Narrandera Adult Riding Club (NARC) recently hosted the BetaVet and Bendigo Bank HRCAV Top Teams Trophy (TTT) Horse Trials - the equivalent of the adult riding club State Championships.

The NARC committee was approached back in February when the original hosting club had pulled out, leaving the event at risk of not running and a mammoth task of throwing together the event in only three short months, a task that is usually given eight months.

“We went to work securing sponsorship so we could viably afford to run an event of this magnitude. Costs like the specially trained paramedics for this high risk sport was $6500 alone for the weekend so we had some overheads to cover so we approached some local businesses for support,” said club president and organiser Erin Anderson.

“We were thrilled when our local Community Bank Narrandera & District Bendigo Bank came on board as naming rights sponsors along with well known equine brand BetaVet Australia.

“Along with our local Bendigo Bank, we also had support from Moses and Sons, Elders Narrandera, Narrandera Shire Council, Coles Narrandera, Coprice Leeton, Sutherland Farrier Services, the Grant Family and Grants Sawmilling Co, Bio Grow Recycling, Riverina Mobile Vet & Equine Dentist, GrainCorp and Hygain. We thank them so much for their generous support, it was so greatly appreciated.”

One hundred riders travelled from all over Victoria and southern NSW to compete individually and also made up 23 teams of four riders. The riders competed in three phases over the two days - dressage, show jumping and cross country.

“It was always going to be a huge task to run and compete in a competition of this importance but our small but mighty committee pulled it off with fantastic feedback from all those in attendance, with the event being a huge success” Erin said.

NARC had eight riders competing individually making up two teams. The “Narrandera Nags” comprising of Wendy Hartin, Lisa Killmore, Grace Ryan and Madisson Seymour finished out of the placings team wise however Lisa managed a very respectable third place individually in the Level 3. The “Narrandera Airborne Antics” comprising of Erin Anderson, Sarah Parry, Zoe Stockton and Georgia Sutherland finished a very respectable seventh out of 23 teams, with Erin also winning individually in the Level 3.

“We are so lucky to have such a fantastic cross-country course built by Craig Gordon. Honestly, it’s the best in the region, if not in the State, and being on a fantastic loamy base means the footing is good all year round and fantastic to ride on.

“We will continue to attract many riders to our facilities and make us an attractive venue to host events of this calibre into the future which is fantastic for both the Adult Riding Club and Pony Club,” said Erin.