NOWRA Hill siblings Mason and Jayla Beresford have shown they aren’t just track athletics stars, by qualifying for the upcoming Mini Trots Inter Dominion, to be held in Melton, Victoria.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
During the one day competition on December 15, the pair will represent the New South Wales Mini Trotting Association (NSWMTA) team.
Fifteen-year-old Mason, who has been involved in the sport of trots for more than 10 years, and his horse Pay The Aces have only been together for 15 months – but that didn’t let the duo dominate the recent state meet.
“They [NSW] only selected two of the faster midgets, two shetland and two ponies that had competed in the 2018 NSW Mini Trots Championships to attend Victoria next month,” Mason said.
“Thankfully Pay The Aces and I, along with Mia McMillan’s Midnight Express, qualified in the midgets section.”
This meet will mark the fifth time Mason, who trains with the Menangle Park Mini Trots Club, has attended the Inter Dominion – but the first time in an interstate arena.
“To be representing NSW in another state is very exciting – I would really like to win but to finishing anymore in the top three would be fantastic,” Mason, who’s placed in the top three in all seven 2018 Mini Trots Championships, said.
“To achieve that, as my handicap has me started from the back of the field, I will need to keep Ace in a fast trot and get past the other horses to try and get to the front.”
While next month’s meet will be the fifth time her brother has competed at an Inter Dominion, this year marks Jayla’s debut at the event.
“My horse Nidya, who I’ve had for just 18 months, and I qualified in the shetland division,” Jayla, 12, said.
“We would really love to finish in the top three while in Victoria.
“The key to achieving that will be getting a good start with Nidya and keep him for galloping.”
Much like her brother, who has also raced in Miracle Mile events, Jayla, who’s been competing for close to eight years, is looking forward to testing herself against some of the top competition in Australia.
“Ndiya and I have won all three of our heats at the 2018 NSW Mini Trots Championships, before coming fifth in the final,” she said.
“We hope to carry that momentum through to next month’s event.”