Tetrathlete is national champ again

MULTI-talented athlete Zoe Addinsall has become a two-time junior national tetrathlon champion.

Winning the under-17 honour at the conclusion of the Australian Pony Club National Championships in Perth, the Ballarat Grammar student had performed across the areas of horse riding, swimming, shooting, and running.

Addinsall and her 25-year-old horse, Acres, completed the riding components together in Bacchus Marsh before she flew to Western Australia.

“There were about 18 show jumps,” she said. “In between the course there was a gate that we had to open and shut while staying on the horse.

“We had a certain amount of time to shut it, and I had the fastest gate of the day.

“At the very end of the course there was a sliprail where you hop off the horse, you don’t let go of the reins, walk through, get back on, and go through to the finish flags.

“There were a lot of big dazzle boards, rainbow jumps and dark colours, which horses don’t like looking at, and a lot of tight corners.

“Acres is very old, so I was very happy with how he performed. That will probably be his last national champs so I was happy we won together, and he ended on a good note.”

Addinsall’s 200-metre swimming leg took place in a “freezing” outdoor pool, where she placed second, before she became “top gun” of the shoot with the highest score.

On the final scorching hot day, she placed first in the two-kilometre run, which was held on a cross-country course made bumpy by horse hoof prints.

Also a Victorian representative, Addinsall and her fellow state athletes won the team championship.