Every year SOHC has the opportunity to put forward members to compete on behalf of the branch in Area competitions. Our branch belongs to Area 12 and between late June and mid-July there are Area competitions for all the major disciplines. We put forward teams of three or four members to compete against other Area 12 branches. Where we have insufficient numbers to make up a team, members may be entered as individuals or be put in a combined Area 12 team. Qualifying teams, usually the first and sometimes the runner-up team, depending on the number of entrants, have the opportunity to compete against teams from across the area, region or UK at the different Championships.
We really encourage people to come forward for team selection, and we want everyone to have the opportunity to represent SOHC, at the right level, so that they have a fun & enjoyable experience. It’s not a time to step up to the next level, but rather to show off at a level you feel really confident at, but don’t feel if you aren’t one of the people normally on a team that you shouldn’t put your name forward – we would really encourage you to do so and the more teams we can put out the better.
Further information about each of the diciplines and rulesbooks can be found on our diciplines page.
To be considered for teams, members need to be attending rallies relevant to the discipline you want to compete at. This is so that the Team Manager knows you and that helps inform team selection. It’s also a safety consideration particularly for younger members who may only be starting to compete. You should be an active member of the branch.
Linked to this, members need to be able to evidence that they are competing at the level they want to be in the team for and achieving results that suggest they will be able to take part in the Area and Champs at that level, in the discipline in question.
So, members need to be sending news to the relevant Team Managers of competitions they have taken part in and how they have done and for dressage they need to keep test sheets to show the Team Manager.
Team Managers can advise members on suitable competitions and there is information on the SOHC website about forthcoming events. Sometimes Team Managers will put forward teams for events during the year and this is a good thing to participate in if you are interested in being in an Area team.
Area and Championship team selection decisions are made by the discipline SOHC Team Manager in liaison with the DC and regular instructors who know our members.
Representing the SOHC branch at Area of Championship competitions is a privilege and normally only a relatively small number of members out of the total branch membership will represent the branch at the Areas and Championships.
The branch makes a contribution to members who are taking part in the Main Championships each year (Not regional Champs). The branch also supports members at the competitions by, where possible, having instructors present on the day to prepare our competitors. The branch cannot underwrite the full costs of participation in the Area or Championship competitions as this would erode the branch’s ability to support other member activities including Summer Camps and some training that is open to all.
Area competitions: the entry fees for Area competitions are paid for by members themselves, in full. Entry fees are set at a similar level to other PC competitions at that level/discipline.
The JCB Pony Club Championships: members representing the branch in 2024 will have one entry at each discipline paid in full. If you qualify on more than one pony/horse you will need to pay for the second entry. Members will be responsible for paying stabling directly with the organizers. There will be no contribution to stabling – a policy which is consistent with other Area 12 branches.
A decision on whether the branch funds instructors will be based upon the number of our members who will be at the various Championships. Where the branch does not contribute to instructor costs (for example if member numbers participating are very small), parents can of course organize an instructor to be there, amongst themselves at their own cost.
This arrangement and cost contribution is reviewed on an annual basis. For members for whom the costs of taking part in the Championships might be prohibitive, the DC is able to consider an additional contribution.