First in Three Classes

THE Scone Equine Vaulting Team placed first in three classes at the Royal Easter Show on Good Friday.

The team placed first for preliminary squad, Phillip Ritter won novice individual and Georgina Heard and Peyton Halloran took the blue ribbon for pas de deux; coach Robyn Boyle said she was thrilled with the results.

Scone Equestrian Vaulting Team decked out in blue at the Royal Easter Show: Back: Grace Pratley, Phillip Ritter, Justin Boyle, Georgina Heard and coach Robyn Boyle. Front: Hannah Gatwood, Daytona Holloran, Charlotte Clark, Peyton Halloran and Sarah Clark.

“We entered in three classes and we came back with three blue ribbons, it doesn’t get any better than that,” said Ms Boyle.

“This group has only been working together as a squad for six months, so now we have our eye on the nationals in Sydney in late September,” she said.

“I’m thrilled, I love watching them grow as people, their self-esteem and there are components in the squad where there are three of them on the horse, a base, someone standing and a little one up in the air so they all have to trust and believe in each other to do it confidently and that is the part of squads that I love is watching them all develop and grow,” she said.

“Phillip is going up a grade after this and the biggest shock was Georgina and Payton in the pas de deux they all worked so well under pressure,” she said.

Georgina Heard a 22 year old from Scone said it was great to perform at the Royal Easter Show with her riding partner 8 year old Payton Halloran from Muswellbrook and get a blue ribbon.

“It was a bit of a surprise to win because it was the first time we’d ever performed that piece,” said Ms Heard.

“It was great to perform there and it is spectacular to watch people doing all of these amazing tricks on horses,” she said.

Justin Boyle performing a back somersault dismount at the Osbornes Transport Horse Festival Vaulting Competition last year.

Phillip Ritter who has been vaulting for five years said it was great to compete at the Royal Easter Show and to win in a female dominated sport.

“It is very impressive and great to be there with so many people watching you it does put a bit of stress on you but it is quite fun to perform there,” said Mr Ritter.

“I got a 6.2 and beating a few girls is quite fantastic because they are normally quite good and better than me,” he said.

Vaulting is an equine sport which combines dancing and gymnastics on horse back.

The sport is growing in Australia and the Scone Team is the largest in the country.