Beaudesert equestrians Claudia and Zara Wyatt will compete at the 2022 Australian Interschool Championships after standout performances at the Interschool Queensland State Championships.
The local sisters, who are in year 8 and 9 at McAuley College, won their school the Rita and Derek Dobson Perpetual Trophy for achieving the highest average score over all disciplines at the state championships.
They clocked a swathe of individual wins at the state championships, qualifying them for the upcoming nationals in Sydney.
Training pays off
In testament to the value of hard work and commitment, Claudia and Zara Wyatt have qualified for the 2022 Australian Interschool Championships, on 26-30 September at Sydney International Equestrian Centre.
The local sisters started riding with Beaudesert Pony Club when they were about 7 and 8 years old and started interschool competitions when they were in year 5 and 6 at St Mary’s.
Their mum, Fiona Wyatt, is among their biggest supporters and the family has built a routine around travelling to training locations like the Tamborine Equestrian Group (TEG) before and after the girls go to school at McAuley College.
In a mammoth effort, Claudia and Zara, now 13 and 14, did McAuley College proud in the Interschool Queensland Eventing and Combined Training State Championships in Toowoomba from 27 June to 1 July and 15-17 July.
Together they achieved the highest average score over all disciplines to win McAuley College the Rita and Derek Dobson Perpetual Trophy.
Riding Lincolnfield Latte, Zara won the Finch Farm Trophy (Perpetual) for Highest Placed Rider (Intermediate) on the one horse over all disciplines, as well as the Highest Points Off the Track Thoroughbred (Intermediate).
Riding Lincolnfield Moonlight, Zara achieved 2nd Novice 2B, 6th Novice 2C and 4th Overall in Novice Dressage Intermediate, qualifying her for nationals.
Riding Lincolnfield Latte, Zara placed fourth overall in the Combined Training (Dressage & Show Jumping) 80cm, also qualifying her for nationals.
In Novice Dressage Intermediate Zara placed 7th Overall (7th Novice 2C and 2B), in Eventing 80cm she placed 5th Overall and in Showhorse she placed 8th Overall.
Riding Bradyvale Illusion, Claudia won 1st Overall State Champion in the 90cm Show Jumping Intermediate, qualifying her for nationals.
She placed 5th Overall in Combined Training 95cm and 4th Overall in Eventing 80cm, also qualifying her for nationals.
Fiona said Claudia and Zara were on a promising trajectory and described Beaudesert as an equestrian epicentre lacking facilities on the cusp of the Brisbane 2032 Olympics.
“It’s a long road, but you’ve got to have a dream and have a belief, and if you’ve got the hard work and you’re talented enough and work hard enough things can unfold,” she said.
