MASTERS rider Brent Armstrong shares the competitive challenge other members of the Rosewood Hack and Pony Club thrive on.
“I’d love to win the state championships for the tetrathlon, which is showjumping, swimming, running and [laser] shooting,” Brent said.
Brent tackled the diverse disciplines for the first time in Nerang, earlier this year.
“That’s the only pinnacle event I’ve ever won but we’ve got about 12 riders that are going to go to the state championships [in Toowoomba],” he said.
Brent and other older competitors have received a major boost with the Rosewood club which has been chosen to host next year’s state masters championships for riders aged 27 and over.
But as Brent thrives on “having a go”, the first-year club secretary was most proud of what was being achieved by junior and senior competitors at the Rosewood Showgrounds and Equestrian Centre.
The Rosewood Hack and Pony Club has been chosen as a finalist for Sporting Organisation of the Year at next month’s Ipswich Sports Awards.
“We are super excited by it,” Brent said.
“We’ve made such big progress in the last couple of years so it’s great to be able to be recognised by others.”
The club has grown from 55 members two years ago to more than 100 this year, with participants aged from three to mid-70s.
“It’s a huge change and pony clubs traditionally all across the country are generally declining, which is unfortunate,” Brent said.
“I guess it shows what we’re putting in place is resonating with our members.
“We have a good name out there.
“Membership is only one side of things of what we do.
“It’s how we try and support our members … to improve as our capacity increases.
“With everyone contributing, it allows us to do more.”
Brent said the focus was on club culture – including participation and having a go – along with “sportspersonship” and camaraderie, leadership, having a sense of community and supporting diversity and inclusivity.
Club president Megan ‘Megs’ Hayne is also an Ipswich Sports Awards finalist in the Volunteer of the Year category.
She has served in multiple official and instructing roles for more than a decade.
“Megan is fantastic,” Brent said, praising her dedication, leadership and passion.
“She’s very experienced and knowledgeable in pony club.”
Other committee members are vice-presidents Lynette Kellam and Lenore Meuleners, and treasurer Tracy Rathjen, who is also a leading instructor.
The Rosewood Hack and Pony Club was established in 1970.
Volunteer of the Year finalist, Megan, has been club president for the past seven years, fulfilling every role from running the club to organising events and ordering and buying stock for the canteen.
Megan spends every Tuesday – her day off – attending to pony club demands.
She is also the club’s chief instructor, organising training musters and overseeing other coaches teaching and encouraging the members.
Megan actively promotes equestrian activities within the community, leading to greater visibility for the club and increased membership.
Last year, she collaborated with the Tri-Valley Equitation Club to initiate and run the first-ever Working Equitation event hosted by a Queensland pony club.
Brent said seeing young members qualify for state championships was particularly pleasing.
The sports facility planner said Rosewood was the only club in the zone to hold official meetings to help people achieve Queensland competition requirements.
Among recent successes were six club members uniting to finish second, on countback, in the team event at the Zone 3 championships. They were Bryce Rathjen, Summer Lindgren, Addison Hayne, Lynette Kellam, Macy Hews and Kirra Ayala.
Bryce and Summer had individual successes in their Combined Training events at the state titles.
Summer and Addison also finished second in their respective Dressage and Horse Trials at the Queensland competition.
In another pleasing result, Ella Osborne came second at the latest gymkhana.
Megan is the reigning State Masters 50+ years champion for her Sporting event.
Brent said providing a wide variety of equestrian events and muster [training] days ensured the Rosewood club attracted riders from around the Ipswich, Scenic Rim and Lockyer Valley areas.
“We give everyone an opportunity to have a go at everything,” he said.
The club secretary said an ongoing goal was to secure funding for lighting on the Showgrounds oval so Friday night events could be staged in cooler conditions.
