on Saturday in hot and sticky conditions, but the competition was held indoors, which made it more bearable for horses and their riders.
Dressage was on Sunday and it was a little cooler with thunderstorms in the afternoon.
Impressive wins on Saturday were achieved in individual events by Darcy Wade, Xanthe Wade, Mia Fitzpatrick and the “B” and “D” grade teams.
Darcy Wade finished both first and second in the “A” event, on horses Wondaree Ruped (first) and Miss Delfyne (second).
Miss Delfyne also took out the best performed off the track racehorse in “A” grade.
The victorious “B” grade team consisted of Stratford riders Ava Harrington and Xanthe Wade, who took out the “B” grade state championship.
Harrington was awarded the reserve state championship for “B” grade and best performed off the track galloper with Burnside.
In “C” grade East Gippsland was placed second in the teams event with the riders being Stratford’s Xanthe Wade and Grace Perkins, Sale’s Emily Kelly and Bairnsdale’s Lexie O’Brien.
Stratford’s Gracie Gartung was the winner off the best performed off the track galloper in “C” grade, aboard Jayech.
The “D” grade winning combination was Traralgon’s Fitzpatrick, Stratford’s Emily Stratford and Jasmine Lynch.
Fitzpatrick was awarded the “D” grade state champion, with Lynch awarded the reserve champion.
