Tookak triumphs to take interschool team trophy

ABOVE: Isabella Hardman from Botanic Ridge Primary School gives Osory Honeycomb a pat for a job well done. Picture: SHARLENE PHILLIPS/ONE-EYED FROG

THE 2024 Victorian Interschool Championships at Werribee attracted 400 happy riders from across the state.

They ranged in ages from five to 18, with the award for champion school ultimately going to Toorak College.

The reserve champion school was Braemar College.

Riders competed in jumping, dressage, show and sporting classes for their teams and individually, and apart from the fierce competition, organisers made sure there was fun to be had.

There were many off- horse events including a hilarious hobby horse competition, parades and evening entertainment that included a demonstration of bending and barrel racing by Sporting Horse Australia.

A visit from Channel Nine’s Today Show gave the youngsters an extra thrill.

Trade stands were busy, and even though Melbourne’s autumn weather was true to form and changeable, there were happy faces all round.

ABOVE: Sophie Melbourne and Tulara Colmar of Toorak College. Picture: DEREK O’LEARY

ABOVE: Matilda Mason and Deceptive competing for Monivae College. Picture: DEREK O’LEARY

ABOVE: Five-year-old Millicent Gardiner (St Mary's Colac) and 30-year-old Gyspy. Picture: ONE-EYED FROG

ABOVE: Mitchell Black and Lakevale Tyson of Gippsland Grammar. Picture: DEREK O’LEARY

The Nan McArthur Senior Award went to Lucy Coventry riding Quizzical from Toorak College and in the primary section, Lily Diss from St Francis of the Fields rode Maxwell Matador Royal to take the trophy.

How the points came together for each team was interesting.

Where in the senior individual section the champion Lucy Coventry’s points came from dressage and show classes, the runner up by just one point, Mietta Lumsden riding Double TT Debonair for Trinity College Colac, gained hers in working hunter and dressage. It was similar in the primary school section where Lily Diss scored well in show horse and dressage, and the reserve, Charli Leach from St John's Euroa finished just two pints behind after starring in sporting events, showjumping and working hunter.

The Interschools competition is open to both private and state schools, with the larger colleges dominating the teams section. However, it was good to see the state schools featuring in the top 10 in the individual competitions, in both the senior and junior sections.

ABOVE: Georgie Constable of Braemar College. Picture: DEREK O’LEARY

ABOVE: Harley McNaughton and Glenbrooke Archie Bunker. Picture: ONE-EYED FROG

ABOVE: Renee Van den Berg and Mikey Boy from St Thomas Catholic Primary School. Picture: ONE-EYED FROG

ABOVE: Best mates – Annabelle McDonald and Millicent Gardiner. Picture: ONE-EYED FROG

Results

View and purchase ONE-EYED FROG images from this event

View and purchase DEREK O’LEARY images from this event

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