STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Combined State Championships are held annually for 11 disciplines, including; Dressage, Sporting, Campdrafting, Team Penning, Team Sporting, Jumping Equitation, Show Jumping, Mounted Games, Combined Training, One Day Event (ODE) and Show Riding. Competitors must be a required Championship standard to qualify to participate in these championships and supply copies of grading cards and/or other documentation as required. 

Event Description, eligibility, qualifying times and further information is specified in the schedule for each event.

State Championship Disciplines

Please be advised that the below are subject to change at any time for any reason. Pease refer to the event schedule for the most up to date information.

DRESSAGE

Often referred to as the “gymnastics” of horse training, since it is designed to improve the suppleness and responsiveness of the horse and the skill of the rider. It is required as basic training for all equestrian events. Competitors must ride standard written tests from memory and are judged on their ability to perform in harmony with their horse. PCANSW uses Equestrian Australia Dressage tests and full details of which tests for the Dressage Championship will be provided on the event schedule.

INDIVIDUAL COMPETITION

Under 9 years	Preliminary
Under 13 years	Prelim & Novice
Under 17 years	Prelim, Novice & Elementary
Associates	Prelim, Novice & Elementary
Open	Medium

Riders may choose one level only to compete in, however they must have competed at this level previously, with a minimum score of 58%.

Tests 2023

Prelim              1.2 & 1.3

Novice             2.2 & 2.3

Elementary     3.2 & 3.3

Medium          4.1 & 4.2

SPORTING

Championships bring keen competition in Flag, Bending, and Barrel racing as well as other novelty events.

AGE GROUPS

Under 11 years

11 years and Under 13 years

13 years and Under 15 years

15 years and Under 17 years

17 years and Under 25 years

EVENTS

Qualifying Times & Races:

Riders must have times recorded on their performance card for any two of these four events to qualify:

Flag Race

Under 11 years- 51 seconds

Under 13 years – 49 seconds

13 years & over – 44 seconds

Bending Race

Under 11 years – 16 seconds

Under 13 years – 14 seconds

13 years & over – 12 seconds

Barrel Race

Under 11 Years – 25 seconds

Under 13 years – 23 seconds

13 years & over – 21 seconds

Bonfield Bounce Bend

Under 11 Years – 40 seconds

Under 13 years – 37 seconds

13 years & over – 35 seconds

For the Bonfield Bounce Bend the height of the plastic barrels are;

Juniors (under 13 years) no less than 30cms and not to exceed 40cms

Seniors (over 13 years) no less than 50cms and not to exceed 60cms

TEAM SPORTING

Championships bring keen competition in Flag, Bending, and Barrel racing as well as other novelty events in Teams

AGE GROUPS

Juniors (under 17 years)

Associates

EVENTS & QUALIFYING TIMES

3 Mug Race	120 sec
Team Flag Race	48 sec
Team Bend Race	90 sec
5 Flag Race	80 sec
Sword Race	120 sec
Straight Barrel Race	110 sec
Fishing Race	160 sec
Balloon Race	110 sec
Straight Diamond Flag Race	TBA
Bottle Exchange Race	TBA

CAMPDRAFTING

This unique Australian sport is fostered within the Pony Club movement. Riders demonstrate their skills at cutting a beast out of a mob in an enclosure and then manoeuvre it around a set course. Points are allocated for cut out and work on the course.

Suitable performance of mount/rider combination. A minimum performance of an outside score in two (2) events will be required.

AGE GROUPS

9 & Under 13 years

13 & Under 15 years

15 & Under 17 years

17 & Under 26 years

NOTE: there will only be one beast in the yard for the 10 & Under 13 year’s age group.

TEAM PENNING

A fast-paced event that gives a team of three riders 2 minutes to separate three specifically identified cattle from a herd of 30, and put them into a pen at the opposite end of the arena.

Ages are taken at the first day of competition;

Junior – 9 & under 17 years

Associate – 17 & Under 26 Years

Zone Teams: Riders must be from the same zone and have competed in at least 2 Team Penning events in the last 12 months. Each rider can only compete in one team.

