New England Girls’ School student Jaimie McElroy claimed success at one of the most prestigious equestrian events in Australia.
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McElroy took out the junior one-star division at the Melbourne international three day event on the long weekend.
The competition is the oldest three day event in the southern hemisphere where the country’s and some of the world’s top riders compete in cross country, dressage and showjumping.
Past winners include Olympic athletes and medalists; Andrew Hoy, Shane Rose and Megan Jones. The event can be identified as a qualifier for Olympic teams and international championships.
McElroy and her mount HH Hawke finished in first place and four penalty points clear of second-placed Victorian rider Emily Cuthbert.
NEGS equestrian head coach Imtiaz Anees said it was a well-deserved triumph for the young star.
“She is one of the most hard-working and dedicated girls and it is a privilege to train her, a real privilege,” he said.
She is one of the most hard-working and dedicated girls...
- Imtiaz Anees
“It is really good for the school.
“She is a year 12 student, an excellent student as well and she is one of our top so she is a very studious girl as well.
“She has two horses at the school and every morning she is there at 6.30am and rides one horse before school and one horse after school, does her fitness, does her schoolwork.
“She is an exceptional girl and a role model for the rest.”
McElroy also managed a sixth place in the six-year-old event in the young horse class, a competition open to riders of all ages.
“She got a horse off the track so it was the six-year-old event championship which I think is even bigger than the 1* because she has brought this horse on herself,” Anees said.
“It is a horse she has bought off-the-track and trained herself.”