Upcoming dates for your diary:
| 11th & 14th April | Tet/Tri Entries | Framlingham | Easton Harriers | |
|
20th/21st April |
Tri/Tet Entries |
Walton on the Hill |
Mid Surrey |
|
|
11th-12th May |
Tetrathlon/Tri/XC Clear Round |
Tiddenfoot Leisure Centre and Milton Keynes |
Whaddon Chase |
Tri 11th, Ride 12th
|
|
18th May |
Range Conducting Officer Course |
Beechwood Park School |
Area 12 Tet |
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| 29th & 30th June | Tetrathlon Mini Champs Entries | Oxstalls |
| 13th-14th July | Area Tetrathlon | Horseheath |
| 9th-11th August | JCB Pony Club Championships – Tetrathlon | Offchurch Bury |
| 27/28th July Irish Senior International/Junior Tetrathlon Championships Punchestown
3/4th August Senior Regional and International Tetrathlon Championship Enniskillen 6th October Tri/Tet Wakes End HH |
Tetrathlon is a great all-round Pony Club discipline which requires accuracy, stamina and horsemanship. You can compete as part of a team or an individual starting from as young as 5 or 6 years old (the only minimum requirement is to be able to swim 25m safely) and parents can even take part in some competitions!
There are 4 phases to the sport; shooting (under 8’s throw bean bags), swimming, riding and running. The scores of a competitor in each of the four phases are added together to give an overall score. This means that each phase has an equal influence on the final result, although the riding scores are weighted to make this the most important element – this is the Pony club after all! Most competitions have a triathlon option, which is very popular with those not wanting or able to do the Ride phase.
The following will give you and idea of what’s involved for each age group. Each phase is run separately so you have plenty of time to get your breath back between events!
| Age on 1stJan/Date of Competition | SHOOT | SWIM | RIDE (approx)NB You can also compete as a Triathlete and opt out of the Ride phase. You can also opt to Ride Down. | RUN |
| Under 8 | Bean Bag | 1 Min | 45cms (arena and can be led) | 500m |
| TADPOLE 8 and 9 years | 7m static 2 handed | 2 Mins | MAX 60cms | 1000m |
| MINI 10 and 11 years | 7m static 2 handed | 2 Mins | MAX 80cms | 1000m |
| JUNIOR 12-14 years | 7m turning 1 handed | 3 Mins | MAX 90cms | 1500m |
| INT 25 & under | 10m turning 1 handed | 3 Mins | MAX 1m | 1500m |
| OPEN 25 & under | 10m turning 1 handed | F 3 mins
M 4 mins |
1m + (more challenging) | F 1500m
M 3000m |
So, if you are sporty and enjoy cross country riding this discipline will appeal to you. There is always great team spirit and a friendly atmosphere at competitions which makes this fun whatever level you compete at.
Please do not be put off by the ride heights, at local competitions there is always the option to ‘ride down a level’ or lots of L fences, which make the course smaller and more accessible.
Competitions
There are usually 3 or 4 Tetrathlon competitions in the local area, plus Area Tetrathlon, usually in July, which is the Qualifier for the National Tetrathlon Championships in August for Juniors and above. For Minis, there is a Stepping Stones Championships which is held alongside the main champs. Individuals for this are selected from Central England branches and we are invited to nominate each year. At the highest level are the Junior Regionals, Royal Windsor Horse Show and Senior Regionals/Internationals, also via nomination.
Training
We run an Annual Training Day for everyone in the Area, otherwise Training is run by each Branch. Please contact your Tet Manager/DC for info on this.
For all queries, you can contact me via email: katy @clanreid.co.uk
See you soon!