Sport
25 November, 2024
Success in the saddle
TWO members of the Mareeba Pony Club recently travelled for days on end to Taroom to compete in the Pony Club Queensland State Championships, where one of them was selected for the State Campdraft team.
For Samika Sheahan and Natalie White, it was a 12-day, 2,800km round trip from Mareeba to the small town near Roma, and back, with their teammates (horses) Banshee Cadets Chinaman and The Groom.
It was three days travel each way to keep the horses safe and healthy and allowed for two days’ rest for the horses before competition.
“The girls’ trusty horses competed for each of the four days, which is a massive ask for any horse, let alone having travelled for three days on the road,” a Mareeba Pony Club spokesperson said.
“Banshee is an 18-year-old Heritage stock horse, so it was an even bigger achievement for him to do such a huge event and have two state-level wins.
“The Groom is an off-the-track retired racehorse enjoying life doing events other than racing.”
To participate in each of the four events, the riders and horses had to gain qualifying times and points in each discipline, which is no easy task. Endless hours in the saddle and weekends travelling to clinics, lessons and competitions all led up to this point.
Samika and Natalie also acknowledged Tablelands Regional Council, Pony Club Zone 18 and Roc’s Stockfeeds for their financial assistance.
Day 1 - Formal Gymkhana
Samika Sheahan - 1st (16 years)
Natalie White - 4th (17-20 years)
Day 2 - Sporting Gymkhana
Samika Sheahan - 11th (15-16 years)
Natalie White - 10th (17-20 years)
Day 3 - Stockman’s Challenge
Samika Sheahan - 10th (15-16 years)
Natalie White - 13th (17-25 years)
Day 4 - Campdraft
Samika Sheahan - 1st (15-16 years) (Named in the QLD State Campdraft Team)
Natalie White - 14th (17-25 years)
