Five outstanding young adults from across Australia have been named finalists for the 2026 Best Achievement by a Rider aged 18–25 Years Award, proudly sponsored by Lara Tweedie Equestrian.
This award recognises riders who make the most of their Pony Club experience while also giving back to the organisation around them. Finalists are considered for their participation in rallies and activities, the development of their riding and leadership skills through diligence and effort, and their contribution to club or zone management and programs.
This year’s finalists have represented their clubs, states and territories at the highest levels of Pony Club competition, but their nominations also highlight something equally important: coaching younger riders, serving on committees, organising events, volunteering behind the scenes and helping create opportunities for others.
Paige How
Deloraine District Pony Club, Tasmania
After 21 years as a member of Deloraine District Pony Club, Paige How continues to embrace almost every opportunity Pony Club offers.
Over the past year she has been a regular at rallies and once again attended the club’s four-day camp, an annual tradition she has enjoyed throughout her Pony Club journey. She has competed at club, zone, state and national level across games, dressage, horse trials, gymkhana and showjumping.
A highlight was selection to represent Tasmania at the Pony Club Australia National Championships in Werribee. Paige competed in three disciplines, finishing fifth in Senior Pairs Games, earning Reserve Champion honours in Formal Gymkhana and contributing to Tasmania’s third-placed senior team, before helping Tasmania win the Senior Quiz team competition.
Her involvement is just as strong outside the competition arena.
Paige serves on the Deloraine District Pony Club committee, has helped organise judges, fundraising and training days, and is a regular at working bees. Drawing on years of experience in Mounted Games, she has also stepped into coaching, guiding her club team at zone level and a scramble team at the State Games.
Her nomination particularly highlights the thoughtful way she works with both horses and riders. Paige adapts her riding to suit each horse rather than expecting every horse to respond in the same way, and she has willingly loaned her horses to riders who need an opportunity or a confidence boost.
She is often sought out by younger members for advice, guidance and encouragement, reflecting the leadership role she has naturally grown into over more than two decades in Pony Club.
Jared Newham
Londonderry Pony Club, NSW
Jared Newham has developed into an accomplished all-round horseman and an important mentor within Londonderry Pony Club and Zone 19.
While Mounted Games is his chosen discipline and one in which he competes at a high level, Jared embraces the breadth of Pony Club. He participates in dressage, showjumping, eventing, sporting, polocrosse and horsemanship activities and is regarded as one of Londonderry’s advanced riders.
One of his standout achievements this year was winning Overall Horsemanship Champion at Londonderry Pony Club’s Horsemanship Competition, where riders are tested across a broad range of practical skills including horse handling, mounted obstacles, bareback riding, jumping and float loading.
Jared also represented New South Wales at the 2026 Pony Club Australia National Mounted Games Championships in Darwin.
But his nomination places just as much emphasis on what he does for other riders.
At a Zone 19 Mounted Games coaching clinic, Jared initially demonstrated advanced skills from the saddle before putting his own horse away and spending the remainder of the clinic coaching and encouraging younger riders from the ground. He has continued to help train Zone 19 Mounted Games and Team Sporting teams as they prepare for State Championships.
He is also a familiar presence behind the scenes, helping set up and pack away at club, zone, state and national events and contributing to the running of Team Sporting competitions over many years.
Previously named Pony Clubber of the Year by his club, Jared is known for his calm leadership, sportsmanship and willingness to put the team first.
Charlotte Skelton
Tallebudgera Pony Club, Queensland
Charlotte Skelton combines competitive success with coaching, committee involvement and the ongoing development of her own young and inexperienced horses.
An active member of Tallebudgera Pony Club, Charlotte attends rallies with horses at different stages of their education, using Pony Club to build their confidence and experience. She also regularly coaches other riders.
Charlotte competes across dressage, combined training, showjumping, equitation and eventing. Her green-broken pony has progressed from Prep to Preliminary dressage, while an Off-The-Track Thoroughbred Charlotte has trained herself now competes at Elementary dressage and 1* eventing.
