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Coona hosts highschoolers across NSW for equestrian expo

Western Plains App

River McCrossen

06 June 2024, 7:40 AM

Coona hosts highschoolers across NSW for equestrian expoAround 480 riders kicked up dirt over the five-day high school equestrian competition. PHOTO: Facebook/North West Equestrian Expo

Riders from high schools across NSW duked it out over five days at Coonabarabran's annual North West Equestrian Expo.

 

Between 31 May and 4 June, around 1500 people, including 480 riders from 90 schools, competed in dozens of events including show jumping, polocrosse and team penning. 

 

Students from Cobar, Nyngan, Warren and Coona took part, as well as from Sydney, Armadale and Canberra.



 Expo Event Secretary Rebecca Moxham said rains in the first two days didn't get the better of the competition.

 

"Considering the hand we were delt with the weather - we had 47 millimeters overnight on Friday until Saturday morning - it went really well," Ms Moxham said.

 

"We were able to have every event, nothing was cancelled. We've just had to retimetable over the weekend, but by Monday we were back on to our normal timetable."


It wasn't all on horseback. Students also run as part of a pentathlon. PHOTO: Facebook/North West Equestrian Expo


Nyngan High School's Jameson Bush claimed the top spot in the Astro A2 showjumping, where riders had to clear a 1.15 metre jump, the highest of the expo, against the clock.

 

In the sporting events, Cobar High School's Zachary Boland took first in the over-17s keyhole race.

 

Coonabarabran High School's Jake Deshon won second in the polocrosse division 1 C-grade.



 Event winners went home with an embroidered woollen horse rug.

 

Barring 2020, the expo has been running every year for 32 years since starting in May 1992. According to Ms Moxham, it's built a reputation as a well-run event.

 

"The thing that really sticks out for all the committee and head stewards is what a good attitude everybody brings to the event," Ms Moxham said.

 

"No complaining about things. You get on with the weather and all of those sorts of things, turn up when you're meant to, you're very polite to the people running it.

 

"Riding's not a cheap sport anyway, and then to drive for five hours or eight hours to come to it, they must see that it is worth it."