Local riders stood out the at 30th annual North West Equestrian Expo this year with Calrossy Anglican School student Pippa Cullen, originally from Walgett, topping the point score. 

Pippa, 13, and her older sister Molly were amongst the 560 riders and 720 horses from 121 schools to converge on Coonabarabran earlier this month for the five day long event. 

Most successful rider at Expo was Pippa Cullen. 

Despite soaking rain on the first day of competition, organisers managed to run 25 events ranging from eventing, show jumping and dressage through to polocrosse, sporting and team penning over the five days. 

Event secretary Rebecca Moxham said this year was one of the biggest Expo’s, with high schools from all over NSW represented. 

“This event evolved 30 years ago for high school students to attend and 30 years later its now the biggest the high school equestrian event in Australia,” Mrs Moxham said. 

“It is also the oldest continually running event of its kind.” 

Mrs Moxham said the last time there had been such large numbers was in 2012. 

“It was a very challenging event from the perspective of the organising committee in rescheduling events and changing venues at short notice and full credit to competitors, parents and team managers in getting to events on time without complaint.” 

“Expo has never been an event for the faint hearted as we said at the team managers meeting, a cross between the greatest show on earth and survivor and it certainly was a bit of both again this year!” 

The first Equestrian event was held on 6 May 1992 as part of an Ag Expo hosted by Coonabarabran High School. It was held over one day and catered for flatwork and show jumping.   

Lucy Mclaughlin from Nyngan (centre) was a member of the winning 6 Bar show jumping team from Ascham School and also reserve champion in the 95cm showjumping. 

Some of the riders competing at this year’s event were children of those first Expo riders including locals Alex Letts, Hannah and Izzi Evans. Some of the Head Stewards from the first Expos notably Shaen and Richard Blackman were still very involved in the eventing while former riders Mick Doolan, Ren Letts and Lucy Evans have become Head Stewards and part of the organising committee. 

These days Coona Expo week sees the population of Coonabarabran, population 2500, double in size, with all accommodation booked out and the town a hive of activity. 

Thoroughbred Industry Careers was the major sponsor of the 2022 Expo, and as a surprise flew in Group 1 jockey Robbie Dolan, who gained acclaim as a contestant on The Voice Australia, for a performance. 

Group 1 winning jockey and recent contestant on The Voice flew to Coonabarabran to perform for the young people at the Expo. IMAGE: Thoroughbred Industry Careers who are among the sponsors of the event.

This year the events included eventing, dressage, show jumping, combined training, hacking, team penning, stock horse challenge, sporting, a gymkhana, six bar jumping, and the unique “Coona” events – the Warrumbungle Way and a five-event pentathlon where competitors must ride a showjump course, do a cross country run, throw a javelin and do a horse sporting event (this year the fifth task – a bike ride – was abandoned due to the muddy conditions).  

Ned Kennedy from Trangie won the 15 years boys point score and was also judged most versatile rider at Expo (photo: Kate Kennedy).  

Other local riders to do well this year included year 9 Kings School student, Ned Kennedy from Trangie who won his age point score and was also judged the ‘most versatile rider” at Expo; Erica and Jock Stewart from Dunedoo who were in the winning Kinross Walaroi polocrosse team; Farrer student Tom Maxey from Nevertire who won the Expo pentathlon for his age group; and Ascham student Lucy McLaughlin who was reserve champion in her showjumping division and also part of the winning Six Bar team.