Zone 21 steps up at Pony Club state champs
PONY CLUB: Warwick rider Grace McLauchlan won the state formal gymkhana championship in the 14 years age group at the Queensland Pony Club State Championships at Roma.
McLauchlan placed first overall on her five-year-old horse Kidaman Al Sirroco and won a state rug.
A strong contingent of riders from Zone 21 comprised of Warwick and surrounding areas competed in the championships from Thursday to Sunday in campdrafting, formal gymkhana, sporting and mounted games.
The Zone 21 mounted games junior (A) team of Latisha Murphy, Brianna Wilson, Emily Banks, Eliza Johnstone and Grace McLauchlan placed fourth in the mounted games team event where they showed great teamwork.
Congratulations to all the riders from Zone 21, including Inglewood, Killarney, Texas and Stanthorpe members, who competed on their horses with great sportsmanship in temperatures climbing above 30 degrees.
Warwick Hack and Pony Club vice-president Fraser McLauchlan said the club would like a special farewell for Sarah Stewart as the trip to Roma was her last state championships.
"Sarah has made a fine contribution to the club and been a great role model to all the riders," he said. Twelve riders from Zone 21 had top-10 finishes but there were also strong performances at Roma from fellow zone riders Leila Wilson, Kaden Beckett, Georgia Bellingham, Tracey Madsen, Shania Murphy, Hayley Jaenke, Kate Paganin, Abbey Monckton, Chloe Paganin, Natasha Paganin, Casey Free, Jacinta Johnstone and Brooke Robertson.
Zone 21 top-10 finishes
Warwick
Grace McLauchlan - 14yrs, 1st, formal gymkhana
Emily Banks -12yrs, 3rd campdraft, 2nd formal gymkhana, 5th in sporting
Latisha Murphy - 13yrs, 6th formal
Angela Krahe - 17-21yrs, 4th formal
Lisa Eastwell - 17-21yrs, 6th formal
Tammy Bondfield - 21-26yrs, 2nd formal
Amie Barclay - 21-26yrs, 10th formal
Sarah Stewart - 21-26yrs, 8th formal
Grace Brennan - 15yrs, 9th, campdraft
Texas
Jessica White - 14 yrs, 10th formal
Inglewood
Atlanta Bynon, 13 yrs, 10th campdraft
Killarney
Joel Monckton, 15yrs, 4th campdraft and 3rd formal
