The Katherine Horse and Pony Club last weekend competed in the NT titles for the first time in several years.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Pony Club of the Northern Territory Championships were held over the long weekend at Freds Pass Reserve in Darwin.
For the first time since 2014, Katherine Horse and Pony Club were able to hit the road and field a full team of excellent young riders.
The team represented Katherine in all of the four disciplines, Prince Phillip Mounted Games, Tetrathlon, Showjumping and Dressage with great success.
They competed against riders from the three main pony clubs of Darwin as well as a small contingent from Alice Springs.
“It is the first time in years that all five NT pony clubs have been able to field riders for the NT championships,” club president Ruth Hanssen said.
“It is so great when the remote riders are able to come and compete at a championship event, lifetime friendships are started at competitions like this, and all the riders should be so proud of their achievements.”
The Katherine Team consisted of Chloe Dehne 14 , Georgia Dehne 15, Taylah King 13, Alia Schmidt 11 and Gypsy Schmidt 13.
All riders competed as a team in the Mounted Games component, taking out Champion Mounted Games Club and bringing home the trophy for the first time since 2007.
Georgia Dehne and Gypsy Schmidt then went on to take out the reserve champion title for the Tetrathon with a 2 km run followed by a derby jumping course.
Alia Schmidt won her F Grade jumping class and received a 60 per cent score for her dressage test. Taylah King and Chloe Dehne completed in their first ever championship dressage tests and both received solid scores.
“It was a wonderful event all round,” team coach Samantha Phelan said.
“The girls showed great skill as the trophy and ribbons shows, but they also brought great horsemanship, teamwork, humour and sportswomanship to the event – they did their club and their community proud.
“On this basis the judges award was also given to Georgia Dehne for her overall attitude and bravery through the weekend, even in the face of some serious spills over the course of the competition.”
The weekend finished up with a Gala Ball and Presentation evening, where all the riders (and some parents) hit the dance floor with dancing ranging from boot scooting to twerking.
Independent selection for the NT Nationals Team was also occurring over the weekend.
Two of our riders were up for selection to represent the NT in September this year in Toowoomba.
The team is yet to be announced.
