Zone Events
Zone & State Competitions
The Central Zone holds a range of events during the year. Some are specific to our Zone whilst others are qualifying events for State competition. The dates and likely venues for these events are published in the Zone Calendar at the beginning of each year.
To submit a club event for the zone calendar, the form on this link should be used: https://form.jotform.com/252887115057058
President’s Cup Show Jumping Series
The President’s Cup is a perpetual award introduced by the Central Zone in 2005. It is given to the best performing show jumping rider from the Zone in each grade for the year. To be eligible, riders must compete in a minimum of two qualifying events during the year. The results will be announced and the shields presented at the Fimister Shield.
A leader board is published at intervals.
Games, Flat and Musical Rides Teams Championships
The Central Zone Games, Flat and Musical Rides Teams Championships are usually conducted 6-8 weeks before the state champs and are also the qualifying event for the state championships. Currently, the state champs are held on the weekend after the King’s birthday in June. Each zone conducts a qualifying competition to select club competitors for these competitions. A games team consists of 7 riders who take part in activities such as bending, stepping-stones, flag and drum etc. Usually, one or two of the games is changed each year. The Flat Team of Four consists of 4 riders who are required to carry out a rehearsed test together. Then, the four riders are given 10 minutes to prepare an unrehearsed test and do this on the day of the competition. The Flat Pairs Team also have a rehearsed and unrehearsed test. Whilst a separate team may enter the Musical Ride section, a Flat team may also take part in the Musical Rides part of the competition.
The 2025 Central Zone Champs and State Qualifiers were held at Woodlands PC on May 25.
In 2025, the results were:
Games
5 teams competed.
1. Woodlands Jets 2. Woodlands Warriors 3. Composite Riddells Creek/B’rook 4. Macedon 5. Composite Riddells CreeK/Kilmore
Flat Team of Four
Macedon were the winning team. They will represent Central Zone at the State Champs.
Flat Team of Two: a popular event – 5 teams competed.
The results were: 1. Riddells Creek 2. Macedon 3. Macedon 4. Riddells Creek 5. Riddells Creek
Musical Ride: We had 3 competitive teams.
1st place were Woodlands with the theme of Beauty and the Beast
2nd place were Gisborne with the Footy Fever theme.
3rd place was Gisborne with the Teddy Bear’s Picnic
State champs results in the August newsletter.
Gymkhana
The Lowden Family Shield
This was started by the Lowden brothers of Kilmore in the 1960s to encourage riders in a range of equestrian activities. The programme for this event usually includes a mix of activities – from pony club show rings, to games and handy mount activities. Show jumping may be included if the venue grounds can accommodate it. Children of all ages and levels are encouraged to take part. Riders receive points for their Club if they place or win an event. The Club with the highest tally receives the Lowden Family Shield for that year. Look in the Zone Calendar for the date and venue each year. In 2025, it was held on August 3 at Lancefield.
Gisborne were the proud winners. Woodlands were second and Riddells Creek were third.
In 2014, a new shield was established for the club with the best average score. The intention was to give small clubs an advantage. In 2017 it was re-named the Russell Manton Memorial Shield. For small clubs, the Russell Manton Shield is awarded to the club where the proportion of club members in attendance is factored in. Russell’s daughter, Madelaine, spoke about her father’s contribution to Pony Club and presented the shield to Lancefield for 2025.
The Fimister Shield
The Fimister Shield is an annual show jumping competition run by the Central Zone. The event is designed to give all grades of rider (from PF to PA), experience of different kinds of show jumping events. Riders who place or win an event on the day receive points for their Club. The scores for each rider on the day are aggregated towards their Club score and the Club with the most points wins the shield.
This competition was created to honour the memory of Frank Fimister, who as a foundation member of Findon PC went on to reach great heights in the Pony Club movement. He was also a top performer in show jumping and eventing. At the time of his death (in a level crossing accident) in 1968, he had been selected to the training squad for the 1968 Mexico Olympic Equestrian Team. Three of his horses subsequently competed with distinction on the British and European circuits.
In 2025 the Fimister was hosted by Glenlyon PC.
The results were:
1. Riddells Creek 2. Gisborne 3. Glenlyon
Show Jumping & Dressage Championships
The Central Zone Show Jumping and Dressage Championships are held 6-8 weeks before the state championships and are also the qualifying event for the state championships. Currently, the state championships will be held on the last weekend in February. The Showjumping component is for PA, PB, PC and PD combinations. Dressage competitions are for Grade 1, 2, 3 and 4 riders.
In 2010, Central Zone trialled a Qualifying Series, whereby riders who wished to be considered for selection to the zone teams to compete in the State Showjumping and Dressage Championships in 2011 gained points by competing in a series of events throughout the year. At the end of 2010, this process was evaluated and it was decided that the previous process of qualifying at the Zone Championships was preferred. At the highest grades, where individuals compete, not teams, riders who miss the zone qualifiers can submit an EOI to the zone, based on their performance history. In 2025, the qualifying criteria for selection to the CZ showjumping teams was modified to enable the first two placegetters in the Pesident’s Cup showjumping series to be included. The other 2 places would be selected from the zone qualifying event. In 2026, it is proposed that competitors in the new dressage series be eligible for selection to the zone dressage teams. See the rules for the Dressage Series for details.
