Downs interschool team riders set for nationals

‘‘ THIS YEAR I’D REALLY LOVE IF THE TEAM GOT INVOLVED WITH SPIRIT. TARA WILKINSON

EQUESTRIAN: Darling Downs riders will continue their high national presence when they saddle up for Queensland at the national interschool equestrian championships in Sydney next month.

The Downs region will again supply a large contingent of Queensland representatives at the 2019 Australian Interschool Championships being decided at the Sydney Equestrian Centre from September 27 to October 3.

Twenty-two competitors from the Downs will form part of the 92-member Queensland team after 21 were named in last year’s Maroon’s line-up.

Five of the 11 discipline captaincies have also been awarded to Darling Downs riders.

The Glennie School’s Sarah Coggan has been named Queensland captain with experienced Clifton rider Tara Wilkinson from Toowoomba Anglican School being handed the team vice-captain reins.

“This year we’ve got 92 competitors in the team and 22 of them are from the Darling Downs region which is really impressive,” Wilkinson said.

“I’ve actually been chosen for six years now I think. Out of the seven I’ve competed for interschools.

“This year as a Grade 12 I’ve been selected as vice-captain of the Queensland team.

“We have overall captains and then you’ve got discipline captains for each discipline you compete in.

“I’m competing this year in the one-metre-20 showjumping and the 105 CT.”

Wilkinson said she was proud to be part of the large Downs contribution to the 2019 team.

“It’s really great,” Wilkinson said. “I’ve grown up with them.

“I’ve done interschool all my life with them and there’s a lot of them that I’m really good friends with now.

“We’ve built some great relationships over the years and they are all competing in different disciplines so there is a broad range of people competing.

“This year I’d really love if the team got involved with spirit.

“It think that’s a really important part of the Queensland team and its community.

“It’s based on the team that has the most cohesion and who supports each other the most, who sets up activities for the teams to do.

“Basically they just support everyone and are good sports people.”

The youngest team member is eight-year-old grade three student Josie Ostwald from St Stephen’s Catholic Primary School, Pittsworth.

Photo: Kevin Farmer REPRESENTING QUEENSLAND: Darling Downs members of the Queensland interschool equestrian team (from left) Bronte Rigney on AJ, Tracey Sexton (Chef d’Equipe), Piper Wise, Grace de la Croix, Simone Sorensen, Sophie Brennan, Jordon Fenton-Anderson, Holly Hurst, Keeleigh Wise, Chase Naylor holding Ajack, Sarah Coggan, Georgia Rohde, Kate Johnstone, Phoebe Riordan, Tara Wilkinson holding Holly and (front, from left) Isabella Anderson, Bella Ostwald and Josie Ostwald.

Photo: Kevin Farmer READY TO LEAD: Queensland interschool equestrian team vice-captain Tara Wilkinson with Ajack.