Flash flooding and hail threatened the recent Equine Performance Pty Ltd State DressageChampionships held over the weekend of the 21 to the 22 January at Orange Showground.

Competitors arriving early on the Thursday night were met with a severe storm and heavy rain that caused flashflooding at the showground and horse yards. Spectators watched as the showground swiftly turned into a small lakeas they sought shelter in near bye buildings. Thankfully the water receded by the morning and the weekendprogressed without incident.

This was the first of nine Pony Club NSW State Championships for the year. The event hosted by Zone 3 attracted 190competitors from all over NSW and QLD. Competition was close with riders competing across two separate Dressagetests with the overall champion being determined by their collective placings.

Top scores occurred across all age divisions. In the under 13 age group Jessica McDonald was the age championriding horse Deltry Belucci from Wallsend Pony Club. Local Bathurst Pony Club rider, Sarah Farraway on Rum ‘N’ Coketook out first place in the 13 and under 15 age group. In the 15 and under 17 age group, the age champion wasBrodie Howie riding Doongara Will Power from Stoney Range Pony Club. While in the 17 and under 25 age group, MeganBryant from Cowra Pony Club, placed first on her horse Mr Jackson.

The Champion Zone with the highest scores overall was local Zone 3. Champion Zone 3 riders consisted of AlexandraWolters Mannix, Toby Farraway, and Sarah Farraway. Zone 25 riders took out the Fitness Check prize. While NSW wasthe Champion State with winning riders Sarah Farraway, Brodie Howe, Megan Bryant, Caitlin Hawkins and JessicaMcDonald.

Experienced competitor and winner of the 17 and under 25 age group Megan Bryant missed the storms on Thursday nightbut had to overcome other challenges over the weekend in order to take out the age champion title.

“The weather was of course one of the challenges at Orange, it was very unpredictable. I was lucky enough to missthe storms but I had enough trouble trying to dodge grey ponies as my horse seems to have a fear of them,” saidMiss Bryant.

Overall, Miss Bryant was very happy with how both she and her horse Mr Jackson performed over the weekend. “I amvery happy with my performance at State Dressage this year, I have only had Mr Jackson for twelve months andpreviously he had only done a bit of trail riding. It was an amazing feeling to win on a horse I have trainedmyself and it shows all the hard work has paid off. My horse really tried his best in both tests, even though hemade a few minor mistakes in the 3C, I was still very happy with him as I knew he gave it his all,” said MissBryant.

This was Miss Bryant’s ninth State Dressage and third age champion win. “I competed in my first when I was eleven.I have competed six different horses over the past nine years placing on all of them and winning champion threetimes. 2008 with Talinga Cavalier, 2009 with Donnabella and now 2012 with Mr Jackson,” said Miss Bryant.

With a busy year ahead, Miss Bryant is “planning to compete Mr Jackson at State Jumping Equitation and maybe StateEventing if he is up to it,” said Miss Bryant. The Giddiup State Jumping Equitation Championship will be at Bi-Centennial Park, Camden from the 19 to the 20 May. The One Day Event will be from the 6 to the 7 October at AlburyWodonga Equestrian Centre.

The next State Championship is the Marsh Carney Saddlery Sporting and Campdrafting Championships. This year’s eventheld over the same weekend will be hosted by Zone 4, located at Trangie Showground, Trangie from the 14 to the 15April 2012.

A special thanks to Zone 3 for hosting the championships, and many thanks to everyone involved who contributed tosuch a successful event.

The Equine Performance Pty Ltd State Dressage Championships is supported by Naming Rights Sponsor EquinePerformance Pty Ltd, Sport and Recreation a division of Communities NSW, Mitavite official feed partner, as well asother local sponsors.

To find a Pony Club near you visit the PC NSW statewebsite.

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