This year she represented Zone 2 at State level and won both the Elementary 1.05m Combined Training and 1* Horse Trials. She also previously represented Queensland in senior Horse Trials competition.
Charlotte’s contribution to Pony Club extends into administration and event delivery. She serves on both the Tallebudgera Pony Club Committee and Zone 2 Committee and is one of the main organisers of the Tallebudgera One Day Event, contributing to planning and course design under supervision.
She is also involved in the Zone 2 Showjumping, Eventing and Dressage squads.
Charlotte describes herself as constantly looking for ways to improve. She reflects carefully on her rides, actively seeks knowledge from experienced coaches and other disciplines, and applies what she learns to both her own horses and the riders she teaches.
For Charlotte, that continual learning is as much about becoming a better horsewoman and leader as it is about achieving better competition results.
Sara Leitch
Balnarring Pony Club, Victoria
Sara Leitch has combined success at the highest levels of Pony Club competition with significant leadership, volunteering and mentoring.
Dressage is Sara’s primary discipline, and her achievements include becoming the 2025 Pony Club Australia National Individual Senior Elementary Champion and a member of the National Senior Champion Team. She also placed third individually in Senior Formal Gymkhana and was part of the Reserve Champion senior team.
In 2026, Sara became Pony Club Victoria Grade 1 State Champion and has also represented Australia in the PCA Virtual Alliance Dressage competition, placing third individually and contributing to the overall team result.
Despite her success in dressage, Sara embraces the broader Pony Club program, participating in showjumping, eventing, games, pairs dressage, demonstrations and other club activities.
Her contribution behind the scenes is equally substantial.
At her former club, Hastings Pony Club, Sara was involved in committee work, rally organisation, instructor coordination, membership promotion and event planning. Since moving to Balnarring Pony Club, she has continued volunteering through judging, pencilling, demonstrations, event set-up and support.
Sara’s leadership was particularly evident at the 2025 Pony Club Australia National Championships, where she served as Pony Club Victoria Dressage Co-Captain and Vice Team Captain while also competing herself. She helped organise teams, supported riders through their preparation and warm-ups, shared information and even plaited horses for fellow competitors.
She is currently working towards both her Pony Club B Proficiency Certificate and Pony Club Instructor Certification, continuing to develop the knowledge she can pass on to future generations of riders.
Michelle Woodcroft
Riddells Creek Pony Club, Victoria
Michelle Woodcroft’s commitment to Riddells Creek Pony Club is remarkable: in 14 years of membership, she has never missed a rally.
Whether riding, coaching, serving on committee or helping behind the scenes, Michelle has become a key contributor to her club and the wider Central Zone community.
As a rider, she places particular importance on the education and confidence of her horses, choosing appropriate environments and levels to help them develop successfully. When she is not riding, she regularly coaches and is particularly valued for her work with the club’s youngest Ready to Ride members.
Michelle serves as both Media Coordinator and Sponsorship Coordinator for Riddells Creek Pony Club, helping promote club activities, celebrate members and build the club’s profile. She also assists Central Zone with media and communications.
Her contribution at zone level has included presenting a ‘How to Coach Games’ session at a State Training Workshop and participating as a demonstration rider while completing her Preliminary Coaching Certificate.
Michelle has completed her C* Certificate, B Certificate Pre-Assessment and Preliminary Coaching Certificate and is now working towards her B Certificate Assessment and Level 1 Coaching accreditation.
In competition, she has represented her zone at State Horse Trials and State Dressage and Showjumping Championships and was selected to represent Pony Club Victoria at the Pony Club Australia National Championships in both Eventing and Showjumping.
She has also coached Games and Musical Ride teams through to State Championships, investing significant time in training, organisation, choreography and preparation.
Her nomination describes someone who rarely waits to be asked. Whether preparing grounds, organising clinics, supporting younger riders or taking on committee work, Michelle simply gets involved and helps make things happen.
The 2026 Best Achievement by a Rider aged 18–25 Years Award is proudly sponsored by Lara Tweedie Equestrian.
The winner will be announced during the 2026 Pony Club Australia Annual Awards Virtual Presentation on Thursday, 22 October.
