By NICOLE VALICEK
AN INNER suburban horse and pony club will celebrate its 50 anniversary this weekend.
Williamstown Horse and Pony Club (WHPC) will mark the event this Sunday 1 December with a celebration and is inviting past and present members to attend.
The club has come a long way since its inception in 1963 where it occupied a space behind the Newport Power Station and the horses and riders would leave covered in coal soot.
WHPC President David Vinycomb said it’s a marvellous achievement for an inner suburban club to reach the milestone birthday.
“It’s partly because we do have local agistment to keep the horses in a paddock,” he said.
Mr Vinycomb said the sporting club has 20 plus riders who are predominately female.
The rooms are currently being refurbished and upgraded with help from council and will include the upgrade of its toilet and instruction room, he said.
Mr Vinycomb said the club has a range of riders – from those that enjoy grooming and learning about horse care – to others who compete at state championship competitions.
And while many other clubs including in Footscray, Yarraville and Altona have closed down, Williamstown is still riding strong.
“We’re not quite sure whether we’re the oldest club in Victoria but the Pony Club Association is quite prolific.”
“For an inner suburban club to get to 50 is remarkable.”
The youngest club member is six years old and the oldest 22 years, not including its life members.
Past and present WHPC members and supporters are warmly invited to the WHPC Rally Ground at Quarry Reserve, Park Crescent Williamstown at noon on Sunday.
