MASTERS GAMES

Main image: Asa Chegwyn on Jawarra Oliver won silver in the 1a and 1b preliminary dressage in the 50-59 year-old age group.

At right: Northern Rivers Easy Riders displaying their Masters medals. Natalie Skillings, Fiona Grayfoner, Astrid Gran-Innes (president), Sarah Connellan, Kristen Fleet (back row), Lisa McFadgen (front row, white shirt), Barbara Gosper, Donna Purtle, Jane Camens

You’re never too old to have a go

JANE CAMENS discovers that the Masters Games provides a great opportunity for older equestrians to continue competing.

I’m in my mid sixties, and my mare, Beauty, is the distinguished age of 17, so we are a team whom some might think is a little passed our use-by date. Think again. We might not be terribly interested in fastidious plaits or colour-matching, but we’re willing to have a go at strutting our stuff just for the fun of it.

Not only that, but due to our mature ages, in the Masters Games we can compete without the stress, even embarrassment, of going up against young, more agile, gorgeously primped riders on their stunning steeds.

I’d competed only once or twice in local club events, but Beauty is an old hand at competitions. So in the spirit of ‘ave-a-go, I registered us for the 2019 Lismore Workers Masters Games. My club, Northern Rivers Easy Riders, had been invited to organise the Working Equitation events and our president had asked me to register in order to support the club.

The minimum age for the equestrian events was 35. I wasn’t aware until later that ribbons and medals at the Masters are awarded in age categories, so if you’re over 55, you have a pretty good chance of winning something. It turned out there weren’t so very many people competing at my level in my age category. (I’d put a laughing face emoji in here if my editor would leave it in, but she won’t. You got that right. Ed.) The Equestrian Convenor for our region’s Masters for the past eight years has been Judy Mason, a past president of the Summerland Dressage Club, which organised the dressage events. She stressed the social element of the Masters Games. “The idea is that we give the older age group riders a go and also the chance to socialise with others in your age group,” she says.

Beauty and I somewhat missed the socialising opportunity because we’d spent 15 hours trail riding that same week. (See my story on our ride for the drought.) On the first day of the competition we came, did our dressage test and left immediately so we could both take a breather. Most people stayed overnight, enjoying dinner together. But you can’t do everything. Though I try.

Riders came from near and far to compete in the Dressage, Working Equitation and Stock Horse events.

Advantage to the Lismore Masters Games is that you don’t need to be a member of Equestrian Australia to compete. Instead the Council imposes a $60 fee to participate, which covers the Council’s liability as well as providing a meal voucher, medals and entry to any of the other Lismore Masters sporting events.

The next day Beauty and I were back to have a go at the Working Equitation Maneability (obstacle) and speed tests. We didn’t do well in the Maneability phase, which taught me valuable lessons for the future. Our wonderful judge, Janet McCormack, took the time to explain, gently, that it would have been better had I been there to walk the course. The nice thing about these Games is that it’s not so serious that the judges need to be fierce. I was allowed to finish the course, despite elimination. Surprisingly, later that day we managed a modified version of the same course at speed and did quite well.

I wasn’t the only one grinning from ear to ear at the presentation ceremony. I ended up with two silver medals, and most, if not all, my friends had medals and ribbons hanging off them.

The Masters Games in our region will be held again in two years time. Don’t say you’re too old to come along and have some fun.

It’s a great way to connect with other likeminded souls in the same age bracket.

The equestrian Masters Games are held at various places around Australia, including Victoria, South Australia, Lismore and Alice Springs. Cities or Councils can apply to hold an Equestrian Masters Games in their area. For more information go to: https://en.wikipedia. org/wiki/Australian_Masters_Games