It’s the biggest competition for young equestrians in the region and current holders of the Sinclair Cup Glen Innes Pony Club are ready to defend their title.
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Twenty under 17 riders and five 17 to 25-year-old associates will be part of around 150 pony clubbers who will make their way to Guyra for Zone 13’s championship event – the annual Jamboree – and prove their versatility in the saddle with 11 different events on offer from show riding through to campdrafting.
Following on from a successful camp, the Glen Innes team is fit and firing and chief instructor Julie Donnelly said riders had their last hit out on Tuesday with competition set to commence on Friday.
“I think we should have a pretty successful Jamboree,” she said.
“We selected the best possible team.
“We have a couple of new ones who haven't been to Zone before but the majority have.”
Clubs from Tenterfield in the northern part of the Zone through to the most southern club in Walcha will field teams for the annual event.
Zone 13 chief instructor Belinda Williamson said it is the pinnacle competition for the region with so many disciplines on offer.
“There is no other equestrian sport for the value for money that you can ride your horse in 10 or 11 different events,” she said.
“Starting on Friday with the jumping, by the time we finish on Sunday with the finals of the flag and the bend there will be well over 1500 runs or events completed.
“It is a culmination of our season, of our instruction, our learning, competition, it's our grand final.
“It is the best of the best, they have been selected by their clubs.
“They are going there to represent their club, to ride well for their club and to hopefully win the Jamboree.”
The tough team of four event is a highlight of Jamboree.
“The team of four events is a long-standing tradition in pony club and over the years teams of four have gone to Brisbane and Sydney,” Williamson said.
“It tests the control of your horse because not only do you have to get all your riding correct, you have to think of where three other people are.”
Points are tallied at the end of the weekend and the club with the highest number will secure the prestigious Sinclair Cup.
Glen Innes are the reigning champions but Guyra and Armidale have full teams this year and aim to upset them.
While the competition in the arena is fierce, a highlight for the riders in the social aspect out of the saddle.
“All the kids have a good time. Apart from the competition, it is a yearly get together for kids who across the Zone don't perhaps get to see each other until Jamboree,” Williamson said.
“There is that great friendship and camaraderie at every Jamboree between the riders.”