JUMPING EQUITATION

Riders are judged on their riding style and control of the horse whilst jumping.

INDIVIDUAL COMPETITION

Three classes will be held, starting with a simple jumping round and increasing in difficulty (but not height) with each subsequent class. Two classes will be held on Saturday and one on Sunday.

Age Group	Maximum Height	Ages taken as at the first day of competition. Ribbons for 1st to 10th place in each age group in each event Champion ribbon for 1st overall in each age group.
Under 11	65cm
11 & under 13	75cm
13 & under 15	80cm
15 & under 17	85cm
17 & under 25	90cm

 

SHOWJUMPING

Horse and rider are required to jump a course of fences according to their ability.

Ages taken as at the first day of competition.

Under 13 Years

B Grade and above– all nominations accepted

C Grade – all nominations accepted

D Grade – acceptance of nominations up until a total number of entries in this age group reaches 60

            13 and under 15 years

A Grade or Championship Grade – all nominations accepted

B Grade – all nominations accepted

C Grade – acceptance of nominations up until a total number of entries in this age group reaches 60

            15 and under 17 years

A Grade or Championship Grade – all nominations accepted

B Grade – all nominations accepted

C Grade – acceptance of nominations up until a total number of entries in this age group reaches 60

            17 and under 26 years

A or Championship Grade – all nominations accepted

B Grade – all nominations accepted

C Grade – acceptance of nominations up until a total number of entries in this age group reaches 60

POLOCROSSE

A team sport combining polo ad lacrosse. A team consists of six players, plus one reserve, divided into two sections of three who play 3-4 alternate quarters.

MOUNTED GAMES

A great fun and skilful team activity for all riders. This event involves teams of four riders plus a reserve competing in fun games as a team.

GAMES & QUALIFYING TIMES

The following qualifying times apply for games to be held at the State Championships. Team must meet the qualifying time in at least five events. Events and times are to be recorded on the entry form for each team. Please refer to the event schedule as some games change each year.

Balloon Bursting Race: 1 minute 20 seconds	Pony Club Spillers: 3 minutes 40 sec
5 Mug Race: 2 minutes 30 seconds	Five Flag Race: 2 minutes
Postman Chase: 2 minutes 20 seconds	Daily Mail Race: 2 minutes 20 seconds
Sword Race: 1 minute 30 seconds	Pyramid Race: 2 minutes 30 seconds
Quoits: 2 minutes 45 seconds	Stepping Stones: 1 minute 30 seconds

For directions and equipment for each of these games please see the Mounted Games Rule Book available from the Association Office.

ONE DAY EVENT

Consisting of three sections – dressage, showjumping and cross country jumping. It is designed to test the courage, determination and all-round ability of the rider, as well as the training and conditioning of the horse.

INDIVIDUAL COMPETITION

D Grade	10 and under 17 years
C Grade	10 and under 17 years
C Grade	Associate
B Grade	13 and under 17 years
B Grade	Associate
A Grade	13 and under 17 years
A Grade	Associate
Championship Grade	Associate

Individual awards to 10th placing. Where there is a tie (after countback) the ribbon recipient will be decided by the flip of a coin, except for tenth place in which case extra ribbons will be provided.

DRESSAGE TESTS

Grade	Dressage Test
D Grade	Ev Test A 45 & 60 2020
C Grade	Ev Test A 80 2020
B Grade	Ev Test A 95 2020
A Grade	EvA CCN 1 Star A 2020
Championship Grade	EvA CCN 1 Star A 2020

CROSS COUNTRY SPEED

Time for completing the course is calculated at:

Grade	Metres per minute
D Grade	350 metres per minute
C Grade	400 metres per minute
B Grade	450 metres per minute
A Grade	475 metres per minute
Championship Grade	500 metres per minute

Time Limit is twice the time allowed. Periods during which a competitor has been held up by a Jump Judge or Official, will be deducted from the actual time taken, to determine the correct time for completing the course. All jump judges will carry an accurate stopwatch for this purpose. Cross-country courses will be open for inspection to all interested persons at a time to be announced.

