TETRATHLON TEAMS
What is Tetrathlon?
The Pony Club is the leading organization to provide athletes to represent GB in the Modern Pentathlon. The tetrathlon provides these athletes with the initial opportunity.
This discipline aims to provide a challenging competition that requires practical horsemanship and general athletic ability. It is made up of 3 triathlon phases – shooting (for age 8 and above), running and swimming. Cross country riding makes up the 4th phase to complete the tetrathlon. In the ride you will be required to open/close and pass through a gate and get off to walk your horse over a slip rail.
The triathlon is practised during the winter months to enable competition to take place when riding is not always feasible. The running and swimming are relatively short (run- 1000m or 1500m – 3000m depending on age and gender) (swim – 2,3 or 4 minutes depending on age and gender). Results are scored against a table of performance results. Shooting is either 1 or 2 handed to a static or turning target from 7 – 10 metres. This competition is unlike other disciplines and classes are by age and gender, not ability.
The attached table will give you an idea of what is expected for each age group.
| Class | Shoot | Run | Swim | X Country ht |
| Open – U 21 | 10m/1 hand turning | B = 3000m
G – 1500m |
B = 4min
G = 3 min |
Max 1.10cm |
| Intermediate – U21 | 10m/1 hand turning | B = 2000m
G = 1500m |
3 min | Max 1.00m |
| Junior – U15 | 7m 1 hand turning | 1500m | 3min | Max 91cm |
| Mini – U 12 | 7m/2 hands static | 1000m | 2min | Max76cm |
| Tadpole – U 10 | 7m/2 hands static | 1000m | 2min | V small! |
| Under 8’s | None or bean bag throw | 500m | 1 min | None |
Tetrathlon competitions usually are run over 2 days and the triathlon is all on the same day.
How to get involved in the OBH North Tetrathlon /team?
The regular Tetrathlon update can be viewed on the OBH North website and you will find competitions to enter with the details there as well as the Pony Club UK web site. There is an Area competition and Championships for Inter and Open Tetrathlon classes during the summer.
We are always looking for new recruits and competitions are good fun and give the opportunity for all ages to compete. As regular training for the events is difficult to organize there is a need to do as much as you can from home. Attend as many organized rallies for cross country training that you can. Enter hunter trials to get more practice in your riding. Always volunteer to do the cross country and 1500m running events at school. Have regular swimming lessons for technique and training for speed and endurance. The Branch is able to loan pistols for shoot training and competitions and probably arrange for some initial instruction. You do not have to be good at all the activities – you just need lots of enthusiasm.
At competitions you will always be placed in a team. If the Branch can’t make a team then it will be a mixed branch team. There are loads of rosettes given out for phase winners, teams and individuals.
You will have to enter competitions through the Tetrathlon manager so contact Jill Hickman on 07787517551 or jhickman@hendonschool.co.uk