Wednesday May 23, 2012
Camps

2011 report from Three Maids Camp

Thank you to Theresa Finzi for taking lots of fantastic photos of the Vine PC camp.

We are always keen to have photos from events.  All contributions welcome!

Extract from Linda Robinson’s DC letter following 2011 camp:

“Finally – Camp was an overwhelming success! After all the to-ing and fro-ing trying to find a venue to accommodate a record 52 would-be campers, we settled on Three Maids, Headbourne Worthy, where we had over 40 ponies stabled and a further ten turned out. We have been made most welcome by the Browne family, in particular James who has worked tirelessly meeting Brenda’s exacting standards (and dare I say it, demands). The overnight campers had great fun in their rather smart mobile homes – did anyone get any sleep? I have to admit that the sight of Camp filling up on Monday morning with so many excited members and rather apprehensive parents unloading mountains of gear was a real Pony Club moment! And the final displays and drill ride on the last afternoon epitomise for me what the Vine is all about.”

Thoughts on camp from children who attended.

“I am Katie Blatchford (aged 7 – 4 day camper) and my pony is Pebbles.  She is very nice and very sweet.  She can go very fast over jumps.

I liked the handy pony.  The course was bending round some poles, you had to stop in the middle of the pole so the front legs were in front of the pole and the back legs were at the back of the pole and then you went round and picked up a potato and you had to drop it into a bucket and then you went to some stepping stones and you had to get off and go over some stepping stones leading your pony and then you went back to the beginning and went round to a jump and went round the bending poles back to the start.
I also liked having cake every day and I liked doing the gymkhana races.”
laura at camp on nigel 2011Laura McAlister (an overnight camper) - “I thought camp was great, the best bits were show jumping, cross country and the sleeping over.I’d like to say a big thank you to Nicky Stacey my instructor for camp she was very, very good.

I had a brilliant group, they were Lucy, Bella, Franky, Emma, Patrick, Byron, Tom and me.

What I learnt about my new pony is that he is a lot faster than my old pony!”

2010 report from East End Camp

This year we held a camp for all ages and abilities and East End Farm by kind permission of Marie-Pauline and Donald Mackinnon. The age range was from 5 years old to nearly 14 with some members coming for four, slightly shorter days whilst the others were there for five days starting at 9am and finishing at 5pm. The venue was fantastic for all members with the cross country course having had a make-over with new bigger fences being built and four new imposing portable fences, which proved a challenge to the most advanced riders. We also had the use of the swimming pool. Everyday was action packed with good instruction from Lorna Fraser, Sharon Taylor, Dominic Robinson and Brenda Sampson. We also had two guest speakers: a farrier and a vet. There was hardly time to clean tack or pooh-pick fields so we were indebted to mums for all their help. Team spirit ran high from day one with the competition to gain as many marks as possible for the tack rooms, quizzes and games.

Results:

4th Girths 142 points

Beth Shaunaghessy, Laura McAlister, Tom Burton, Lucy Lee-Smith, Georgie Vile, Gemma Raymond and Tom McGonnell

3rd Martingales 163 points

Emma Lawrence, Minnie Royden, Islay Kingham, Hattie Lees, Tara Pusinelli, Jessica Stevens and Tatiane Mauree

2nd Nosebands 164 points

Ashleigh Smith, Frankie Lund, Evie Mahony, Alice McGonnell, Georgia Bartlett, Josie Colvin, Siobhan Heneghan and Chiara Heneghan

1st Bits 165 points

Lucy Harley, Bella Colvin, Charley Smith, Tori McAlister, Claudia Kingham, Connie Pike and Anouk Mauree

Everyone was given a rosette in their ride for individual reasons varying from the most spectacular dismount/fall to improving their pony’s paces and rhythm.

Most improved cups went to: Georgie Vile, Hattie Lees,  Emma Lawrence,  Tori McAlister  and  Claudia Kingham.

Best turned out cups went to Tara Pusinelli for 10 years and under and Ashleigh Smith for the seniors 11 years and over.

Pony Club Tests  passed at camp were:

E Tests:  Connie Pike, Tom McGonnell, Tatiane Mauree, Chiara Heneghan, Siobhan Heneghan, Jessica Stevens and Georgina Vile

D Tests: Evie Mahony, Alice McGonnell, Islay Kingham, Claudia Kingham, Lucy Lee-Smith, Josie Colvin, Thomas Burton, Georgia Barlett and Connie Pike.

D+ Test :Minnie Royden, Charley Smith, Bella Colvin, Ashleigh Smith,  Frankie Lund, Gemma Raymond, Hattie Lees, Tori McAlister, Laura McAlister, Lucy Harley, Tara Pusinelli, Bethan Shaughnessy and Olivia Barlett.

Every one at camp gained their Mini Road Ride Achievement badge and the five-day campers also got their Shoeing Achievement Badge. Emma Lawrence also gained her Points of the Horse and Handling and Grooming Badges.

Brenda