OPTIMUM TIME

Riders 17 years and under 25 years do not ride to optimum time. Riders under 17 years will ride to optimum time (time allowed plus nothing less 20 seconds) before a time penalty is incurred. An award for closest to optimum time on the cross-country will be awarded in each group to the rider with a clear cross country round who is closest to the optimum time.

SHOWJUMPING PHASE

Grade	Maximum Height
D Grade	75cm
C Grade	80cm
B Grade	95cm
A Grade	105cm
Championship Grade	115cm

 

COMBINED TRAINING

Consisting of two sections – dressage and showjumping. It is designed to test the courage, determination and all-round ability of the rider, as well as the training and conditioning of the horse.

DRESSAGE TESTS

Age Group	Novice Grade	Advanced Grade
Under 11 years	1A	1B
11 and under 13 years	1B	1C
13 and under 15 years	1C	2A
15 and under 17 years	2A	2B
Associate	2B	2C

SHOWJUMPING PHASE

Age Group	Novice Grade	Advanced Grade
Under 11 years	65cm	75cm
11 and under 13 years	75cm	80cm
13 and under 15 years	80cm	85cm
15 and under 17 years	85cm	90cm
Associate	90cm	105cm

 

SHOW RIDING

An event where horse and rider demonstrate their skills on the flat. The horse is judged on confirmation, paces and manners, whilst riders are judges on their riding ability.

AGE GROUPS: Ages taken as at the first day of competition.

Under 9 years

9 & Under 11 years

11 & Under 13 years

13 & Under 15 years

15 & Under 17 years

17 & Under 25 years

STATE CAMP

The Pony Club NSW State Camp brings together the top 75 riders in the disciplines of Dressage, Showjumping, Eventing, Mounted Games, Formal Gymkhana and Tetrathlon. The camp is held in January every year from Sunday to Friday at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre (SIEC). Riders receive instruction from top Instructors and lectures from horse industry professionals.

Camp starts on Sunday where all riders meet and settle in. Instruction takes place from Monday to Thursday and riders depart on Friday morning. Evenings include lectures from well-known personalities in the horse world, veterinary surgeons and other fun activities. State Camp is not only about receiving the best instruction for you and your horse it is also about making great friendships which can last a lifetime. Your horse will be well looked after by experts who give 24-hour supervision, you will stay in comfortable twin share cabins onsite at SIEC, and receive all meals. Horses are stabled and instruction takes place at SIEC which has covered stables, an indoor arena, various outdoor arenas and a training cross country course.

The Camp is open to Pony Club members who;

• Are financial members for the year of the State Camp with the Association through their Club before 31st December in the year prior.
• Will be aged 15 to 24 inclusive on the first day; (Excluding Mounted Games – riders aged 14 or 15 years as at the 1st of January.)
• Have passed their “C” certificate;
• Are of State Championship standard in their chosen discipline;
• Will be mounted on a suitable horse to maximise benefit from top instructors;
• Are recommended by their Club and have satisfactory attendance at Pony Club instructional rally days (must have attended at least 3 rally days in the preceding 12 months, copy of attendance card to be included);
• Are recommended by their Zone Chief Instructor as a worthy Pony Club member of sufficient standard;
• Have their horse microchipped.

Applicants must apply on the official application form which will be available on this website each year. The application form asks questions about your performances in Pony Club and outside competition, certificates achieved, previous instructional schools attended, experience with other horses etc. It is very important that the application form is filled in carefully and correctly, as this information will be used to select participants.

The selectors are also looking for Pony Club members who regularly attend their Club rallies, have performances at State Championships and also at Club and Zone level, have performed well in open competition and have been riding the particular horse for a substantial period of time. You must nominate on a particular horse and most details will pertain to that particular horse. Major requirements of State Camp applicants are enthusiasm, a desire to learn and improve and be willing to try your hardest.

Mounted Games Squad

Fifteen riders make up the squad and train once a month throughout the year in addition to putting on displays.

Ten riders are chosen at the State Mounted Games Championships or on specified Squad Selection dates to form the Squad.

Nominations are open to exceptional riders aged 12 years up to those riders turning 16 years during the year of competition and must hold a minimum ‘C’ certificate.