EVENTING Eventing is made up of three different phases – a dressage test, show jumping and cross country. The dressage test is performed first and marked by a judge and then a score is given. This is followed by a round of show jumping and any penalties incurred are added to your dressage score. Finally the cross country where both jumping and time penalties are again added to your current score. The total is then added up and the winner is the rider with the least overall penalties. EVENTING COMPETITIONS 2012
Newmarket & Thurlow Members can take part in the following team/individual eventing competitions in our Area (Area 8), which this year are being held on the following dates:- Calvert Cup, Graveley – Sunday 1st April – a Team/Individual One Day Event where horses and riders must be capable of jumping 3ft 3” to 3ft 6” both show jumping and cross country or are currently competing at BE 100 or Novice level or above AREA HORSE TRIALS There are 3 levels of team/individual competition at Area and this is a qualifying competition for the National Championships. We are normally allowed to enter at least two teams, made up of four riders in each team, plus two individuals for each class. For those not competing at Area Novice level, please see details below regarding the Northern Novice which is a very good stepping stone to the Area Novice. Novice Area Horse Trials (also known as Level 3), Ely Saturday July 21st & Sunday July 22nd - Team/Individual One Day Event – horses and riders must be capable of jumping 3ft both show jumping and cross country. Intermediate Area Horse Trials (also known as Level 4), ElySaturday July 21st & Sunday July 22nd – Team/Individual One Day Event – horses and riders must be capable of jumping 3ft 3” both show jumping and cross country Open Area Horse Trials, (also known as Level 5), ElySaturday July 21st & Sunday July 22nd - Team/Individual One Day Event – horses and riders must be capable of jumping 3ft 6” both show jumping and cross country, or currently competing at BE Novice Level as the Championship is a strong Novice course – i.e approx 3ft 9”. Northern Novice, Geldeston, Nr Beccles, NorfolkTuesday 21st August - Team/Individual One Day Event – ponies and riders must be capable of jumping 2ft 9” both show jumping and cross country. NATIONAL AREA CHAMPIONSHIPS To participate at these Championships you need to have competed and qualified at the Area 8 Eventing competition - it is not possible to take part in the Championships unless you have ridden at the Area Eventing competition. The dates for 2012 Championships are:- Open & Intermediate Championships, Cholmondeley Castle, Cheshire - between Thursday 16th & Sunday 19th August 2012 Novice Championships, Kelsall Hill Equestrian Centre, CheshireSaturday 25th & Sunday 26th August 2012 (Please note there is no Championship for the Northern Novice – this competition is only eligible for Pony Clubs & their Members in our Area (Area 8)) TRAINING If you wish to be considered for any of the above competitions, it is essential that you attend at least one of Katrina McGladdery’s cross country schooling days where not only will you get some very good guidance at how to approach & jump a cross country course but you will also be assessed on your ability. It is also helpful if you can attend some of the dressage and show jumping training sessions with Fiona Bowen & John Adams and to compete throughout the Eventing season at your chosen level in order to gain confidence and experience prior to the final team selection in June. In general, these competitions are for Senior Members (11 years and over). However, if you are a Junior Member and already competing at the level of any of these competitions please contact Katrina to discuss it further. Details of all these training sessions can be found on the Newmarket & Thurlow website under the “News” section. Everybody is very welcome to the training days – even if you have not taken part in any One Day Events. TECHNICAL TRAINING DAYS There also two Technical Training days held at Katrina’s school in Woodditton – these are to help riders jump both “skinnies” and corners across country. Again, details on these sessions are available on the Newmarket & Thurlow website. Katrina McGladdery & Gilly Lawes
SHOW JUMPING
What is Show Jumping?
Show jumping takes place both indoors and outdoors all year around. The courses are made up of coloured fences which can be knocked down if they are hit. Competitors incur faults if they knock a fence down, refuse or run out. If you jump a “clear round” you will go through to the “jump off”. The jump off is over a shortened course which is timed. The winner is the horse and rider with the least faults and the fastest time.
Training
In addition to the pony club rallies there are various opportunities for members to enjoy jumping lessons.
For the juniors they are sessions held from October to June at the British Racing School, Newmarket. These are divided into different times, aimed at children, from leading rein, up to 2 foot 6. taught by Erin Wittich and Sarah Burton. Erin also hosts show jumping evenings at West Wratting Park in the summer. Sarah Burton also runs a programme of jumping lessons throughout the year at Brook Farm Equestrian Centre, near Radwinter. The dates of all these and booking forms are on the website under Events.
John Adams provides individual training sessions throughout the holidays for the Seniors and children jumping over 2 foot 6. John is the Newmarket and Thurlow show jumping trainer and Area team selector. If any child is interested in being considered for the Area teams it is essential that they are booked into some of these sessions so that John can assess the child and pony.
Area Show Jumping Teams
This year the Area Show Jumping Competition is on 15th July, 2012, at Poplar Park.
The competition is divided in to three levels, Novice, Intermediate and Open.
Novice, First Round 0.90m, Second Round 0.95m
Intermediate, First Round 1.00m, second round 1.10m
Open, First Round 1.10m, second round 1.15m.
If anyone would like more information regarding the Area Competitions please feel free to contact us or refer to the Show Jumping Rule book that can be down loaded from the Pony Club Website. HYPERLINK "http://www.pcuk.org" www.pcuk.org
BURGHLEY PONY CLUB SHOW JUMPING TEAM
Every year the branch is invited to send a team to the Pony Club Show Jumping Competition. It is an honor to represent the Pony Club at this event and priority is given to the older children who are still keen participators in the Pony Club. The selection for this is made by John Adams in the summer.
Other Competitions.
