LIAM PHILLIPS
GAWLER River Pony Club hosted
its annual One Day Event last week,
with Mildura competitor Sandra
Mason making history aboard her
horse Kulkyne Park Sampson.
Mason, who was entered in the grade
four open 65cm division, previously
won the same event in 2008 aboard
Kulkyne Park Sampson’s mother,
showing the genes and training up at
Mildura remain as strong as ever.
Club secretary Mark Jakeway said
things could not have gone more
smoothly, despite a late withdrawal
from one of the furthest travellers.
“People travelled from as far as
Mildura, and we even had an entrant
from Broken Hill who had to withdraw
at the last minute due to illness,”
he said.
“Local Emily Haines performed
strongly to win the open 35cm division,
but I’d say the big winner on the
day was the pony club as a whole.
“Everything went according to plan
and we received a bunch of positive
feedback which we feel good about.”
Jakeway said the club had already
got plans for next year, including the
introduction of a higher level of competition.
“We’re already planning next year’s
event, where we will be looking to introduce
a new grade three event which
is for 80cm horses,” he said.
“We believe it will attract higher
level competitors, but it will
also provide a platform for our locals
to compete in higher grades
and expose them to that level of
competition.”
As well as Emily Haines, the other
Gawler River members to compete
were Holly Harper, Ashlea Bolland,
Lauren Jakeway, Mel Adamson, Boo
Edwards, Madison Hughes, Summer
Shomos and Isabelle Vandepeear
among a field of more than 40.