Inter-School Equestrian Riders hit Maryborough!
This weekend will see over 250 Primary and High School children compete at the Queensland Inter-School Equestrian State Championships being held at Maryborough over four days from 20th to 23rd September 2008.
Showhorse, Dressage, Combined Training, Showman and Showjumping are the events that are taking place over the four days. With Show Horse on Saturday, Dressage on Sunday, Showman on Monday, Showjumping on Tuesday and Combined Training taking place over two days being Sunday and Monday.
The Queensland Inter-School Equestrian State Championships sees children from Private Schools and State Schools from throughout the State compete against each other to win the Best Secondary and Best Primary School Trophies. Some of the largest schools including Brisbane Girls Grammar School (BGGS), Stuartholme College, Scots College, and St Aidans could be vying for prestigious Champion School.
Rob Ferguson, the General Manager of Equestrian Queensland said "We are looking forward to this weekend, as it is fantastic to see so many school children compete at the event after the cancellation of last years event due to EI."
Mr Ferguson continued, "This will be a weekend full of horses, sport, fun, competition and friendship - what more can a state Championships offer, especially with the Inaugural Horseland EFA Australian Interschool Equestrian Championships just around the corner."
The first and second placegetters in each event are selected to represent Queensland at the Inaugural Horseland EFA Australian Inter-School Equestrian Championships which are to be held in Toowoomba from 3 to 5 October 2008.
Inter-school equestrian competition commenced in Queensland in 1984 with other states following the Queensland model. In the first year, 170 riders competed in a competition that included dressage and showjumping. This year, for the first time since its inception students will be competing for the honour of representing their state at the national level.
The interschool competition has seen a number of riders go on to represent Australia in a number of disciplines from showjumping to eventing and it is hoped that this extension of the competition to a national level will encourage more riders to continue in their chosen sport.