PONY CLUB: Tamara Bondfield has starred at her last state championships in pony club with victory in 21-26 years jumping equitation at the state championships at the Gatton Showgrounds.

She is turning 26 in December so the jumping equitation state championships which finished early this month were his last in jumping at pony club level. Tamara beat a field of 15 to win.

Tamara is now aiming to qualify for each state championship this year. She wants to compete in dressage, combined training, eventing and formal gymkhana.

Zone 21, which goes from Killarney to Texas, had a team of five riders qualify for Jumping Equitation and Showjumping State Championships at Gatton.

Tamara Bondfield, Latisha Murphy, Grace McLauchlan and Nikki Burraston from the Warwick Hack and Pony Club competed at Gatton. Sophie Poole from the Stanthorpe club broke her elbow the weekend before the championships so withdrew.

All Warwick riders did the zone proud with placings in the top 10.

There were three rounds over two days of jumping equitation competition.

Latisha and Grace competed in one class for jumping equitation 13-14 years age group and Nikki in another class for jumping equitation, 13-14 years.

Latisha was 13th overall and seven in her best round which was a great effort at her first Jumping Equitation State Championships.

Grace and Nikki each finished 3rd overall in their respective classes in fields of 26.

The final two days of competition at Gatton was showjumping with 245 competitors.

There were three different classes, AM5, in which Grace came second in her class in one of the rounds, .8 of a second behind the winner.

In power and speed, Nikki was second in her class in one round .4 of a second behind the winner.

In the grand prix, there were 13 jumps in the first round and then a second round for combinations which went clear.

Tamara placed fifth in class in the grand prix round.

Latisha, 13, competed in the 70cm class for ages 13-26 and while she did not place in the top 10 overall in a field of 31, she had some clear rounds just missing out on a place but obtaining qualifiers for next year’s State Championships.

Grace 14, Tamara, 25, and Nikki, 14, all competed in the 90cm class for ages 13-26. All three had clear rounds that can be used by Grace and Nikki as qualifiers for next year’s State Championships.

There were 51 riders in the class. Nikki finished 5th, Grace 6th and Tamara 12th overall.

To cap off a great championships, Tamara received the award for highest score in jumping equitation across all 192 competitors. She won with 109, one ahead of Nikki.

Rally days

THE Warwick Hack and Pony Club holds monthly rally days at the Warwick Showgrounds involving all equestrian disciplines.

The club splits its members up in six or seven groups to be coached in individual aspects of the sports.

The next major event for the club will be the Cunningham Gymkhana on April 23-24 at the Bony Mountain Recreation Reserve.

The Warwick club has 50 members and large numbers are expected to compete in the biggest event for the Cunningham club this year.