01/09/2026
Congratulations APK Helmets customer Yona Lloyd of Ballahowe Performance being awarded the Equestrian Victoria Coach of the Year!
🏆 COACH OF THE YEAR – YONA LLOYD
Congratulations to Yona Lloyd, winner of the 2026 Coach of the Year Award.
Yona’s dedication, knowledge and unwavering support have helped riders achieve success at state, national and international level. Known for going above and beyond for his students, he provides guidance and practical support both in lessons and at competitions.
This year has produced some outstanding results, including multiple top-10 finishes in the CCI3*-L at Adelaide and supporting riders from 1* to 4* at Melbourne International, where he remained on-site throughout to assist his students.
A career highlight came at the Under 25 World Championships in Millstreet, Ireland, where Yona and La’Moza Velisha finished 12th in the world — the result of 12 months of dedicated training.
Yona’s coaching is built around long-term athlete development. Patient, honest and focused on building confidence as much as skill, he is generous with his time and expertise and always willing to help a rider who asks.
Congratulations Yona, and congratulations to all of our outstanding coaches who give so much to our riders and our sport. 👏
We look forward to celebrating and sharing the stories of all our 2026 award winners over the coming days, but if you can’t wait, here is the full list of winners: https://evarena.org.au
