Pony club eventers converge on Colac for state championships

ABOVE: Nessa Lewis and Mister Bandit from Emu Creek Pony Club and representing Wannon zone placed eighth in grade five division A. Picture: LISA GREEN/MANE MEMORIES

THE Pony Club Association of Victoria’s inter-branch horse trials competition has evolved from the days when it catered for top-level riders only into an inclusive, fun and highly competitive event that is a highlight of the pony club calendar for riders across all grades.

Now known as the Horse Trials State Championships, history buffs would be interested to know it has been 71 years since the concept was first introduced at an event hosted by the Mornington Peninsula Pony Club in 1955.

With a consistently strong annual membership base of around 8000 members spread across more than 170 affiliated clubs and 10 regional zones throughout the state, the association (PCAV) now holds state championships in a number of disciplines, of which hosting duties are shared amongst member zones and clubs.

It was the Barwon zone’s turn to host the Horse Trials State Championships this year, with 177 combinations presenting for judging at the Colac Pony Club grounds on May 16-17.

The winner of the 2026 John Barlee Perpetual Shield for the highest placed zone team was the Wannon zone’s “Wannon War Horses” comprising Matilda Graesser (Sparrow), Jessica Williams (Scotch All Mighty), Elsie Dyer (Bushgrove Code Red) and Abby McFarlane (Bea Royal Cover Girl).

Runner-up just three points behind was Barwon zone’s “Barwon Badasses” team of William Nieuwenhuis (Lucifer’s Lady), Asha Lloyd (Incy Wincy Spider), Indyanna Harper (Lostasock) and Bryanna Crabbe (Exford Lad).

Third was Central zone’s “Central WGB” team of Jasmine Coady (Ferrari Park Autumn Gold), Laila Portogallo (Devonte) Lily Evans (Go Harvey Go) and Annabelle Ennis-Wert (It’s Overcast).

ABOVE: Aubree McIntyre and TickerTape fly through the grade three water complex for the Midland zone. Picture: MANE MEMORIES

ABOVE: Olivia Graham and Theodore Watch Me Roar placed third in grade five division A for North Metropolitan zone. Picture: MANE MEMORIES

ABOVE: In one of the top rides of the event, Ava Olive from the Tooradin Dalmore Pony Club and representing the West Gippsland zone stayed with Gulf of Aden despite an ambitious leap into the water in grade four. This sequence is worth taking a closer look at in the MANE MEMORIES gallery.

The grade one individual champion was Asha Lloyd from Barwon zone riding Incy Wincy Spider.

Less than one point separated the top-placed riders in the grade two championship, with eventual winner Matilda Graesser (Sparrow, Wannon zone) and Amanda Ward (Bedrock Secret Power, North Eastern zone) equal ninth after dressage and climbing to first and second on their jumping with 33.3 and 33.7 penalties respectively.

Jessica Williams of Wannon zone also deserves a mention taking both third and fourth places with two rides, coming in on Scotch All Mighty with 34.2 penalties and on Wangoom with 38.6.

Grade three was divided, with full sections in both.

Division A champion was Southern Metropolitan zone’s Safari Murphy and Chico, while in division B the title went to Amanda Ward and Bedrock Queen of Drama from the North Eastern zone. (In another tight finish Central zone’s Josie de Bie and Favulous Floyd missed out on the win by .1 of a point.)

With by far the highest number of competitors for the event, grade four was also split into two fields of 33.

Central zone riders shone in both divisions with Milly Swan riding Whatever Trevor the champion in division A and Jayde Coady and Weston Park Minardi finishing on top of division B with the lowest final score of the event, 15.3.

Both divisions in grade five were won by Central zone riders as well – Emma Robertson riding Wyann Touch Of Class was division A champion and Idelia Saia and GL Altum Shiraz division B.

ABOVE: Wannon zone rider Jessica Williams and Wangoom soaring towards fourth place in grade two. Picture: MANE MEMORIES

ABOVE: Jasmine Coady (Central zone) thoroughly enjoying herself as Ferrari Park Autumn Gold leaps into the water before placing fourth in grade three division A. Picture: MANE MEMORIES

ABOVE: Southern Metropolitan zone’s Orla Wilson with her pony Viewmont Rock. Picture: MANE MEMORIES

Winners of the grade four Interzone Shield was the GMRB Riders team of Illiana Way (La Princesse, Macedon Pony Club), Jayde Coady (Weston Park Minardi, Bullengarook Pony Club), Milly Swan, Whatever Trevor, Gisborne Pony Club) and Zara Delany (Acing Dreams, Riddells Creek Pony Club).

The Robinson sisters of Bullengarook Pony Club in the Central zone continue to be a considerable force after impressive efforts at the Riddells Creek Pony Club Horse Trials at Easter, teaming up with Idelia Saia (GL Altum Shiraz, Williamstown Horse and Pony Club) as “Sisters and I” to win the grade five shield.

Emma Robinson rode the consistent Wyann Touch Of Class, while Lucy Robinson again doubled up on Gem Park Sinatra and Dalu Moondust.

The next major event on the PCAV calendar is the Games, Flat and Musical Ride Championships incorporating the Kay Irving Memorial Games, team competitions and Ian Wardell Memorial Musical Ride on June 20-21 at Bacchus Marsh.

ABOVE: Colac Pony Club’s Bryanna Crabbe and Blazing Cowboy represented Barwon zone in grade two. Picture: MANE MEMORIES

ABOVE: Ingrid Gould and Bramblewood riding for Midland zone in grade two. Picture: MANE MEMORIES

ABOVE: Macclesfield Pony Club’s Elisaveth Mistriotis and Heza Hollywood Tomcat rode out for the Southern Metropolitan zone. Picture: MANE MEMORIES

ABOVE: Colac Pony Club’s Isabella Grinter Telford and Burrowa Onyx were on home turf representing the Barwon zone in grade five. Picture: MANE MEMORIES

ABOVE: Eliza Morris and Dara Park Summer making a splash for the West Gippsland zone in grade four. Picture: MANE MEMORIES

Full results

View and purchase MANE MEMORIES images from this event

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