Garth South has a wonderful squad of members who are interested in competing at Novice Level. It’s a great place to become involved more, once you move out of the Mini’s and we welcome all comers – anyone who’d like to have a try.

Over the winter – we might send out a few teams to showjump indoors and do dressage – so keep in touch –

Sara Sawdy will be looking after the Novice Dressage Teams,

Kathie Bishop the Eventing Teams

and we are looking for someone to manage the Show Jumping Teams

 

Pony Club National Novice Championships, Kelsall Hill, Cheshire - August 29 and 30

Whatever they say about the changes in weather north of 'Watford Gap' is true. Cheshire was windy and rainy, sunny

and warm - you name it the Novice Team and Individual had it! But what fun too!  After a few scary moments (Matilda

getting colic the week before) the team set off on Friday morning in order to give the ponies a chance to relax before

the competitions really started. 

Fran Robinson got to try out the dressage arenas on Saturday morning.  Fran and Twigs are getting together so well

as a partnership, but nerves can still be a problem, Fran came out of the arena saying it wasn't as good as at the

Areas. Such is life! But we can all recall that more than 3000 competitors will have entered the Area competitions

and only about 125 of them made it to the National Championships that makes you pretty special!

Everyone was looking forward to the Eventing Champs on the Sunday. We walked the course on the Saturday, the

competitors were very excited and just loved it, the mums thought it was 'up to height' (translated as 'big'), but we

all felt that despite the number of 'L' fences there was probably only one serious technical question - a dog leg to a

corner.  After some of the best dressage the team has done, the Show Jumping course was almost like an event

course with about 3 hills within the arena, Tess and Fran added to their scores, but Melissa and Matilda did a careful

clear. The cross country rode beautifully, the technical question caught both Tess and Fran (and loads of other people)

and Melissa and Matilda went clear.  AND Melissa and Matilda WON their section!

So final results were:
Melissa 1st in her Section
Tess 37th
Fran 27th
Team 35th

reflecting how dire a run out cross country can be! But will they be aiming higher next year? YOU BET!  And remember

even more competitors start out to do the Eventing at the Area Level, but the same numbers get to the Champs.





 

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Open Team were 5th of:
Lucy Cheetham
Lauren Innes 8th Individually
Tess Bishop
Abi Neal 4th Individually