We are very fortunate to have such an experienced equestrian Committee who give up their free time to run the club for our members.
Branch District Commissioner is DARREN PAGE
Darren Page is our newly appointed District Commissioner (DC) and has been our Range Conducting Officer (RCO) since 2022.
A few words from Darren: “I got involved with AVPC through my love of Tetrathlons and Triathlons after my son started competing. I now do weekly shooting practice for AVPC and surrounding pony clubs as a qualified volunteer.
When I was a child, I was a member of the Pony Club but also away from the Pony Club, I used to participate in Team Chasing, where I won the Taunton Vale under 21 Team Chasing Championships at the age of 15. I also regularly hunted with Blackmore & Sparkford Vale Hunt and was a team player in Millfield Polo Club.
After leaving school I worked for an International Showjumper for 4 years and competed myself, before entering the racing world. Within the racing world, I started riding out and working for a few trainers before riding and training Point to Pointers myself and finishing my career after breaking many a bone with an Amateur A Licence which allowed me to ride in professional races as an amateur jockey.
My enjoyment within the equestrian world now, is very occasionally riding but mainly helping my son within the Pony Club and enjoying seeing members improve in their pistol shooting for the Pony Club Tetrathlons and Triathlons where I am the RCO and generally enjoying and watching all Ashford Valley Members having fun and improving with their horses and ponies.
As DC I want to carry on the friendly and inclusive nature of our Branch, as well as celebrate the success of our non-competitive and competitive members alike.
Assistant District Commissioner is SARAH O’NEILL
As Assistant DC my role is to take care of new and existing members so please feel free to get in touch. I am also behind the branch social media and website so please send your achievements to me with photos and videos. I am on the Junior Camp Committee and enjoy being hands on at rallies and events so do come and say hello!
A little about me: I was a keen Pony Club child representing my PC in Show-Jumping and Games. I am now a qualified equestrian coach and due to my early achievements was kindly given a scholarship by Greenwich University where I gained a Foundation Degree in Equine Management and Science, an NVQ Level three and my College Lecturer qualification and enjoyed teaching students at Hadlow College during my time there. My interest in horse behaviour lead me to become Yard Manager/Rider at a Kelly Marks Approved Centre and I trained with Kelly Marks in Oxford, I later won Horse and Hound’s Commercial Yard of the Year before working as an Instructor and Trainer for 15 years. For 10 years I was Business Centre Manager for Jason Webb in Goudhurst with a 50 horse yard to run and help set up his online training resource and all his courses and clinics, enjoyed touring to include several years of demonstrations at Your Horse Live. During Covid I was very fortunate to be asked to be Editor of Animal Web working with top Equine Scientist Dr David Marlin which involved meeting with the worlds leading equestrian scientists delivering training content and hosting webinars together and caring for their membership of equestrians, amazingly I worked on the Olympics reporting and managing data – I’ve been very lucky in my equestrian career.
But now it’s time to give back and I’m passionate about developing the next generation of equestrians so joined the committee. I have three children who enjoy all things Ashford Valley Pony Club from the riding to the wonderful community.
Please feel free to reach out to me for anything, I will always support you in any way possible.
Sarah
07742864316 or smuir67@hotmail.co.uk
Our Chief Instructor Alex CHAMBERS
We are extremely lucky to have Alex Chambers as our Chief Instructor. Alex is a highly qualified and well respected instructor who is a UKCC Level 3 Accredited British Show Jumping Coach and Accredited Pony Club Coach. Alex has competed successfully in BSJA and BE with the aim when she reaches veteran age to compete at the Veteran European Championships.
Alex joined us as Chief Instructor in 2024 as she has a passion for youth training and had a lot to offer the club having coached grassroots riders starting their competitive career up to those competing at 1.40cm. Alex has developed junior riders through to National Finals both in Dressage and Showjumping and is now enjoying developing our branch of keen Pony Clubbers! Alex spends her days running a busy livery and training centre – Pebsham Equestrian Centre in the coastal town of Bexhill as well as being on the teaching team at Hadlow College.
How to access training with Alex:
Alex runs monthly training rallies with our Pony Club members and is very encouraging installing confidence to help them reach their individual goals. Alex teaches at both Junior and Senior Camps and Pony Club Test training evenings. Alex is also very supportive if she sees you out at competitions helping members warm their ponies up and giving encouragement. Alex loves chatting to members and their parents and so please feel free to speak to her for support and advice.
Visit our calendar to find training dates with Alex, click here
