Tuesday March 19, 2024
For National Pony Club updates and information please go to pcuk.org
Newsletter – Autumn 2023
 
It’s hard to believe that it is already time for the Autumn Newsletter and rather sad that this will be our last one.  By now you will all know that Claire and I are standing down as Joint DC’s of SDHPC but we are delighted to announce that Simon and Leonie Murfin will be taking over as new Joint DC’s.  They are full of enthusiasm and ideas for the future of the Club and we are absolutely thrilled that the Club will be left in such capable hands.  Simon and Leonie will be writing to you all shortly to introduce themselves and to outline their plans for the future.
 
Overview of 2023
 
Well I think it is fair to say that 2023 has been a solid year.  Maybe we did not reach the dizzy heights of winning at the Pony Club National Championships but our Members have had successes at different levels and in a range of disciplines.  We have had hugely successful camps, test days, badge days and had members represent us at area and national competitions.
 
 
National Pony Club Championships
 
This year only one of our Members, Arthur Knight, qualified for the Champs at 90 eventing.  Rather sensibly Arthur took the decision not to go as he did not want to compete as an individual.  However he has enjoyed a hugely successful year competing in British Eventing and Unafilliated competitions as have a number of our other members.
 
 
Bicton Grassroots and Mini SJ Championships
 
What an amazing Regional Championship we had!! Winners winners chicken dinners all round!! Our wonderful Members swept the board in all three disciplines starting with Madison Russell winning the 40Assisted show jumping and Arella Tracey Addison-Hemingway doing double clears in both the 40 and the 50cm. 
 
Saturday was a very busy day with our Grassroots dressage team consisting of Brooke Howells, Mia Hughes, Poppy Murfin and Eliza Elliott taking Team first!! Brooke, Eliza and Mia all won their sections qualifying for the ride offs which Mia WON making her overall champion!! Brooke came 5th and Eliza 8th. 
 
 
Next was the turn of our show jumpers. We had two 70 teams and an 80 team with Millie Bloomfield an individual in the 80.  The championship courses took their toll but our 70 team consisting of Isobel Roberts, Mia Hughes, Grace Williams and Lily Draper did fantastically well to take team 5th with Grace Williams doing two clear rounds. Millie Bloomfield also rode her socks off to come individual 5th in the 80 with Jess Lee on a relatively new horse riding excellent double clears.
 
Finally Sunday was Eventing day and Millie Bloomfield was an absolute superstar leading from the start with a fabulous dressage and following with a double clear to become Regional Champion!! Special mention to Grace Williams who represented us in the 70 Eventing and who managed to complete when so many others didn’t.  
 
Camps
 
We only held two camps this year as we are rather short of Seniors. Claire Ferguson ran a very successful joint Junior/Senior Camp at Bovington with Ellie Sydenham.  This year they offered a residential option which was popular with the younger ones who did not want to stay over at camp. It was wonderful to see the members improve so much in such a short space of time and everyone seemed to really enjoy the Poker Jumping at the end of camp.  Also a hit was a trip to the Dorset Water Park and unmounted games!!
 
Mini Camp was once again held at Luckford Cottage and run by myself ably assisted by Hollie Pitman.  We had 15 members attend split into three groups and everyone had a fantastic time whilst learning a huge amount and passing their E test and their Rider and Road Safety (some of them for the second time!!). We finished on the last day with the very popular mini tetrathlon.  Thanks to Chris Wincer, Scott Etches and Caroline Crane for their wonderful good humour and expert instruction.
 
 
Tests
 
In January we had a very successful D/D+ Test day with 6 obtaining their Mini Road Rider badge, 9 achieving D Test and 4 of those achieving the D+ Test as well. The test series requires all members to start at D Test, but for older members coming in at the D+ standard, we are able to offer a combined D and D+ Test – a very busy day for those members and a fantastic achievement for all of them. 
 
In April we had 4 members successfully achieving the standard for C Test. This group worked really hard through the online training program for the Horse and Pony Care syllabus and on test day they all really impressed the examiner. These members also gained their Road Rider badges on the same day. During the recent Mini Camp 9 members took their Mini Road Rider badge successfully and 12 members were awarded their E Test. 
 
Pony Club Tests are building blocks of knowledge that are taught from a young age so that children can learn how to care for their equine friends. We endeavour to make the tests fun and a shared experience with friends and members are always rightfully proud of their achievements. If you are not yet involved in the test system, do get in touch to find out more.
 
Pony Club Badges
 
Hayley Carlin has been continuing to organise regular Badge days with Rachel Comben although these had to stop in the Summer as Rachel had baby Ronnie. As she has decided to take a little more maternity leave Lisa Bonfield will be taking over the badge instruction at Bovington.  Hayley will shortly be putting new dates on the online booking system.
 
Regional Area Show Jumping
 
On the sixth of August SDHPC hosted the Regional Area Show Jumping at Bovington.  This was a 70cm and 80cm qualifier to the Championships at Bicton.  We had twenty pony clubs from Area 14 take part with over a 100 pony club members competing.  The day ran like clockwork and has been highly praised by the other District Commissioners and our Area Representative Louly Thornycroft.  In fact it went so well they have asked us to run it again next year!!  Huge thanks to everyone who gave up their Sunday to help and make it such a success.
 

Tetrathlon 2023

Several of our younger members have been competing in Area 14 Tetrathlon events over the season.

The first at Sandroyd on 16th April saw four of our members taking part in their first ever Tetrathlon. All finished very respectfully and were able to kick start their results to begin working on PBs over the rest of the season. Well done to Harry King and Amelia Belt in the Beanies, Alexis Higgs in Tadpoles and Tilly Perrott in Minimus. 

On 18TH June both Amelia and Alexis took part in the Royal Artillery Tetrathlon. Amelia performed excellently, finishing 10th overall and achieving a PB of 3846 points (300 up on her previous score). Alexis had a difficult ride in the Cross Country and was sadly eliminated, however she managed to achieve a PB in the swim, finishing 3rd overall in swimming.

At Wylye Tetrathlon on 3rd September it finally all came together for Alexis with only 2 refusals from Prince in the XC. She was thrilled to achieve a joint 1st in the shoot, 6th in swimming and being placed 6th overall. With a PB of 3921 points she is looking forward now to the tri season over the winter months. Amelia had a good start to the Tet with a super run and swim but had a difficult XC ride and finished 18th overall. Both girls thoroughly enjoyed the occasion.

Recently more members have shown an interest in taking part in Tetrathlons which is wonderful so hopefully we will begin to get some teams together from our Pony Club soon. Do get in contact with Maria Higgs if you’d like to find out more about taking part in these fun events. The next Area Triathlon (Run, Swim and Shoot) takes place at Port Regis School on Sunday 15th October.

Polo

Penny Frampton will be posting an update of our polo year on Facebook shortly.

Forward Programme
Our new Forward Programme is currently under construction so do keep checking the online booking system regularly to see what has been added.  Forthcoming events include the under 25 Show Jumping at Bovington on Wednesday 25th October, our annual Halloween party and of course the World Famous Christmas Show Jumping on Sunday 17th December!!  
 
FInally Claire and I would like to take this opportunity to say what an honour and a privilege it has been to be DC’s of this wonderful Club and we wish each and every one of you the very best for the future!!
 
Janet and Claire
Joint District Commissioners
South Dorset Hunt Pony Club