Emily, Harrison, Deynah, Emma and Mia took their ponies to the Cessnock Horse Sports Day at Cessnock Showground on June 10 and rode away with several ribbons. More than 150 students from 50 schools competed at the event and showed off their skills in the riding and sporting events.

Riders participated in the riding, hack and pleasure riding classes as well as the keyhole event, barrel race,ball race and diamond flag event.

Emily and Harrison were awarded reserve champion in their age groups. Emily took out the 11 years reserve champion after she placed first in her flag race, second in her barrel race and diamond flag, third in her riding class and fourth in her ball race on her trusty mount Peaches.She has been riding the pony since she was four and cannot wait to compete again.

“My favourite event was the flag race, Peaches is beautiful, wonderful, majestic and free-flowing,” she said. 

Harrison was named reserve champion in the 10 year age group after he placed first in his pleasure riding and flag and barrel race, and second in his riding class, hack class, ball race and diamond flag on his horse Bobby. “The barrel race was my favourite because I was trotting,” he said. “Bobby was on his best behaviour.”

Emma was proud to take home three first place ribbons after she earned the top spot in her pleasure riding, barrels race and diamond flag events.

“I was riding my mum’s horse who we call Chief. I love horse riding, you can form a friendship with a horse and they become part of your family. You never think about yourself as an individual when you’re riding, you think about you and the horse working together.”

Deynah placed first in her diamond flag, second in the ball race, third in the barrel and flag race and fourth in the keyhole. “I like competing because I’m good at it and I can beat people,” she said. 

Mia placed first in the diamond flag, third in the flag and keyhole and fourth in the ball race.“I enjoy riding Coco and doing all the sporting things,” she said.