Every year the Newmarket and Thurlow branch organise a show jumping competition in the October half term. Classes start at 1ft 6 and go up to 3ft 3, including a Dengie Qualifier round.
There are a number of Inter Branch Show Jumping Competitions that we are sent the schedules for which we will email details out as and when we receive them. These are fun and open to anyone who is keen to enter, perfect for some of the junior members.
Rebecca Dunlop and Kate Sporborg
TETRATHLON
I thought it would be helpful to explain what a Tetrathlon involves and how the competitions are organised and categorised by the Pony Club.
The following are the classes that are held at the Area Tetrathlon - all shooting use turning targets.
Open Boys (21 & Under) 10m 1 handed shoot 4 mins swim 3,000m run,
3'6" max ride (BE Novice)
Open Girls (21 & Under) same as boys except 3 mins swim and 1,500m run
Intermediate Boys (21 & Under) 10m 1 handed shoot 3 mins swim 2,000m run
3'3" max ride (BE 100)
Intermediate Girls (21 & Under) same as Intermedate Boys except 1,500m run
Junior Boys/Girls (14 & Under) 7m 1 handed shoot 3 mins swim 1,500m run
3" (max) ride (BE 90)
There are often the following additional classes held at Pony Club branch competitions:
Minimus Boys/Girls (11 & under) 7m 2 handed shoot 2 mins swim 1000 metres run 2'6" max ride
Mini Boys/Girls (9 & under) As Minimus but 2" max ride
Minnows Boys/Girls (Under 8) Bean back in bucket 1 1/2 mins swim 750 metres run 1 foot or 1' 6" max ride
The shooting takes place in groups (details) and it is a Pony Club rule that you must be 8 YEARS OR OVER on the date of the competition/practice to participate. The N&T PC owns a number of pistols, which are available to borrow for competitions and to use in practice along with the targets here at Waltons, Ashdon.
The swimming is done in heats and the organisers always try and put swimmers of similar standards together - many of the "Minnows" wear arm bands.
The running is done individually in 1 minute intervals.
All riding phases are over a cross country course which should include some easier "L" alternatives, a gate to open and shut whilst mounted and a slip rail where you dismout, take the slip rail down, lead your pony through, put the rail back up and get back on. There is a handy straw bale for the Minimus, Minis and Minnows to use!
In the Winter there are a number of Pony Club Triathlon (no riding) competitions. There are always team classes at these events so, if you enter, please let me know so that you can be included in a N&T PC team. You do not have to be good at all of the phases to take part - the main aim of Tetrathlon is the have a fun and happy time competing with your friends.
Area Tetrathlon competition dates 2012:
June 8th (evening) – June 10th - JUNIOR INTER AREA REGIONAL TETRATHLON at Milton Keynes – this is the last week end of half term so will, hopefully, be much easier to attend than last year. Ellie Berrisford, Jack and Billy Vestey were part of the Eastern Region Team last year and had a fantastic time so please could you contact me if you would like me to put your name forward for selection. You must be able to happily jump round a stiff 3 foot cross country course and have been seen by Katrina McGladdery at her cross country rallies/training days. I have had 3 names put forward so far which is hugely encouraging!
July 28th to 29th Area Tetrathlon (Junior, Intermediate, Open Tetrathlon and will also run a Junior and Minimus Triathlon)
July 28th Shoot (N&T PC to run this phase), swim and run at Culford School
July 29th Cross Country ride phase at Isleham
August 10th - 12th Inter Regional UK Tetrathlon (Intermediate & Open)
August 21st - 23rd National Tetrathlon Championships at Hartbury, Gloucs (Open and Intermediate)
If you wish to be considered for any of the above teams you must attend one or more of Katrina McGladdery's cross country rallies and let me know by email
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that you would like to be a candidate for one of the teams. The team selection is made by assessing your performance cross country and your Tetrathlon competition scores. This all sounds rather scary but I promise you that the Area Competitions are really good fun, everybody is extremely encouraging and friendly and they always involve a big proper party!
NB The Newmarket and Thurlow Pony Club Tetrathlon/Triathlon is on April 13th (shoot, swim and run) and April 15th (ride and Hunter Trial at Horseheath)
Lots of other information can be found on Pony Club Area 8 website, so please do use it.
Tessa Vestey
07774 12699 or 01799 584330
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MOUNTED GAMES
Mounted games are a fun activity for all members both young and old!
A variety of gymkhana games have been devised to test the skill and agility of both the rider and the pony. All the games are played in teams, usually with 4 people in a team. The simplest race is a bending relay and as then additional equipment gets added in to make things more of a challenge. Typically you may be putting mugs on top of bending poles, dropping items in a bucket, collecting quoits from a table and putting them on a cone, or moving flags between cones. The games change regularly and it’s amazing how quickly the ponies get the hang of what they have to do. The Prince Philip Cup is “official” Pony Club competition and Newmarket and Thurlow are hosting the area finals this year – so just like the Olympics, we get home advantage! There are two age groups at the area competition, one for those aged 10 and under on 1 January 2012 and one for those aged 14 and under. Everyone is welcome to come along to the Gymkhana rallies which will start in the Easter holidays, the teams will be picked from those who would like to take part in a competition, but there is no compulsion to do so. Experience shows that the slower, steadier ponies are often the best bet at games as correcting mistakes takes time, so don’t be put off by thinking you need a mini racehorse, small is also good as you will need to be able to get on and off. It’s quite possible for two children to share a pony at the rallies (and indeed in the competitions) so long as a parent is willing to help change jockeys quickly. Dress is informal at rallies – hats, boots and long sleeves are compulsory, but jeans and jumpers (no hoodies) are absolutely fine. Similarly there is no tack and turnout until you go to a competition. The emphasis is definitely on having fun.
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