The Riddells Creek Pony Club Easter Horse Trials, held at Candlebark in Victoria’s Macedon Ranges, is always one of the most popular events of the season.
Established in January 1954, the club is one of the seven founding members of the Pony Club Association of Victoria and has a long history of running quality events for pony club and open riders that want to train young horses over good courses.
Like most of Victoria, the dry season added its own touches to the event with gently rolling dust clouds following the competitors’ progress round the courses.
The Victoria Racing Club would have been pleased to see 51 former racing Thoroughbreds enjoying their new careers at the event in all levels, from open grade one to pony club grade five.
Emily Aitkenhead’s Golden Chai won the open grade three section and nine others placed second or third in their section.
In the 110cm classes, Emily Hudak and Mr Hugo representing Seville won the pony club section and Shanae Reid and Spark Up Trouble from Gisborne Pony Club won the open.
In grade one, Emily Walker riding Tempting Fate from Kangaroo Ground Pony Club and Emily Bremner’s Defining Lady both won their sections.
In grade two, Iris Sudholz and Blaze made a long trip from Horsham to win the pony club section, rising from second after dressage, and Natalya Bretherton’s Fortunate One led from start to finish in the open.
Grade three is always the biggest section and often the most closely fought.
The pony club winner Kloe Soper and Bonfire Belle from Riddells Creek Pony Club finished just point two of a penalty point ahead of Lotti Hogeland and Burnbank Bentley from Seville Pony Club.
In the open section, Emily Aitkenhead and Golden Chai had a slightly faster cross country time to her the win to finish ¾ of a penalty ahead of Frankie Murphy’s BC Finigas.
There were two open grade four divisions as well as pony club. All winners led from the dressage, helped by excellent, safe cross country jumps built for the learner levels. J’Aime Mallon and Navajo Jake took division A (off-the-track), Mel Burns and ESB Golden Kilt division B and the pony club section went to Isabelle Beard and Ashtan Park Taylor Made representing Yarrambat Pony Club.
The grades five and six pony club sections were at capacity.
The competition at this level is always entertaining, with everything from brave Shetlands to Thoroughbreds taking their first cross country steps represented. It’s also where the elegantly prefixed lengthy names appear alongside Ginger, Harry and Merrilegs.
The winner in grade five was Monash Pony Club’s Saige Harewood and Waterford Park Academy and in grade six, Grace Barnett riding Staughton Vale Symphony for Yarrambat Pony Club was the winner.
This event also has combined training in grade six, which was won by Olivia Stockdale from Rosedale and District Pony Club riding Hazelwood Cinders.
Results
See more photos at The Regional.
View and purchase Derek O’Leary images from this event
This article appeared on The Regional on 30 April 2025.
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