THE DELORAINE Pony Club hopes to have revamped clubrooms by mid-2021 after being granted $50,000 in State Government funding.

The district commissioner Cristy Hall said the club hopes Meander Valley Council will consider a planning application for the changes at the Deloraine Showgrounds clubrooms this month.

‘We applied successfully for a number of grants to extend and line the clubrooms, add a kitchen, build a new storage shed, upgrade the toilets and buy some extra equipment.’

The club gained $50,000 from the Levelling the Playing Fields fund, as well as $3000 from Meander Valley Council to refurbish the toilets and $10,000 from the Bendigo Bank for the kitchen.

The government funding will be used to extend the clubrooms by four metres and build a 12 x 6m storage shed to store jumps, mounted games and other equipment.

‘With the COVID restrictions we’re finding our current clubrooms cramped’, Ms Hall said.

Ms Hall said building will begin in March.

‘We’re hoping these changes will bring the club up to the standard it needs to be and get stronger.’

With 30 riding members aged five to 25 years, Deloraine Pony Club holds monthly rallies, and seven gymkhana, show jumping and dressage events a year for clubs across northern Tasmania.

The Deloraine Pony Club was one of the supporters of the MND 27 Challenge Open Showjumping Twilight event, held at Deloraine Showgrounds on 27 November to raise funds to fight Motor Neurone Disease.