September 25, 2008

More than 40 teams from Pony Clubs in New South Wales will take part in next weekend's State PC Mounted Games Championships, at the Tumbarumba Showground.

Mounted Games are played in teams of five riders. It requires horses to be supple, able to gallop, change direction, stand still and be obedient to the rider's aids. The games test a rider's speed, balance, coordination and competitive spirit, which nevertheless requires an ability to work together with other riders and to be willing to help one another.

Competitors at the event, on October 4 and 5, represent the best riders from Pony Clubs across the State. Each rider has had to be qualified and selected at a regional level prior to the event.

Among these riders are two very talented young riders, who already have international experience. Sixteen-year-olds Andrew Atkins (Muswellbrook) and Katie Slater (Wamboin) both represented Australia at the 2008 International Pony Club Mounted Games and have both been selected to compete at the National Pony Club Mounted Games Championships in South Australia in November.

Brenton Ward and Shaun Thomspon will be using this event to prepare for the World Mounted Games Championships, held at Pittwater Rugby Park, Narrabeen on October 19-26. The other three members of the team also attended Pony Club, Nicholas Fitzsimmons (NSW), Kelly Adams and Hazel Fertier (South Australia). There are 20 countries participating.

Competitors at the State Mounted Games will be looking to catch the eye of selectors over the weekend. Selection for the 2009 mounted games training squads (junior and senior) will take place during the event. The riders that will represent NSW at the 2009 Australian Pony Club Championships will be then chosen from these squads. In July next year NSW will host these Championships, where up to 250 riders from across Australia will represent their State in Dressage, Showjumping, Eventing and Mounted Games at Sydney International Equestrian Centre, Horsley Park.

Pony Club is a voluntary youth organisation which promotes the physical, mental and spiritual development of young people, while assisting them to gain knowledge and become proficient in their chosen sport. There are about 285 clubs across NSW, from Bega to Bourke, Cootamundra to Casino and everywhere in between.

The following weekend (October 11-12) is the state One Day Event in Wagga Wagga.