Mounted games is a fantastic team sport which any member from lead rein up to 18 years old can participate in. The N&T games teams have had children representing the club at Area, Zone and National Championship levels. The club have also sent demonstration teams to county shows notably the prestigious Suffolk Show and the Aylsham Show and the addition of the Royal Norfolk Show into the 2025 calendar make for exciting times ahead!
There is often misconception that games ponies need to be fast and children must be able to vault on…. this is absolutely not the case! Slow and steady will often win the race and children learn games skills such as vaulting with a lot of hard work, practice and determination!
Games brings confidence to children, it will teach them invaluable riding skills such as stopping, turning, riding one handed, getting on and off. They learn to work as a team and build a resilience with the highs and lows of competition. Great friendships are made and so much fun is to be had, not only for the kids but for the parents, grandparents, siblings, carers and guardians too! There is no obligation to take part in a competition if it’s not your thing, you are still very welcome to come to practices.
TRAINING
Training starts over the winter and continues into the spring with regular sessions open to all.
The games/competition schedule explained
January – May
Friendly inter-pony club competitions
AREAS!!
24th May at Stratford Hills, near Colchester
This is a big one as it is a qualifying event to get to the next round called Zones. Events are as follows:
– Novice (lead rein and assisted)
– Juniors (10 years or under in Jan 1st 2025)
– Seniors (14 years or under on Jan 1st 2025)
– Pairs (11-18 years)
ZONES!!!
18th July at Stanford Hall, Leicestershire
This is a huge one, there are only 4 zone finals in the whole country. It is a qualifying event to get to the PC National Champs.
!!!!!PONY CLUB NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS!!!!!
7th-10th August at OffChurch Bury, Leamington Spa
This is MASSIVE and the pinnacle of our PC calendar!
Not only are these championships for mounted games but other pony club disciplines too…. This includes both Tetrathlon and polocrosse which really makes it into one huge social, fun and friendly gathering with our wonderful DC, Tessa Vestey, being at the very heart of it all!
This is an absolutely FANTASTIC event and such an amazing experience for any child who becomes part of a championship team ⭐️
We are very lucky to have such an enthusiastic and dedicated games trainer, Erin Wittich, who without her we would not have had the success we have had so far! And a huge thanks goes out to, the forever smiling, Siobhan Watson, who without her countless emails, event bookings, arena hiring, declaration filling, cake making, sausage roll baking, rule book knowledge and overall endless wisdom we would all be lost!
So from all of us involved in N&T mounted games we would love for the journey to continue… if your child would be interested in having some fun please do book in and come along to one of our sessions!
Best wishes,
Jane, Erin and Siobhan