It was once again a busy Easter holiday for members of the South Pembrokeshire Hunt branch of the Pony Club. Riders took part in a variety of activities from rallies and stable management, to the area horse and pony care competition, as well as a show jumping and cross country tetrathlons.
A number of riders from the branch also enjoyed success in the BSPS Winter Championships and the Winter Finals of National Show Jumping Championships of Great Britain.
At the start of the holidays, a small team from the branch travelled to Cardigan to compete in the Tivyside Show Jumping Tetrathlon. The event is an excellent starter tetrathlon as it involves show jumping rather than cross country.
Bea Meyrick and Harriet Morgan competed in the Junior Girls and both did extremely well getting clear rounds in the riding phase. Well done to Bea who also came first in the shoot, swim and run to come 1st overall and to Harriet who came third.
In the Mini Girls, Nicole Elsdon once again won the event coming first in the shoot and run and recording a double clear round in the ride. Meanwhile, eight-year-old Lucy Davies competing in her first tetrathlon came a very close second to Nicole in the run, and recorded very promising scores in both the shoot and swim, however unfortunately her pony decided that he didn't like the show jumping fillers! Fred Meyrick however was really kind and lent Lucy his pony and as a result Lucy finished a very well deserved fifth overall.
Jack Goldsworthy Spuffard once again kept up his winning ways with a first in the Mini Boys as well as winning the shoot and run and getting a double clear in the ride. Fred Meyrick also went double clear in the ride and with a good shoot and swim came third overall.
During the holidays, the branch also sent three teams to compete in the Pony Club Horse and Pony Care Competition. This is an area event organised this year by Carnwyllion Pony Club and is a qualifier for the pony club national championships.
The branch's senior team Felicity Grigg, Cethin Ravenhill and Alice Simon won the senior competition. Meanwhile, Isabell Meyrick, Harriet Morgan and Anna Morgan won the junior section, with Abigail Meyrick, Ele Scourfield and Beth Williams coming third.
Congratulations to Felicity, Cethin, Alice, Izy, Harriet and Anna who are now off to the national championships in Derbyshire in August. This is the second year running that South Pembs teams have represented Area 18 at the finals so well done to all the riders for their hard work and a big thank you to their instructor Shelley Bradley Higham for all her hard-work preparing them!
Area 18 Pembrey Tetrathlon took place on the final weekend of the holidays. Unlike last year when the riding had to be postponed due to snow, this year the weather was excellent much to the relief of both the riders and the organisers.
Emily Pellington and Alice Simon were competing in the novice girls competition. This was Emily's first tetrathlon of the year and she recorded good scores in the shoot and swim, however, riding a new horse for the first time in a cross country competition meant that on this occasion she finished just out of the rosettes. Meanwhile, Alice who has been competing all winter recorded very good scores in all disciplines and with an excellent clear round in the riding came a well deserved second overall.
The junior girls team was Bea Meyrick and Harriet Morgan. Both girls recorded some good scores although unfortunately Harriet finished just out of the rosettes this time whilst Bea came fourth overall.
Competition was extremely fierce in the mini girls with some very high scores including two maximum scores in the shooting, and an incredible swim of nearly six-and-a-half lengths in just two minutes!
Congratulations to Nicole Elsdon who was one of the two competitors to score the maximum 1,000 in the shooting with 10 bulls eyes from 10 shots. Nicole joins a very elite group of South Pembs. competitors who have shot 1,000 in a competition namely Ele Scourfield and Harriet Morgan. Well done Nicole.
Nicole and Anna were amongst the few riders to get clear rounds in the ride, while Nicole also won the run to finish in second place overall. Unfortunately, Anna finished just out of the rosettes, although the girls team came first overall.
Once again, Jack Goldsworthy Spuffard kept up his 100 per cent record of wins during 2009 coming first in the mini boys and winning the shoot and run. Fred recorded some good scores but sadly this time finished just out of the rosettes, while Lorcan who was the only clear round in the mini boys riding came an excellent third overall.
The branch is holding its annual show on Saturday, May 16, at Bangeston just off the A477 near Pembroke Dock by kind permission of Mr. and Mrs. Simon Meyrick. This year's show is once again open to all and includes SWPA qualifiers, PSJS County Show Show Jumping qualifiers as well as a range of fun and novelty classes for rider of all ages and abilities.
Schedules are available at local tack shops or by contacting Dawn Harries on 01646 651320. Please be advised that entries (£4 per class) close at 6.30 pm on Thursday, May 14, although entries will be taken on the day of the show (£5 per class).
Members and their parents are politely reminded that the branch needs as much help as possible to run the show which includes setting up the show field and clearing away afterwards. Everyone is therefore asked to meet at 6 pm on Thursday, May 14, at the show field in Bangeston.