Team rides high in championships

TWO Tooradin equestrian riders rode their way to top at the Pony Club Association of Victoria (PCAV) State Horse Trials Championship on the weekend.
Tesse Cook and Fiona Wernke joined Bianca Souter and Lauren Halstead, all from Langwarrin Pony Club, to take out the Club Team competition at Tonimbuk Equestrian Centre.
More than 130 riders from across the state competed at the two-day event. Horse trials require riders to complete three phases – dressage, showjumping and cross country – to get an overall score.
The girls performed well individually in their sections to each finish within the top four.
Tesse, riding Oliver, and Fiona, riding Chaos Rules, both placed fourth in their grade two sections and Lauren, riding Mr Presley, came third in her grade two section. Bianca placed second in grade one on her mount Northern Sebastian.
Tesse said it was an exciting win as it was the first time Langwarrin Pony Club had won state eventing as a team.
“It was good to represent the club well as individuals and to also take out the team section,” she said. “We all worked our horses hard in the lead-up to the event and put in many hours of practice and it paid off.”
She said it was tough competition against some of the best pony club riders around the state.
“Tonimbuk was also a challenging course,” she said
The girls each took home a woollen horse rug and PCAV medallion and will have their team names printed on the perpetual trophy.
– Bridget Cook