BMHPC is very happy to tell you that following rigorous health and safety assessments by both Pony Club and Ashville College that we can start coaching again for Tetrathlon Laser/Pellet/Run training. Sessions will take place twice a month on the first and third Thursday with shooting instructor Justin Dunn at Ashville College Sports Centre, Yew Tree Lane, Harrogate HG2 9JP.
Laser Run suitable for all, including beginners, is the first Thursday of each month: Pellet Shooting aimed at those who can self-load or have a family member who can load, plus Running, is the third Thursday. (Swim training not yet viable.)
Booking in plus payment will be via the website now – for Track and Trace purposes – with a deadline of a week before the event. We hope to have details on there within a couple of days.
We have had to evolve how we operate in challenging circumstances, so would ask all parents and members to read and adhere to the following:
FACE COVERINGS – anyone entering Ashville sports centre of any age needs to wear a face covering if they can.(NB those shooting will remove to wear goggles on the range)
TOILETS – swim changing rooms closed. We are allowed to use two on the corridor between the entrance foyer and the sports hall as regularly cleaned
SANITISER – station at entrance foyer plus entrance into the sports hall. Please use it.
BUBBLE OF 6 – for Laser and Pellet including Justin and any loaders. Targets/tables 2m distant.
TARGETS – each participant to put up and remove their own.
GUNS – pellet shooting each to have their own or discuss with Vanessa re use of a club gun.
LASER – hands to be sterilised before and after. Gun to be cleaned before and after use.
RUNNING – in bubbles outside on the tennis courts with marked tracks. We can accommodate non-shooters who must stay outside.
PARKING – car park by entrance foyer if shooting or lower level car park by sports fields for runners only. Access to the sports hall via path around the building and back door.
Tetrathlon consists of Running, Swimming, Shooting and Riding and is suitable for all children from the age. You are allowed to shoot an air pistol from the age of 8. It is a tremendous sport for Pony Club members who enjoy a whole range of different sports. The competitions are great social events, and all the children who compete get to know members from different Pony Clubs and fun is had by all!!
If you are interested in taking part in Tetrathlon, please contact Vanessa 07770 774661 Please remember that she is a volunteer and is a working mum so if she is unable to answer do leave a message and she will get back to you.
A beginners guide to tetrathlon
Tetrathlon/triathlons are great fun, very friendly but competitive!
For any of you who are interested in taking part, here is a quick guide!
Running and swimming & shooting training is weekly throughout winter months. New competitors must be signed off to say they are safe to shoot before they take part in their first competition. Pony Club guns are available to use.
Only competitors aged 8 and over are allowed to shoot in competitions, under 8’s throw bean bags at a target or into a hoop.
Age Groups (age as of 1st January 2020)
Beanies Under 8 years Old
Tadpoles under 10 years old
Minimus under 12 years old
Junior under 15 years old
Intermediate/Open under 25 years old
Age groups are split into boys and girls apart from beanies which are often run as a mixed class.
Competitions
Triathlons (no riding) are run through the winter months. Tetrathlons (with riding) in the summer. All competitors must enter through the team trainer who is Vanessa. Times are given out a few days before the date of the competition. On arrival at a competition you must register and have your gun checked you will receive targets for the shooting phase and numbers for the running phase. Scores are put up during the competition and it is always advisable to check your score is correct; any discrepancies need to be raised through the team trainer.
The riding phase is usually a technical cross country course including a gate which must be opened, ridden through and then closed whilst mounted within 1 minute and a slip rail, where the rider dismounts, places the slip rail on the ground leads the pony over it, puts the slip rail back up and re mounts within 1 minute. Tadpoles and minimus classes often include a ‘stop box’ instead where the pony and rider must stand still for a set amount of time.
For the running phase, each age group has a set distance to run, the swimming phase is how far a competitor can swim in a set time and the shooting phase a maximum of 1000 points can be shot.
Beanies run 500m, swim for 2 minutes Buoyancy aids are allowed with 100 point penalty, throw beanbags and jump height is 40cm
Tadpoles run 1000m, swim for 2 minutes, shoot 2 handed from 7m at static targets, jump height 60cm
Minimus run 1000m, swim for 2 minutes, shoot 2 handed from 7 metres at turning targets, jump 80cm
Junior run 1500m, swim for 3 minutes, shoot 1 handed from 7 metres at turning targets, jump 90cm
Intermediate run 2000m (boys) 1500m (girls) swim for 3 minutes, shoot 1 handed from 10m at turning targets, jump 1m
Open run 3000m (boys) 1500m (girls) swim for 3 minutes, shoot 1 handed from 10m at turning targets, jump 1m
Scoring
Shooting
A maximum score of 1000 is available in the shooting. Each competitor gets 10 shots (2 lots of 5 onto 2 targets). Your score is whatever you shoot ie. 100 points for a 10, 80 points for an 8 etc.
Swimming
Each age group has a target distance to swim within their 2 or 3 minutes to score 1000 points. For example, a minimus competitors target is 125m in 2 minutes. For every metre under or over the target 3 points are subtracted or added to the 1000. For example if a competitor swam 100m then their final score would be 925 points (25×3=75, 1000-75=925)
Running
Each age group has a target time in which to run the required distance. For example minimus competitors is 1000m in 4 minutes for which they would receive 1000 points. For every second over or under the time 3 points per second will be added or subtracted. For example if a competitor ran the distance in 3.57minutes then their score would be 1009 points (3×3=9, 1000+9=1009)
Riding
A maximum of 1400 points is given for a clear round. Penalties are given for refusals etc. For example 1st refusal is 60 penalties; therefore one refusal on the course would be a final score of 1340.
A competitor’s final score for the competition is their score for each discipline added together.