CZ Dressage Series Rules Version 5
In 2026, the CZ Showjumping Champs were held on Saturday January 17th and the Dressage on Sunday January 18th , hosted by Riddells Creek PC. See Feb 26 newsletter for results
These were the qualifiers for the State Champs on February 21/22, 2064, held at Warrnambool, hosted by Wannon zone. See April 2026 newsletter for CZ results.
Horse Trials
Central Zone Inter-club Horse Trials (the Equestrian Club Supplies Shield). The inaugural event was held on May 29, 2011 at Tullamarine PC grounds. Riders who place or win on the day receive points for their Club. The scores for each rider on the day are aggregated towards their Club score and the club with the most points will win the shield.
No events were held in 2020-2023. In 2024 the Central Zone of Pony Club decided to bring back the CZ Horse Trials, last held in 2019, and incorporate it into a Horse Trials held within the Zone, rather than host a stand alone event. That year it was added into the “Ride With Elegance” Werribee Pony Club Horse Trials.
In 2025, the CZ HT was held in conjunction with the Gisborne PC Horse Trials. For a weekend in the middle of summer, it was bitterly cold, but the horses found it perfect weather for a gallop. The shield was won by Gisborne PC, with Werribee a close second. Bullengarook PC placed third.
In 2026, the CZ HT was held in conjunction with the Riddells Creek Easter Horse Trials on the first weekend in April. Despite this being a rally weekend for many CZ clubs, riders from 12 clubs enjoyed a sunny autumn weekend. The shield was won by Riddells Creek PC, with Gisborne second and Woodlands third.
In 2013, the Mathew Slade Memorial trophy was donated by the Slade family to be presented to the grade 1 (or highest grade) winner. Mathew was a Riddells Creek member who tragically died in January 2013 in an accident in NZ. He was an enthusiastic and skilled member of the Australian National Mounted Games team and was in Taupo NZ training games mounts for the up-coming World Mounted Games. Mathew also participated in all the equestrian disciplines undertaken at PC and enjoyed eventing.
In 2026, the winner of grade 1 was Darcy Macaulay, from Riddells Creek PC. The trophy was presented to Darcy by Warwick Slade.
PCV Horse Trials State Championships are usually held in May. This is a three-phase competition of dressage, cross-country and show jumping for Grades 1 – 3 riders. Riders wanting to compete in this event must qualify according to the PCV qualifying criteria. See the PCV website for the program and entry forms.
The State Inter-Zone Teams Horse Trials were originally held for grade 3 and 4 riders soon after the State Horse Trials Championships at Werribee Park National Equestrian Centre in May. Since 2012, the venue has moved to various state and zone courses. In 2017, the event was held in conjunction with the Grade 1&2 state champs at the beginning of May.
It is now for Grade 4 and 5 zone teams. Qualifying criteria for to be eligible for the teams are specified by PCV. Each Zone may enter 3 teams of 4 riders in each grade to compete. Extra riders may also make up composite teams. All riders who compete are eligible for a State Level Competitor’s badge. The program and individual expression of interest forms are sent out to all clubs by Central Zone as soon as they are available.
Ride to Time
The Ride to Time Program is comprised of Horse Trial’s graded riders from across the ten Pony Club Victoria Zones attending a series of training and qualifying sessions where professional jockeys and/or suitably accredited Ride To Time coaches will assist riders with the skills required for riding at a given speed in either Maiden or Open categories.
Zone Qualifying events give riders an opportunity to practise riding to these times throughout the duration of the training session. On completion of this training, riders will be selected to represent their Zone at the Ride to Time State Championships to be held at Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne.
Qualifiers are scheduled by Zones at a local race track in coordination with PCV, RV and their designated officials. A total of 20 riders, comprising of a finalist from each Zone, in each section will represent their Zone at the State Championship event. Track pads may also be provided by RV at some training days to teach riders how to ride using track rider and jockey techniques.
Riders can attend Zone Qualifiers anywhere in the state. Your recorded times are forwarded to your Zone. Riders must attend two qualifiers to be eligible to attend the State Final.
Optimum riding times:
OPEN: Grade 1 & 2 riders will ride 1000m aiming for 109 sec/1minute 49 seconds – 4 x 22 sec furlongs, and 1 x 21 sec furlong
MAIDEN: Grade 3, 4, 5 riders will ride 1000m aiming for 120 sec/2 minutes – 5 x 24 sec furlong
In 2025, 2 qualifiers were held for the Ride To Time Series, with 8 riders from 4 clubs trying out.
The PCV RTT championship was held at Moonee Valley on September 6. In an exciting final, Tessa (from Williamstown PC) represented CZ in the Maiden and Harrison (from Woodlands PC) represented CZ in the Open.
Important Note Regarding State Competitions.
Any rider who has been in pony club for more than two years and is aged 14 or over must have attained their ‘C’ Certificate in order to compete at any state or national competition.
