On Sunday November 18, Yass Pony Club members Lucy O'Sullivan, Grace Taylor, Olivia Waugh and Olivia Harker competed at the 47th Annual Monaro Shield Show Jump Day.
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The tournament was hosted by Queanbeyan Pony Club and held at their show grounds.
While all girls from Yass Pony Club competed individually for their ages and jump grades, three of the members, Grace Taylor, Olivia Harker and Lucy O'Sullivan also formed a team to compete for the prestigious Monaro Shield.
The Monaro Shield is run over two show jump rounds, the second round is a raised course to the maximum height for the grade and is a timed event.
If a horse knocks a rail or has a refusal, extra time is added to the score. Therefore, the team with the fastest time are the winners.
Olivia Harker and Lucy O'Sullivan also joined together to compete in a fun event at the end of the day, the Rescue Relay.
This is a show jump competition run over two consecutive rounds with both riders on course at the same time, taking turns over different jumps. The girls worked well as a team and placed a close second, having never competed together as a team before.
The Yass riders jumped remarkably well all day and ended up with wins and places in all events.
The highlight of the day was the team taking out the coveted Monaro Shield, winning by the smallest of margins - one second!
Unfortunately, Grace Taylor was not at the presentation as she left the competition immediately after her final jump round. She had been very unwell all day.
The girls were ecstatic to win the Monaro Shield and were not expecting the final result.
"I just can't believe we won!” Lucy said. “Jackson [her horse] jumped so well and tried his hardest all day. He has come along way in the last 12 months and has turned into a really bold jumper.
“He was a notoriously difficult and spooky horse for a long time but we trust each other now work together so well as a team."
Allison Harker, Chief Instructor at Yass Pony Club and mother of Olivia, said, "I am just so proud of each of the girls that represented our pony club today.
“They all train so hard with their horses to be the best they can be. Yass Pony Club are thrilled to have such competitive and supportive young girls representing the club.
“They all showed excellent sportsmanship, which Yass Pony Club instills into the riders."
