Riders, helpers soaked but they couldn't have had more fun
RIDERS braved one of Albury’s wettest weekends so far this year to compete in The Scots School Albury Equestrian Interschool Challenge at the Albury Wodonga Equestrian Centre.
In the week leading up to the event, forecasts predicted a wet day on Saturday for the dressage and showing competition, but less than 1mm for Sunday’s Showjumping, novelties and handy mount events.
What eventuated was steady rain all day, both days.
This meant a wet welcome to competition for the littlest riders in the newly introduced lead line classes. But despite being soaked to the skin, there were plenty of smiles and lots of laughter as they negotiated the handy mount course and the mount and rider workout.
When the prize presentations came around, there were no bigger smiles than on the faces of the lead line riders and their happiness was reflected in their parents and handlers.
Charlie Bussell won the handy mount from Logan McMaster and Trixie Knowles-Mulholland, while in the mount and rider, first place went to Zara Lindsay-Field ahead of Emily Kaye and Trixie Knowles-Mulholland.
Anastasia Pakusch, from Cathedral College Wangaratta, took out the overall senior age championship; Goulburn Valley Grammar School’s Felicity Grant, who was in the champion team last year, was the intermediate age champion and Olivia Cleave from St Mary’s College Seymour was the primary age champion.
The overall champion school is determined from the top three riders’ results from each school, but if a school is represented by less than three riders, computer-generated composite teams are formed so that everyone has a chance to vie for the award.
This year the top prize went to a composite team comprising Olivia Cleave on Sherbet Lemon and her sister Sienna Cleave on Wyann Southern Comfort, both from St Mary’s College Seymour, and Annabelle Richardson on Riegal Chonchita Citrone from Geelong College.
They narrowly defeated The Scots School Albury team led by Rory Hamilton on EHR King Lenny, Sarah Wicks on Burrowa Blisse and Olive Geppert on BB.
Rory was the second-highest placegetter among the Scots riders on his other horse Magic Mike TAE, but only his highest points were eligible to be counted towards the championship.
Thirteen of the 18 Scots riders accrued points in a strong showing from the host team.
Among the riders were Lyla Ferrari, who was the intermediate 105cm showjumping champion on Prince Calaf, Mya Player, who was the intermediate 90cm showjumping champion on Whitelea King of Hearts and Sarah Wicks, who was the primary 90cm showjumping champion on Saxonvale Ziva and 75cm champion on Burrowa Blisse.
Rory Hamilton took out the best performed off-the-track award on EHR King Lenny.
GALLERY
(Click any image to expand)
ABOVE:
1. Isabella Ingle on Whitford Park Southern Cross
2. Pippa Routley on Wedderlie Park Claude
3. Willow Cornius-Randall on Kolbeach Occasion
4. Ella Peters on Illarak Desert Mirage
5. Alice Mooney on Torlyn Magician
6. Sierra Laidlaw on Puss ‘n Boots
7. Rory Hamilton on Magic Mike TAE
8. Indianna Cornius-Randall on Foxhall Miranda
9. Zara Lindsay-Field on Arilen Evan
All images GRAIN & MANE
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