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Pony national championships overcome covid barriers

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Sheryl Lowe, Naracoorte Community News

Representing South Australia in the Pony Club National Competitions 2021 was always going to be hard work, but frequent and unexpected border closures were an added challenge for organisers and the participants, this year. Not to be beaten, Pony Club Australia decided look ‘outside the square’ and hold the competition virtually, state by state.

Sarai Jenkin
Pony Club Nationals competitor Sarai Jenkin Photo: Naracoorte Community News

Nineteen-year-old Mt Gambier Pony Club member Sarai Jenkin, spoke with us this week after returning from her virtual competition at Wirrina Cove in South Australia where she competed in the Dressage Discipline. Sarai competed in her Ride to Time Discipline, at the Strathalbyn Race-Course. 

Victoria was expected to host the 2021 competition but due to their extended lockdown with Covid-19, were unable to host the event. The Pony Club National competition is held bi-annually and South Australia is expected to host it in 2023.

Sarai began riding her first pony when she was two years old, became a member of the Pony Club in Heywood Victoria and then joined the Mt Gambier Pony Club two years ago.

Growing up on a farm she is used to life with horses. Her father used horses for farm work when the ground was too wet for vehicles, her mother is a keen horsewoman and Sarai has been involved with Pony Club events for most of her life.

She credits her parents with her continued love of horses and says they have encouraged her to learn a variety of disciplines, so she has the opportunity to extend her experiences with horses and in the competition arena.

Spending time overseas in Austria as an exchange student, living just two k’s away from the famous Lipizzaner Horses training facility was, as Sarai describes it, “the stuff dreams are made of.”

Sarai continues her love of horses working at the Horse Deals Advertising Magazine. She also works with her mother providing equine assisted learning for school students in Mt Gambier.

Each state in Australia is holding their own virtual competition in 2021. The closing date for entries has been extended to November 14th to allow New South Wales and Victoria the opportunity to hold their virtual competitions, if they come out of lock-down in time to do so. 

Pony Club Australia found a way to work around the restrictions of a global pandemic, hold their national event and give everyone a chance to compete.

Naracoorte Community News 27 October 2021

This article appeared in the Naracoorte Community News, 27 October 2021.

Related story: Olympians pitch in for the Pony Club Australia Virtual National Championships

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