Novice and Junior Tetrathlon

Our Novice and Junior Tetrathlon held on  Sunday 18th August, by kind permission of Richard and Gillie Cranfield, welcomed over 50 Beanie, Tadpole and Minimus competitors to Water House Farm. We are very lucky to be able to run all 4 phases in the same place.

In the 28 strong Beanie section, Best Boy Beanbag Throw went to Valentine from (NN), Best Girl went to Isabella (EE) and in the Tri section, George (EHN) threw the best. Onto the Swim, and the furthest Boy was Oliver from (E&S), girl was Martha (N&T). In the Tri section, James from (N&T) swam the furthest and ran the fastest!

The Ride was a tough course of cross-country jumps set in an enclosed field with ‘L’ fences at those tricker or fully up to height jumps, ending with a slip rail. 8 riders took to the course without any assistance and with the odd stop or the use of an ‘L’, the best Ride score boy was Valentine, and the Best Girl was Tessa (E&S). Georgina (EH) ‘jumped down’ from Tadpoles to Beanies and provided a Clear Round! In the lead reiners, Harrison (E&S) and Isla (Thetford) both had Clear Rounds … with a requirement for a larger mounting block next year for little legs to get on sibling ponies!!! Well done to you all for completing the course.

Finally, the Beanie Runners; fastest Boy Toby (EF), fastest girl, Ella (N&T) and, as mentioned before, James won the Tri section Run.

Fourteen Tadpoles competed next with Charlie and Giles from E&S winning the shoot with 800. Furthest swimmers; boys Adam N&T, girls Tallulah E&S out swam everyone, and Isla EHN won the Tri section.

Another tough Ride course! The wavy planks cause the most issues, however, some ponies were happy to jump them! As this event is an encouraging Tetrathlon, the competitors were able to continue their cross country rounds even if they encountered more than the Rule Book allows, 2 refusals at a fence. The children were rewarded with completing a course. Best Ride came from Tallulah who jumped the wavy planks but had a run out at another jump on the course! Special mention to Jack for a ‘well ridden’ comment from our Wavy Plank Jump Judge. Well done to you all for getting round.

If the competitors had used all their energy up on the Ride, it didn’t show on the run! Fastest Boy was Jack, Girl was Annabel, and Alex P was the fastest in the Tri section.

Mini Novice Boys section, best Shoot was shared between the two boys, Sonny and Edward, also shooting 800. Edward had a late shot which was in the 10, but as the tear was longer than 6mm, the shot could not be counted. With just 3m difference in the swim, and 7 seconds difference in the Run, Sonny had the top spot. With a textbook clear round over the Novice cross country course, Sonny won the class, and we would like to congratulate Edward on his very determined ride, completing the course with penalties. Well done to you both.

The Mini Novice Girls section provide Jasmine from Easter Harriers with a win and best Shoot, Swim and Run, with Naomi placing 2nd. Both girls took on the cross country course; many ‘well done’s’ to them form completing the course.

Mini Tri section saw a fair share of medals to those who took part, Rhalou, EHN, took 3rd and Best Run, Freya from Hill Farm EC took second with Best Swim and the winner with Best shoot, also from Hill Farm EC, Molly. Well done girls!

In the Minimus Boys section, Ryan (N&T) won Best Shoot, Swim and Run, with a clear round using 2 ‘L’s. Tati won the Girls section with the highest shoot of the day, 960, Best Swim and Best Run with a dislike to the wavy planks cross country completed the course.

Thank you to all who competed, volunteered and supported the children! It was a great day, made all the more enjoyable with sustenance from Mel’s Magic Crepes (also appearing on Wednesday at the One Dat Event) and a huge bunch of brilliant children!