Merriwa Pony Club hosted its annual Combined Training and President’s Cup last weekend with 90 riders in attendance from across the zone and beyond.
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Dressage competitor and judge Jill Dawson, from Armidale, said she was very impressed with the level of competition throughout the event.
“I felt the standard of riding was high, the horses were presented beautifully and the children had equally beautiful manners,” she said.
Despite some anxious moments when the saddles came off in the bareback classes, Dawson said she was grateful there were relatively few “spills” but plenty of thrills as many riders performed “near perfect” individual work outs in the rider classes.
Merriwa Pony Club president Clare Martin said the weekend had been an excellent opportunity for members to train young horses as well as hone their skills in show jumping, dressage and sporting events.
“It was great to see quite a few riders on new horses, some competing and training young horses,” she said.
“It’s important to hold training days and shows like this to encourage riders to continue to improve and challenge themselves, as well as have fun.”
The Combined Training on the Saturday saw riders complete a showjumping course and dressage test with Adelaide Cooper (Scone) taking out the F grade, Charlotte Bennetts (Cassilis) E grade, Amy Thompson (Denman) D grade, Clancy Martin (Merriwa) C grade and Hannah Clements (Singleton) the B grade.
Saturday competition results: under-7 age group champion went to Tayla Clarke (Aberdeen) and Harrison Baxter (Murrurundi); 7 and under-9 Adelaide Cooper (Scone) and Roy Lawler (Merriwa); 9 and under-11 champion Emily Ninness (Merriwa) and Oscar Richardson (Aberdeen); 11 and under-13 Darcy Pittman (Scone) and Clancy Martin (Merriwa); 13 and under-15 champion Anastasia Martin (Merriwa) and Cameron Ninness (Merriwa); 15 and under-17 champion Anna Wilson (Denman) and Andrew Hordan (Denman).
The Associate Champion went to Melanie Coward (Denman).
Merriwa’s Martin family scooped the pool with brother and sister duo Clancy and Anastasia winning both the under-17’s President’s Cup and Ray McRae Memorial Highest Pointscoring girl and boy trophies.
The highest club point score overall went to Denman Pony Club with Merriwa Pony Club a close second.