mmg.com.au

Deniliquin Pony Club will have a staggering six representatives at the Victorian Dressage and Showjumping Championships at Yarrambat this weekend.

The local contingent making the trip to Yarrambat is Sam, Kim, and Laura Beer, and Kate, Isabelle and Rachel Hare. All six girls will compete in showjumping.

Even more impressive is the fact the three Beer girls and Rachel Hare make up the entire C grade showjumping side for the Northern Zone, which Deniliquin is part of.

It is believed to be the first time that a representative side at the state championships has been made up of riders from one club.

Kate and Isabelle will represent Northern Zone’s A grade squad.

‘‘You have to compete in two out of three qualifying rounds before you can compete at these championships. The top four scorers from the qualifying rounds then get selected to represent their zone,’’ Deni Pony Club president Kevin Hare said.

‘‘It’s a real honour for us to have so many riders competing at the one event. It’s a feather in our cap.’’

While a major event in itself, the championships at Yarrambat this weekend will provide the local riders with plenty of top level experience ahead of the PCAV State Horse Trials, to be held in Deniliquin on May 4 and 5.

‘‘The championships we are hosting in May is for dressage, showjumping and cross country, where riders compete in all three disciplines,’’ Hare said.

‘‘This is just either straight showjumping or dressage, it’s a specialists event.’’

~ Shaun Connor