Tara Biffin in horseballing action in the AELEC during the Australian Horseball Championships on the weekend. Photo: Robert Chappel 201012RCB11
AUSTRALIAN Horseball Association’s national championships “showcased some outstanding examples of horsemanship and agility” in the AELEC on the weekend.
AHA officials were delighted with the national championships where Carey’s Freight Lines won the Open title from Cubbaroo and the Landmark Hunter Valley team won the mixed title from the Australian Junior team.
AHA publicity officer Richard Riggs said the championships ran smoothly.
“The championships showcased some outstanding examples of horsemanship and agility,” Riggs said.
“Being a relatively new sport in Australia, the weekend showed that the game is here to stay, with the standard of riders and game discipline being far more superior than their humble beginning just three years ago.”
Competitors travelled from various areas from throughout NSW and South East Queensland.
Divided into three divisions, all games were hotly contested, with the outcomes coming down to the last game in every division.
“The mixed division created a lot of interest because, while made up of predominantly senior players, our Australian Junior Team also played in this division and was only defeated by one win by the winners Landmark after the final playoff.
“The individual results also threw up some deserving rewards, with Wee Waa’s Ben Cruickshank the best male rider and Scone’s Rebecca Van Es the best female rider.”
Wee Waa’s Dylan Dixon received the Youth Encouragement Award and Quirindi’s Sally Ham received the Lachlan Elliot Memorial Players Player Award.
The Best Australian Stockhorse Award went to “Chevin Sansouzie” owned by Christy Hunt and ridden by Allistair Schwager, Wee Waa.
“With our Australian Championships now over, there are still two more major outings for our members,” Riggs said.
“Six of our junior members make up the Youth Team who are off to France on November 3 to contest the Heinz Wolff Tournament at the 2012 World Cup.
“We also have two senior mixed teams representing us at Equitana, being held at Melbourne (November 15-18).
“ These teams will be comprised of riders from both our Queensland and New South Wales members.”
OPEN DIVISION:Winners - Carey’s Freight Lines, r/up Cubbaroo.
MIXED DIVISION: Winners - Landmark Hunter Valley, r/up Australian Junior Team.
YOUTH DIVISION: Runner-Up - Carey’s Freight Lines