Six of them - Olivia Harker, Grace Taylor, Lucy O’Sullivan, Darcy O’Sullivan, Amy Hants and Olivia McHugh - were riding competitively for the first time.

Committee member and Uniform Coordinator Tracy Lennon said the girls performed extremely well.

“It was the first time these girls had to remember a jump course at a big competition. The representation from Yass was just outstanding,” she told the Tribune.

The top four point scorers for Yass - Breanna and Hayley Lennon, and Isabel and Naomi Kelly - then represented their club as a team and walked away as the overall champions.

With all competitors jumping in three events, the Yass team also received individual awards. Breanna Lennon was named the reserve champion in D Grade, Isabel Kelly the reserve champion in B Grade, Naomi Kelly the Champion B Grade rider and Hayley Lennon missed out on reserve champion C Grade by a single point.

The Queanbeyan Zone 16 showjumping championship trophy has not been won by Yass since 1982, during the year in which the Kelly sisters’ uncle represented Yass.   

Mrs Lennon said that the result is a representation of the club holding strong.

“It was a fabulous turnout, it is great that the younger kids are getting involved and showing some real potential.”

Zone 16 Pony Club Camp

In other news, 14 members of the Yass Pony Club attended the Zone 16 Pony Club Camp in Bungendore during the school holidays. The week-long camp enabled riders to learn new skills and expand their riding experiences with professional tuition. They were given the opportunity to try a variety of mounted activities including showjumping, cross country, dressage, polocrosse, musical troop drills, horse massage, mounted games, orienteering and theory. 

There were many Yass Pony Club riders who achieved special awards for their jumping, theoretical knowledge and those who demonstrated excellence in their riding and/or horsemanship skills.  These include Grace Taylor (E grade showjumping and E grade cross country), Darcie O’Sullivan (D Star Certificate and the most improved rider), Bella Jarratt (D Certificate and the most consistent rider), Olivia McHugh (Showjumping Award), Olivia Harker (D certificate and an encouragement award), Amica Harker (Instructors Encouragement Award), Eve Williams (D Star award and most improved rider), Corinne Green (Troop Award), Harriette Maquire (Troop Award), Keely Owen (Troop Award) and Mark Box (Zone 16 Chief Instructors Bravery Award).

Attendance badges were presented to Lucy O’Sullivan, Amy Hants and Olivia Waugh. Four parents also received their gear checking certificate.