1^st October 2011

Dear Grafton Hunt Pony Club Members,

It is nearly a year since I took over the role of District Commissioner from H Cain and on the whole I have found it a very rewarding and enjoyable experience, particularly getting to know so many of you and your ponies. I owe great thanks to my very supportive and knowledgeable committee but the most important thanks go to the organisers of the individual events held throughout the year. With a Pony Club branch as large as ours it is unusual to have a sole helmsman but with the art of delegation my role has been made much easier. Thank you all, and to all the volunteers who have made the events run smoothly. Please do not forget that we are all volunteers and we ask each member’s family to offer help on at least three occasions during the year.

Well done to all those who represented the Grafton in any discipline this year. I know you worked very hard to achieve your goals. Special mention must go to Harriet Mainds and Hannah Harmon who qualified for the National Championships in Eventing at Intermediate level; Izzie Cain who qualified for the Novice Championships for dressage; Hannah Henn, Izzie Cain, Molly Aaron and Rosie Nichols who won the Novice Area Horse Trials and qualified for the Novice Championships team event. All did really well to get that far and although there were no placings at the finals they acquitted themselves very well. We also sent a team to compete in the Pony Club Show Jumping competition at the Burghley Horse Trials. Annie Getley, Fleur Finnegan, Andrew Smith and Hannah Harmon did very well but 4 faults prevented them reaching the jump off.

The Grafton had a hugely successful Pony Club polo season with five teams competing.  The Jorrocks, Johnnie Brown, Frankie Barlow, George Deverall and Emma Grayson won most of the tournaments during the summer and went on to win at their Championships, the first Grafton team who have won the top section at Hurtwood. At Cowdray the Loriner team including Louisa Parsons and Isabelle Berner won division II; Florence Berner, Jamie Grayson, James Fewster (and Amy Harper, N Warwicks ) also won their section, Div II in Surtees. The Handley Cross team, including Lottie Deverall and Georgia Bowen did very well to finish 3rd at Cowdray. The Gannon team, Jack and Will Berner, Jason Warren and Billy Aprahamian had a good summer and they brought home the Jaguar Trophy for winning the Gannon plate. They actually beat the eventual winners and so were a little frustrated not to get to the finals.

We have another full programme of activities organised for the next two half terms and the Christmas holidays. Anyone wishing to be considered for any of the Grafton Pony Club teams in 2012 must have attended three working rallies, and have been a member of the Grafton Pony Club from at least 31st January.  Your horse or pony must also have taken part in three rallies, one of these must be in 2012. The year starts from 1 July 2011 and Camp counts as one rally. Team practices and coaching are excluded. With this in mind we have put in some more rallies during the two half terms. If you are ever in any doubt as to whether the rally or event is suitable on grounds of age or ability please contact Jo Lee by email or telephone and she will be very happy to give you further information.

We are extremely lucky to have Mary King coming to talk to us on ‘Preparing for London 2012’ after our Parents’ meeting on Wednesday 26 at 6pm followed by the talk, for which there will be a small charge. I look forward to seeing a large number of you there, for what will be a fascinating insight into the life of a top event rider.

Best wishes,