Equine Life
Charlie is living the Dream Leyland Court Farm A
dream came true for South Devon West Pony Club member Charlie Hyslop last
week, when he was selected for the Great Britain Mounted Games team. Te 15 year old from Newton Abbot will be one of five riders travelling to the USA in July for the 2011 International Mounted Games Exchange, and competing against teams representing the USA, Canada and Australia. Having been an active and successful member of the Pony Club since the age of ten, Charlie has over the last four years shown exceptional talent for Mounted Games, being a member of South Devon West’s successful Senior Prince Philip Cup team during this time, partnering several ponies over the years. Now too old for the Prince Philip Cup, Charlie seized the opportunity to continue with games, trialing to represent England at the Royal Windsor Horse Show in 2010. Despite narrowly missing out on a place in the team, finishing tenth in the running at the trials, Charlie persevered, showing determination and commitment by applying for the British team, on the advice of trainer and SDW Chief Instructor Annette Frazier, and his friends in the neighbouring Devon and Somerset branch, who won the Prince Philip Cup at HOYS in 2010. Charlie was nominated by his
DC Jackie Tar, whose reference for him was sent off along with his CV, to the selection panel back in November. “I didn’t really think I stood a
chance” he admits, “but I had nothing to lose and if you don’t try, you never get anywhere. When I opened the letter telling me I had been selected I couldn’t believe it.” With the option to apply for
selection open only to riders just one year out of Prince Philip Cup, Charlie was over the moon to have succeeded in this narrow window of opportunity. Te international competition will be held in Kentucky on 22nd July, using American ponies, following a once in a lifetime tour of places such as Washington DC and Lexington. Joining Charlie in the trip to the USA are fellow teammates Jason Mackay from the Iveagh branch, Emily Myrtle from
www.equestrianlifemagazine.com B.H.S. APPROVED FACILITY CENTRE
the Oakley Hunt West branch, Sadie Lock of the Petersfield branch and Rachel Woolley from Sir Watkin William Wynn’s Hunt. Charlie’s success can be
attributed not just to his mounted games ability. “Charlie is an excellent all-round team rider” said trainer Annette Frazier, under whose instruction Charlie learnt to ride and developed his Prince Philip Cup skills. “He has represented our Pony Club in other disciplines, is committed to his riding and achieving his goals, and a good social person who thoroughly deserves the chance to represent Britain abroad”. Tis is not the first time South
Devon West has produced an international rider; Sarah Lang travelling to the USA to represent England in Tetrathlon in 1995. Now a generation later, the branch will be represented internationally once again. Charlie will have a busy five
months ahead of him, training and fundraising the £1900 each team member is required to contribute. With a few ideas already, such as participating in the Torbay Half Marathon in June, Charlie is also looking for local sponsorship to support him in the run up to the USA competition, and also to help him continue his mounted games career within the Mounted Games Association and fulfill his ambition to join the King’s Troop. With a 60 kg weight limit to ride the 13.hh Rupert, Charlie will be hoping to find a bigger and equally talented pony to partner in the years to come. Along with the excitement,
Charlie is also extremely grateful to those who have helped him through the process: “I have to thank the Blee family, for letting me ride the pony that has got me to this level, Rupert, and all the other people that have helped and supported me over the years. I am so excited, I just can’t wait to get going”.
April 2011 • 29 The Cross Country Course
NOW open for hire Jumps ranging from 1ft to 3ft 3in water, ditches, banks, steps & combinations.
THE DERBY ARENA ALSO OPENS MID APRIL - WEATHER DEPENDING
ALL AVAILABLE FOR HIRE BY INDIVIDUALS, RIDING CLUBS & PONY CLUBS.
Leyland Court Farm, Trench Lane, Winterbourne Bristol BS36 1RY
TEL: 01454 773163 |
www.leylandcourt.com
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