Australia: Cowra's new national champion

photo: National champion Erika Lindsay riding Kintimani Charisma and Allix Jones riding Bo at Tingha in October.

Cowra has a new state champion with Erika Lindsay being crowned 2006 national junior rider of the year for the Australian Endurance Riding Association (AERA).

Lindsay took out the award after a long hard year of competition that saw her ride not only all over NSW but also in Victoria and Queensland.

She finished on a total of 108 points ahead of fellow New South Wales rider Allix Jones.

Points are awarded on the basis of where the competitor finishes on each ride. Extra points are awarded for competing longer rides over the 100 kilometres mark.

Lindsay also finished runner-up in the NSW point score on distance covering a staggering 1,750 kilometres over the course of the year. She was also runner-up in the one horse/one rider category with her mainstay gelding Kintimani Silver Motif. The duo covered a combined 1,270 kilometres together.

Kintimani Silver Motif also finished in second place for junior horse of the year.

Lindsay's other horse - Kintimani Charisma - was also in the NSW top ten in ninth place.

In the middleweight division, Lindsay's father Alan, came in runner-up for the New South Wales distance rider of the year covering 1,305 kilometres.

Woodstock's Karen Rhodes placed tenth on points for the year and her gelding Shadow came in fourth and seventh respectively for distance and points on the NSW point score.

In the heavyweight division, Andrew Bailey - also from Woodstock - came in seventh overall for the year in NSW.

The NSW ERA Annual General Meeting will feature the presentation of awards in Bathurst on February 10.

The AGM will no doubt have a strong contingent from the Lachlan Club supporting several important motions brought by the club in the running of the zone.

The 2007 riding calendar put out by NSWERA features and all encompassing schedule with a huge variety in courses and locations.

Anyone interested in competing locally can contact a committee member for details at Helen Brown 6345 0107, Karen Rhodes 6345 0257 or Annette Bailey 6345 0083.