Tet Champs 2025

Two Easton Harriers tetrathletes, Pip and Charlotte, competed in the 2025 Pony Club JCB Tetrathlon Championships last week in what was to be Charlotte’s first and Pip’s final year competing at this prestigious event.

Pip formed part of a mixed Area 8 team and Charlotte was selected to join one of two East of England Stepping Stones teams made up of Minumus (11 yr & under) girls and boys from across Areas 6 & 8.

Following a pre-event shoot practice on the Thursday evening, both girls began the first days competition on Friday with a shoot in a very intense atmosphere followed by hitching a lift to the pool at Royal Leamington Spa for the swim phase. With the Open class running over 3 days, Pip was then done for the day.  Charlotte went on to run a massive PB in her first ever heat run (all previous tet runs had been time trials).  Huge thanks to Eleanor for her pep talk and run tips which really made a difference.  Eleanor had also qualified for Champs in the Girls Intermediate class but sadly missed out on competing due to injury.

Day 2 was ride phase for both girls, with Pip going out onto a technical and undulating course with Moss, tackling the gate and sliprail on their way round and coming home clear for a maximum 1400 points.  Charlotte’s Stepping Stones arena eventing course was considered the most technical so far for this relatively new class at Champs, including offset double, dog leg over undulating ground and a very tight time, as well as the usual a stop box and sliprail.  Many thanks to N&T trainer Katie Barrett for the course walk and warm up.  By far the biggest event for both Charlotte and Coco in terms of occasion, they had one stop and some resulting time penalties.  Stepping Stones prizegiving followed with Charlotte finishing 16^th individually and 6^th in the East of England team.

Saturday night was the infamous Tet Party which, with a theme of dressing with anything beginning with P or C, Area 8 chose Circus and continued their brilliant performances from the day into the evening with some cracking outfits and lots of laughter.  Pip had the unenviable task of going on to run 1500m the following morning over a very hilly course and came home to finish the overall event 17^th and her team finished 4^th.  Both girls did themselves proud in an event requiring practical horsemanship, general athletic ability and mental fortitude.