Gold at the end: Benalla Pony Club riders Amanda Ward and Lucy Duff had success in the pairs events on Sunday.
Last weekend riders and their horses from the Benalla Pony Club and the Euroa Pony Club travelled to Bacchus March for the Horseland Games, Flat and Musical Ride Championships.
Handing over: Two Benalla riders pass one another.
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The Kay Irving Memorial Games were held on Saturday, and the Team of Four Ride, Pairs Team Ride and Ian Wardell Musical Ride events were conducted on Sunday.
Amanda Ward and Lucy Duff represent Benalla in the pairs and finished equal first in the unrehearsed and 12th in the rehearsed in the flat teams and placed them in ninth overall out of 20 pairs.
Tongues out: Ella Hogan and her horse focusing on the game.
In the games section Team Benalla lead by Shaun McMillan finished eight overall.
President of the Benalla Pony Club says that riders, Jess Andrews, Ruby Davis, Ella Hogan, Taylia McMillan, Poppy Warnock, Eli Lawson and Amanda Ward were extremely competitive.
Mid-flight: Poppy Warnock during a game.
“We’re really proud of them,” said Ward.
“We all have different skills but in this case it is a team event and the horses ride all events.
“All teams improved from last year after working together and the community is real proud of that achievement.
Tight turn: Amanda Ward and Smokey negotiate a drum.
“They (the Benalla and Euroa riders) were competing against riders who were competing in their main discipline and riders who have competed overseas.
“On the Saturday some riders were on the horse from 9 to 5. The weather was changing all the time from cold and raining in the morning and then sunny to almost snowing. The kids have got to be dedicated to sit through all of that.
“Watching the horses being able to adapt from games to dressage is pretty impressive.”
Teammates: The composite team made of Benalla and Euroa Riders with team leader Tim Ward.
As is the quality and age of the Benalla Pony Club, their were riders from the club across two teams.
The composite team consisted of Perez Lawson and Zadok Lawson of the Benalla Pony Club and Miley Woodstock, Emma Howell, Brandon Fearn, Laura Fearn and Sophie Lamont from the Euroa club.
The next big event for the Benalla Pony Club is hosting the Prince Phillip Games, a national event, at their facilities in October.
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