Naracoorte Hunt and Pony Club took on the big job of hosting Pony Club South Australia’s south-east zone championships.
Riders from Beachport, Keith, Kingston, Millicent, Mt Gambier, Naracoorte, Penola and Tintinara took part and competed at different levels of experience in jumping, dressage, novelties and flat riding individually and in teams.
The novice horse and rider of the year was Mackenzie Richards Fennell and Jerricho and Samantha Foster and Bahgallah Bantum won the preliminary award.
In showjumping, the E grade horse of the year was Lucy Bennett’s Wynara Spice Girl.
In dressage the novice dressage, Mackenzie Richards Fennell took another sash with Showtime Shy and Ellie Bowman and Fourwinds Peppermint won the preliminary dressage.
The grade five dressage winner was Lucy Bennett on Wynara Spice Girl and in the walk trot Dressage, Lottie Phillips’ All about Alfie trotted his rider into first place.
In the team dressage grade five, Penola won from the composite Naracoorte/ Mt Gambier team, with Millicent Pony Club third.
The team dressage preliminary award was won by Millicent club with the composite Penola/ Naracoorte team runners up.
Showjumping is always a favorite and awards hard won.
The F grade went to Lottie Phillips and All about Alfie, the E grade showjumping to Holly Phillips and Wyann Beckham and the D grade to Ellie Bowman’s Fourwinds Peppermint.
Mackenzie Richards Fennell won the C grade showjumping on Showtime Shy won and the B Grade on Jericho.
A composite team won the F grade teams showjumping and Millicent Pony Club took the teams E grade.
The D Grade teams showjumping was won by Penola.
In a tight fought novelties title, Millicent Pony Club finished ahead of equal placegetters Mt Gambier Pony Club and Penola Pony Club with the composite team from Naracoorte/Millicent fourth.
After such a wonderful day, it was devastating to hear Valma Clarke, who played such a huge part in the showjumping for pony clubs and all local shows had lost her life a car accident on her way home from the event.
“The smiles she put on all our kids’ faces will never be forgotten,” a club spokesperson said.
“She was such a generous person to pony club in the south east. Our hearts are all broken.”
This article appeared on The Regional on 16 August 2023.
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