The St Stanislaus’ College equestrian team has just returned from competing at the North West Equestrian Expo held at Coonabarabran. The gathering at Coonabarabran is one of the great events held for school students in NSW. Hosted by Coonabarabran High School, in 2010 the gathering attracted 650 riders from 111 schools with over 700 horses involved in the various events. Events run over 5 days with vast numbers of students, their parents and staff members camping in the grounds and surrounds of the Coonabarabran show ground. Schools sending teams cover the full range of large and small schools, government and non-government schools and rural and urban schools.
Competition at Coonabarabran takes place across a number of disciplines including: eventing; show jumping; combined training; working horse challenge; sporting; hacking; polocrosse and the Grand Parade where all 650 riders and their horses parade before the audience and their colleagues in the final event of the Expo.In the best performance by Stannies at Coonabarabran to date, boys at Stannies were placed in all but one of the disciplines competed in at Coona. Particular highlights were Thomas Stocks being awarded the Overall Reserve Champion 12 year old boy rider and a number of Stannies riders being placed in the incredibly competitive Working Horse Challenge. In fact, every member of the Stannies team who entered the event qualified for the finals in the working horse challenge from the pool of 100 who competed in the discipline . In the sporting events that were held on Monday afternoon/evening, the Stannies No. 1 team was placed 2nd in the teams barrel racing from the 100 teams that competed. In other excellent sporting results, Brendan Luther was placed 2nd in the time trial, 3rd in the Flags and 3rd in the Bending race. In Polocrosse, Stannies was undefeated on the qualifying night to make it into the finals where they finished in 5th place, following some thrilling games played against highly skilled opponents.
The Expo at Coonabarabran finishes with the Grand Parade where all riders representing the 110 assembled schools parade before the full gathering. Individual riders and schools go to great trouble to present their teams to the highest standard. Stannies won this event in 2008 but unfortunately were not able to defend it in 2009 because heavy rain washed out the final day of the Expo. At the end of what proved to be a magnificent Parade, St Stanislaus’ College was awarded the Coonabarabran Jewels Gifts Trophy for the Best Presented Team on Parade.
The boys were an outstanding group of young men and the good feedback I received from other team managers and organisers about the boys was outstanding. Well done to all the riders, and the parents who supported the boys. I am very lucky to have the help and support of such a dedicated group of parents and I truly appreciate your help. Many special thanks to Mr and Mrs Flynn who are able to make my job so easy and who are on call for the boys and their horses at all times of the day and to Mrs Clements whose calm nature keeps us all on track. Congratulations to Cameron Smith for the very fine job he did as Captain. The only reason we were able to have such success was the dedication that the whole team – students, staff and parents – had to producing a fine result.
Team members
Waylon Breen, Jeremy Gallagher, Henry Jones, Brendan Luther, Bryce Mallon, William McGaw, Brandon McKelvie, Cameron Smith, Thomas Stocks, Rory Stonestreet, Alex Wood
Working Horse Challenge
Cameron Smith 5th Working Horse Challenge 17 Years, William McGaw 5th Working Horse Challenge 16 Years, Thomas Stocks 6th Working Horse Challenge 12 Years, All Stannies riders qualified for finals from a pool of 400 riders.
One Day Event
Thomas Stocks 5th ODE C grade, William Mc Gaw 8th ODE C grade
Showjumping
Bryce Mallon 3rd 14 years Restricted Height Showjumping, Jeremy Gallagher 3rd 17 years Restricted Height Showjumping
Sporting
Brendan Luther 2nd Timetrial, 3rd Flags, 3rd Bending Race, Stannies 1 places 2nd in Teams Barrell Racing from 110 teams
Hacking
Thomas Stocks 1st Boy rider under 12, Reserve Champion Junior Boy Rider
Polocrosse
Stannies 1 is undefeated on the qualifying night to make the finals. They finish in 5th place following some hard fought games.
Grand Parade
Thomas Stocks is awarded Reserve Champion High Point 12 year old Boy Rider for the expo, St Stanislaus’ College wins best presented school.