Fran Cleland
Some of the best ideas come from pony clubs
PONY club committees come up with some great ideas and Barwon zone’s showjumping series is literally one of the best.
The Barwon Equine Showjumping Tournament (BEST) series was started in 2012 by Portarlington, Drysdale Leopold and Barwon Valley Pony Clubs to encourage pony club riders to improve their show jumping skills.
Leighdale Pony Club joined the series in 2015 and other clubs have taken part over the years including Barwon Heads, Mount Duneed and now Bacchus Marsh. Other clubs are expected to join in 2024.
The series has proved very popular, with the final round this year at Bacchus Marsh on June 3.
To be eligible for BEST series placings, a combination must compete in at least three BEST competitions. Series placing will be determined by using the best three overall scores achieved by a combination from any of the four competitions.
If a rider competes at all four competitions, the worst overall score is dropped.
There are two sections, one where anyone can compete and the other for graded Pony Club members only.
At the third round of the series held at Barwon Valley, competition was hotting up with big fields of happy kids enjoying themselves and checking the series placings in both open and pony club.
In B Grade Combined PC and Open on the day, Sophia Pratley and Aladdin Ghp were the day winners and after the three rounds are in the lead going into the final event.
Marly Wright and Maeve Keeva Castiel placed well in the two competitions on the day in the combined pc and open section and are current leaders in that group.
In the Pony Club C Grade section, Maci Dean on Eat My Dust were winners on the day and in the series are placed third behind leader Summer Galle and Viewmont Tye .
Tm Leviathan ridden by Emma Russell won the Open D Grade section and is equal sixth in the series led by Chloe Winter riding Bonsai Chantilly. In the Pony Club section, Tessa Leen’s Luigi won on the day and leads the series with Ashley Morrison on Princess Piper hot on her heels.
Chelsea Reid on Hootchy Irish Cream won the open E grade on the day and leads the section going into the final. Matilda Bremner riding Shakanda Aloul Farj is the same in the pony club class.
Starlette Winckle’s Maple carried her to a win on the day in Open F Grade, where she is seventh with Hayley Merrett leading the series on Edenhope Pharoah.
Ella Brown and Wyann Maggie Rose won the day in the Pony Club F grade and are just two points behind series leader Madison Borthwick on Dalgangle Moonshine coming into the final.
GALLERY
(Click any image to expand)
ABOVE: All images LISA GREEN of MANE MEMORIES
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