The CBEC Young Guns from Finley, Charlotte Ware Dickins, Holly Arthur, Juliette Steel and Sam Arthur, won the 2025 Top Teams Trophy.
Photo by
Mane and Grain photography.
Cobram Barooga Equestrian Club may be one of the smaller clubs among the 244 that make up Horse Riding Clubs of Victoria, but that didn’t stop it from claiming the Top Teams Trophy at the weekend.
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The CBEC’s dressage team, known as the Young Guns, competed at the National Equestrian Centre in Werribee from Friday, November 21 to Sunday, November 23.
The Top Teams Trophy is the annual state team dressage championship consisting of more than 130 teams of four riders.
CBEC secretary Merran Socha said team spirit was on full display, with three members under the age of 17.
“For the Young Guns, it is their second time winning the title, having last brought it home in 2019,” Ms Socha said.
“While they rode under the Cobram-Barooga banner, all four riders actually live in Finley and even on the same road.”
CBEC was represented by Charlotte Ware Dickins on horse Dun Manus Macalla, Holly Arthur on Jellycat, Juliette Steel on Nilton Spielberg and Sam Arthur on Adelie Park Cheval Delight.
The CBEC Young Guns competed from Friday, November 21 through to Sunday, November 23.
Photo by
Mane and Grain photography.
“The team’s campaign started strongly, with Holly Arthur winning both her tests and taking out the overall jackpot,” Ms Socha said.
“Sam Arthur followed on Friday afternoon with a reserve champion placing in her division, putting CBEC at the top of the leaderboard after day one.
“Saturday saw Rich River edge ahead, leaving a nervous wait until Juliette and Charlotte competed on Sunday.
“Juliette’s third place in her division jackpot pushed CBEC back into contention, and Charlotte sealed the victory with an eighth place finish in hers.”
Equestrian sport is unique in that riders of all ages and genders compete on equal terms, judged not by age or gender but by skill and the partnership they show with their horse.
“It’s a discipline where horse and rider perform a series of precise, choreographed movements to demonstrate training, athletic ability and harmony,” Ms Socha said.
“Judges score each movement on accuracy, smoothness and the connection between horse and rider.
“Behind the elegance is countless hours of training in all conditions, often balanced around school or full‑time work.
“CBEC is immensely proud of the team’s achievement, which has once again earned the club the right to host the Top Teams Trophy in 2026.
“A decision they’ll consider once the dust has settled on this year’s success.”
