Gaming on horseback

THE Pony Club State Championships have drawn to a close after four days of action-packed events.

Elyce Smith from Zone 27 (Rockhampton), gets back on her horse in style during the stepping stones round of the junior mounted games competition at the Morgan Park Polocrosse fields on Saturday. Picture: Erin Smith

THE Pony Club State Championships have drawn to a close after four days of action-packed events.

It started in Killarney on Wednesday with the campdrafting before the events moved to the Morgan Park Polocrosse fields on Thursday, with 260 riders taking part in the gymkhana event.

On Friday more than 200 participated in the sporting events.

On Saturday, 37 teams, each with four to five riders, took part in the mounted games championship events.

Assistant Sue Bondfield said there were a range of events for the teams to participate in.

"There was stick-pegging, rope-race, ball in a bucket, spillers, fire flag, Canadian race, high and low race and stepping stones," she said.

"It has been a really great week.

"There have been no major injuries and everything has run smoothly."

For the majority of players on the Warwick junior team (Zone 21) known as the Rougezz, it was their first time competing in a mounted games competition.

Coach Sandy Miller said he was impressed with their performance.

"We have been training once a week for the past three months and they have done really well."

Kate Johnstone was the newest member on the team.

"I love hanging out with my friends and having fun," she said.

Team-mate Holly Wickham said she enjoyed the mounted games.

"I get to do awesome dismounts," she said.

Originally published as Gaming on horseback