Seventeen-year-old local equestrian Reese Keenan has claimed the State Junior title at the NSW Showjumping State Championships held at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre.
Junior riders are aged from 12 to 18 and face obstacle heights of 1.20m -1.25m and 30 of the state’s best junior showjumping riders in Sydney competed for the title.
Tumut resident Reese managed to hold onto the series on day three, riding her 13-year-old gelding, PPP Vive Le Mop. Reese placed first, second and eleventh in the three classes that combined make up the Junior Title.
Reese has been riding since she was three years old at Tumut Pony Club and entering reining competitions until setting her sights on the challenges of showjumping four years ago. She has two competition horses – PPP Vive Le Mop (known as Viv) and her younger up and coming horse seven-year-old La Luna Barichello (Barry).
The dedicated and talented rider has, with the help of her mother Hayley, travelled to many of the big shows across NSW and Victoria to gain the experience required to jump at this level.
Reese is aiming to ride in the Young Rider classes next year (for 16 – 21-year-old riders) where the height and difficulty increases to 1.30m-plus in the first round.
