Gundagai High School’s team who attended the Northwest Equestrian Expo in Coonabrabran earlier in the month.
Back row L-R: Samuel Elphick, Jack Lindley, John Elphick, Amelia Elphick, Stella Dowell, Khyla Warren, Makena Hourn, Jada Burgun.
Front row L-R: Layla Field, Josh Potbury, Lachie Lindley, Jimmy Lott.
Last week Gundagai High School sent a team of 12 students to represent Gundagai at the 34th North West Equestrian Expo in Coonabarabran.
The Expo is the largest high school Equestrian event in Australia, and it is also the oldest continually running event of its kind. Numbers are capped at 500, with over 100 schools represented and up to 600 horses and the event runs over 5 days.
Allison Lloyd, Gundagai High School Deputy Principal who attended the event with the students and their families, said the team from Gundagai High School performed exceptionally well across the week.
“The students had a great time, and they are already looking forward to next year. The team also had a lot of successes across the week.”
“Students entered in to as many events as possible. Some had never jumped before or ridden in a show saddle, but they had a go at everything. Lots of students entered into lots of different events across the week, so a huge congratulations to all students for entering and having a go,” said Allison.
All students organised their own fundraising so they could attend the event, which included a raffle which raised over $600 with prizes donated as well as direct sponsorship from a range of local businesses including Agstock, Jim Scobie and Tumblong Hills Winery.
The P&C also provided some fundraising to help with travel costs, but students did the fundraising for their own team jackets and brow bands for the horses.
Prior to the expo, students participated in two training days, which included professional instructors teaching students about a range of different events, what is involved in these events and the rules such as a Dressage test, Penning, Polocrosse.
Lots of successes across the week including:
• Lachie Lindley, Jack Lindley and John Elphick won the Team Penning. Team Penning is a timed event where 3 head of cattle are cut from the herd; and the students and horses work together to move the cattle into a small pen at the opposite end of the arena.
• Jimmy Lott placed 1st in Barrel Racing, Jada Burgun placed 2nd in the Time Trial and 4th in Barrel Racing, and Jack Lindley placed 1st in the Time Trial and 4th in Keyhole.
• Samuel Elphick, Makena Hourn, Jack Lindley, Khyla Warren, John Elphick and Jimmy Lott all competed in the ‘Warrumbungle Way’ which has 5 events for a combined score, similar to a Stockman’s Challenge.
• Stella Dowell placed Second in the Dressage Championships.
• Samuel Elphick placed 4th in the Senior Boys Pentathlon and John Elphick placed 7th.
• Josh Potbury and Jimmy Lott completed the Junior Boys Pentathlon against 20 other boys.
• Jack Lindley placed 3rd in 16yo Working Horse Challenge, 1st in Polocrosse (mixed school team) Div2, and 7th in ODE 65cm
• Stella Dowell placed 1st in Combined Training 65cm
• Joshua Potbury placed 11th in ODE 65cm
• Jada Burgun placed 2nd in ODE 65cm and 4th in Polocrosse Div 2
• Samuel Elphick placed 9th in ODE 65cm and 4th in Polocrosse Div 2
• Layla Field placed 3rd in Combined Training Encouragers Div 1
• Khyla Warren placed 3rd in Combined Training Encouragers Div 2
• Lachie Lindley placed 10th in the 13yo Working Horse Challenge
• Amelia Elphick placed 4th in Polocrosse Div 2
Emily Flint
The South West Slopes Times covers an area approximately the size of Fiji in country NSW. We look after a population of more than 50,000 people with our staff servicing 7 major towns and dozens of villages with our story telling footprint.
We offer weekly print editions at $3 a copy and we also offer digital subscriptions across 3 months $30, 6 months $60 and 12 months $120.
We are one of the last truly local independent family run newspaper businesses in the state.
Contact us today to find out how we can promote your business or organisation across our huge network by emailing ads@thetimes.net.au or by calling 0413 763 216.
If you have a news tip, lead or scoop for us please make contact as we love celebrating our communities. You can contribute articles via our South West Slopes Times website.