21st August 2012
Over 1600 Members of The Pony Club headed for The Pony Club Championships, August 16th-19th, at their new home of Cholmondeley Castle, by kind permission of The Marquess of Cholmondeley.
The four day Championships hosted the finals for Show Jumping, Dressage, Eventing, Mounted Games and Polocrosse, as well as the Centre Equitation Competition, Horse and Pony Care Championship and Musical Ride. Full of inspiration from the equestrian success at London 2012, The Championships attracted a crowd of over 5000 spectators, and with over 200 Pony Club Branches being represented from across the country the atmosphere was electric!
Highlights included the South Notts Branch proving they were in top form by taking the honours in both the Equest & Equest Pramox Open Team Show Jumping, including the tack and turnout, and also the Equest & Equest Pramox Intermediate team Show Jumping, including the Horsemastership Award!
The Musical Ride competition, supported by NAF, produced some amazing displays of ridden choreography to music, in teams of up to 12 Members wearing incredible in costumes; with the West Lancashire County Branch wowing their way into the top spot with their 'Patriotic Pony Club' ride.
Out on the stunning cross country course, running around the Cholmondeley Estate, there was success for the VWH Branch in the Strutt and Parker Open Eventing Team competition, and the Beaufort Hunt comfortably took the Strutt and Parker Intermediate Eventing Team honours.
In the Mounted Games the Poole and District and, for the first time, the Angus Branch secured themselves the final two slots for the Prince Philip Cup final at Horse of the Year Show, and hot on the heels of the London 2012 Dressage Team the Eridge Hunt enjoyed their own success in the Intermediate Team Dressage, whilst the South Oxfordshire Hunt Central Branch secured the Open Team honours.
"Everywhere I looked at The Championships people were smiling" commented Cherry Michell, Chairman of The Pony Club. "We would like to say a huge thank you to Musketeer Event Management, the Cholmondeley Estate and 'the weather' for holding up for us, which has allowed us to host this incredible event; where I have seen so many examples of our next generation of equestrian talent".
A full set of results can be found HERE
