competition news
Blackburn & District Pony Club compete at Winter League Mounted Games
Early February and 100 Pony Club members and their ponies gathered in the dry sanctuary of Myerscough International Arena for an evening of Mounted Games. The third competition in a series of five, Blackburn and District Pony Club entered a Junior Team and a Senior Team. With four riders in each team they competed in five races: Bending, 2 Mug, Flag, Sock and Tyre. Working as a relay team the riders needed speed and accuracy to collect flagsand then place them with precision in a cone further away. They had to lift a tin mug from the top of one pole and place it on another further up – the Blackburn team Junior excelled at this game to finish second in their group. The Junior team was made up of Katie Dutton (8) and her pony Basil, Will Atkinson (9) riding Lilly, Jamie Fenn-Conway (10) on Rosie and Sarah Hoare (11) riding Storm. In total 11 branches of the Pony Club were represented, all looking very smart in their team colours and displaying all the best traits of Pony Club: team work, sportsmanship, manners and excellent riding skills. Blackburn’s senior team finished sixth and comprised of Katie Bosworth (11) on Bryn, Sarah Hoare (11) with Storm, Leah Malpass (12) on Dolly and guest rider Rhiannon. Leah said: “Dolly loves to go fast; our best race is the bending (going in and out of four poles and back again). I also like the tennis racquet race where you have to balance a tennis ball on the racquet and bend through the poles and at the end pass it onto your team mate.” Karen Schofield, Leah’s mum said: “This is the third year for Leah doing Games. The first year she was on lead rein for it. The second year she did it on our DC’s (Elaine Barker’s)
Junior Team L-R Will, Sarah, Jamie and Katie
experienced Games pony and this year she is doing it on her pony Dolly. They’ve just gone from strength to strength and are having lots of fun.” Helen Atkinson, Assistant District Commissioner commented “The Mounted Games discipline is great for developing team spirit and riding skills. It’s great fun, the excitement creates a great atmosphere!” The Junior team was placed seventh overall and Helen encouraged: “This is the first time the four Junior children have ridden together as a team and they have tried really hard. The future is bright.” Katie Dutton’s dad Dave said “Katie looks forward to Games night all week and she is continuously improving her balance and co-ordination whilst still having fun.” Two of Blackburn’s youngest members also competed in a ‘mixed mini’ team with another branch. These little ones will be the Mounted Games stars of tomorrow no doubt!
The Blackburn committee members ready to cheer their team on
Will holds Jamie’s pony for the tyre race
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Sarah and Jamie await their team mates’ relay Equine Page 39 23
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