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Ponies UK Winter Championship
By Bethany Puzio
 
I thought I would tell you about how Rhian and I did at the Ponies (UK) Winter Championships back in March. It was held over a weekend at Towerlands Equestrian Centre (where they filmed 'Only Fools on Horses') so, although the weather was wet and cold, it didn't matter because our warm up and classes were all indoors - and there was a canteen, bar (!!), telly room, disco, showers and everything we needed.
 
We had qualified for both the Novice and Open Home Produced First Ridden Championships. In the Open class we were called in in 4th place to begin with, so I knew we had to do a really good show to move up. Rhian was a little star and we went up to 2nd, which meant we were reserve champions, and won a beautiful sash!
 

Bethany & Rhian doing their lap of honour, lovely Sash!!

In the novice first ridden championship I really concentrated on my riding and we were called in at the top of the line! We did another good show, and then Mummy had to come in again to 'strip her off', and I had to trot her up in hand - and she was so good. And we stayed top - which meant we were Champions!! We got another lovely sash and we really enjoyed our lap of honour.
 
I think I was the youngest in the class, and Rhian was definitely the smallest - but I'm sure all her Pony Clubbing activities meant that she could cope with all the flags and banners and noise in the arena better than some of the other ponies (and riders!).
 
We had a wonderful time and Rhian is the best pony in the world!
 
Bethany

Venetia and Hercules on the X Country

The Pony Club Eventing Championships 2007

by Venetia Matthews

Sophie Abdy, myself, all our families, and of course Hercules and Floyd, made our way up to Nottingham for the Pony Club Intermediate Eventing Championships, held for the first time at Shelford Manor. We were up very early on the Wednesday to get there in time for Sophie’s early dressage test. When we arrived we found Sally and Nigel there waiting for us and Tory Jowett, who very kindly offered to come up for the day to help warm both Sophie and me up for the dressage and show jumping.

When it came to my turn and I could feel myself getting more and more anxious to get on and do my test as I warmed up. But when it came to it, all went very well and I came out on a score of 37.1 which left me =20th out of 47 in my Arena, and only around 7 marks of the leader.

Then I went off to the show jumping arena and Hercules did a very nice clear. The show jumping course proved quite tricky with plenty of faults spread around the course, but my clear round left me in 11th place in my arena at the end of the first day.

Thursday was cross country day and as the time of my round drew nearer I became very nervous because a placing all depended on going clear (and a few other people not!) But when it came to it everything went according to plan. I had a wonderful ride and Hercules flew round the cross country clear and inside the time with much praise from the commentators.

Hercules went on home with the Abdy’s while me, my Mum and Granny waited around for some scores to go up and dare we hope a prize giving! But fortunately it was well worth the wait as I had come 8th out of 47 in my Arena. I was absolutely amazed as I had never even dreamed of getting placed at the Championships. 

Venetia Matthews

My Dream Day at Cheshire

When I was selected to be in one of the two Novice Dressage Teams at area I was of course happy, but when the team of Keri, Lucy, Lois and I came second and qualified for Cheshire I was ecstatic. It was a very tense couple of days after area dressage, as one of the competitors in the wining team was believed to be ineligible, and our team had come third. After a lot of phone calls, we were told that the person in mention was indeed ineligible, so we were going!

This was made all the more special by being asked to compete in the Novice Showjumping Team, due sadly to Biz Marking’s pony being lame. I couldn’t believe that in the space of a few days I had gone from not competing at all to competing in two teams! So I made some last minute preparations to my pony, Paddy, and the day drew near very quickly.

We left at 10 o’clock on Friday and it took us six hours to get all the way there. When we arrived I quickly got changed and Keri and I went to school Paddy and Minty while my mum and dad sorted out the tents. I was quietly confident as Paddy was going really nicely. After this I took Paddy to his stable and sorted him out and headed back to camp. It was a circle of tents and trailers where we set up a complete camp site, which all added to the great team atmosphere. We had supper and then I headed off with my mum and Cathy Featherstone to plait Paddy ready for the early start ahead.

The next morning I woke up to a quite damp and grey morning. Hoping it wouldn’t stay like this I started to get ready to be at the ring for eight-thirty, where we would walk the first round with Sally. The course seamed fair, and I started to warm up. I was first to go and to my relief Paddy and I produced a clear round. Then Anna and Star came back with just the four faults. Jess and Molly tackled the course next, matching Anna and Stars four faults. Suzie and T.C where the last to go and came back on a clear, meaning we went into the second round with the four faults.

The second round seemed a bit more technical than the first, but caused major problems for the first three teams. I was first to go with Paddy and didn’t get the revs going and had a stop at the first and a fence down, so I came home with a disappointing eight faults. To my relief the rest of the team all went clear so we stayed on the four faults. Paddy and I then had a little break before the dressage test. At about half past twelve we got ready and headed up to the dressage. Paddy was going well and I was keen to get on with the test. We were called to do our tests and it all passed in a bit of a blur. What I do remember is Paddy did a real free walk! A very big achievement! After another little break we headed up to watch the showjumping, and it became clear that we would be jumping off for the first five places with four other teams. As we watched it also turned out that the dressage team had come fifth! On top of that Paddy and I had come 6th in our arena and Lois and Becs had come 10th in theirs. After lots of hugging and screaming we got ready for prize-giving, which with proper podiums was very exciting! Straight after prize giving I went back to the stables to get ready, very quickly, for the jump off. We were told that we would jump off second, and the first riders of each team went, then the second riders for each team, then the third from each team then the fourth. The course was put up to around 3’6ft and I was determined not to make the same mistake I made in the second round. Thankfully I didn’t and Paddy flew round for a quick clear. Then it was the turn off Anna and Star who also came back on a clear. Jess and Molly came back with a fast eight faults and then it tension really grew as it came down to the last riders of each team. Suzie and T.C were last to go and came back with a quick four faults. It was then announced that we were second and everybody started screaming and getting very excited!

Novice Challenge Show Jumping - 2nd at Championships

In the half-hour we had before prize-giving we got as much ready as we could and then drove up for the prize-giving. It was a really cool feeling to stand on a podium for the first time and we all marvelled at all the prizes and the wonderful rosettes we were given. Then it all calmed down and we packed up and headed home, which I spent mostly asleep! Thank you to Sarah Loveday-Lovell who trained the dressage team, Maggie Gill who trained the showjumping team, Heather Royale, Louly Thornycroft our area representative for supporting us and helping getting us there. And of course a massive thank you to Sally Lefroy! I had the most wonderful two days which I will never forget!

Georgia Fairweather

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