THE PONY CLUB TETRATHLON CHAMPIONSHIPS BISHOP BURTON COLLEGE, BEVERLEY, HUMBERSIDE 11th - 13th AUGUST 2017

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Hollie Knight
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THE PONY CLUB TETRATHLON CHAMPIONSHIPS BISHOP BURTON COLLEGE, BEVERLEY, HUMBERSIDE 11th - 13th AUGUST 2017 As Thursday 10th August dawned, our challenge of the day was to achieve transportation of 21

Fortunately we had set up a Whatsapp group which made it easier to stay in touch as a variety of excitements coloured the journey into one none of us will forget.

They regretted having eaten their lunch within the first half hour of the journey.

1 THE PONY CLUB TETRATHLON CHAMPIONSHIPS BISHOP BURTON COLLEGE, BEVERLEY, HUMBERSIDE 11th - 13th AUGUST 2017 As Thursday 10th August dawned, our challenge of the day was to achieve transportation of 21 horses, 26 jockeys along with a large entourage of parents, siblings and assorted dogs to Yorkshire. How hard could it be? After all, we are all seasoned travellers. Fortunately we had set up a Whatsapp group which made it easier to stay in touch as a variety of excitements coloured the journey into one none of us will forget. The Adamson family had to stop to get a tyre replaced. The Green family vehicle (bearing 4 girls, 3 dogs, 2 horses, 15 teddies and one surprisingly cool headed driver) had a blow out on the M42. They regretted having eaten their lunch within the first half hour of the journey. Luckily their roadside assistance provided some help first a man with no teeth and then one with no hair and finally one with a jack (we no longer care about the teeth and hair so long as he has a jack). Meanwhile the Hall s road train was steaming up the motorway lorry with caravan attached. The caravan being Mr Potter s most prized possession. So you can imagine the horror all round when the caravan detached from the lorry on the motorway and hit the central reservation. OMG indeed. All the Whatsapp users kindly reminded Katie how much fathers love their daughters. On arrival at Bishop Burton college I asked the first steward I saw whether we could all have a rosette for just getting there and not bother competing!

All the Beaufort horses were settled into temporary stabling. The camping was separated into Regional zones, ours being Central England.

The ground was soft enough it was only just possible to tow them in. We put up our two Beaufort PC marquees to form a base for socialising.

Five minutes on the range is all that was allowed, but at least it allowed the competitors the chance to soak up the atmosphere.

2 All the Beaufort horses were settled into temporary stabling. The camping was separated into Regional zones, ours being Central England. We were nicely placed in a field between the stabling and the college. Several of us had hired caravans to be put into position for us. The ground was soft enough it was only just possible to tow them in. We put up our two Beaufort PC marquees to form a base for socialising. With little time to spare we headed up to the sports hall for a shoot practice. Five minutes on the range is all that was allowed, but at least it allowed the competitors the chance to soak up the atmosphere. This year the event marquee for meetings, scores and party was in the camping field and so it was there that we gathered to be briefed on the weekends activities. There was a Fish & Chip van on site that day which saved a lot of cooking effort from families feeling tired from the journey. Friday morning, and we were all up and ready early to see to the horses before setting off variously for the swim phase (in Beverley) and the shoot phase in the college. Additionally the Grassroots team of George H, Mimi G, Orlo C and Harry B were to perform all four phases of their competition. The Grassroots Championship is laid on for a limited quantity of teams (first come first served) to experience a Tetrathlon with Show Jumping instead of Cross Country. The class is only open to those who have not competed at Junior Area level or above. We had drawn up a complex rota of car lifts to get all our competitors in the right place at the right time. There was a shuttle bus, but we preferred to be responsible for our own transport so we could be sure that everyone was in good time for their heats.

George took Best Run and our team were 3rd winning some huge rosettes and lovely silver dishes. In the main competition, all the Shoot and Swim details/heats were completed.

3 Our fabulous Grassroots team did us proud. Mimi rode Ollie (later to compete in the Open class!), George on Ben (also competing in the Junior Class) and the lovely Belle took round her owner, Orlo, and also Harry B in Grassroots and Josh B in the Junior Class. George took Best Run and our team were 3rd winning some huge rosettes and lovely silver dishes. In the main competition, all the Shoot and Swim details/heats were completed. In Juniors, there were 900 plus shoots from Poppy C, Meg S, Tom C & Will C. It should be noted that Jack T, we believe, had several shots through one point on the target and was very unlucky to be awarded one miss. He still scored 860 but this might well have been 960. Our best Intermediate Girl Shooter was Maddy A on 820, best Intermediate Boy Tom Edwards 840 and Best Open Girl Jess Telford 940. In the swimming, top 10 finishers for Juniors were Poppy C (7th) and Tom C (8th). In Intermediates Henry S (8th). In Open Jess T (2nd). With competition efforts for the day complete, there were still horses to exercise and the Cross Country course to walk. One way or another, the days at Bishop Burton are absolutely full on. Saturday was the Ride Phase for everyone. Open Boys and Girls first, followed by Intermediates and Juniors. A long and nervous wait for the Junior Girls. The going was good, the courses were well built, dressed and presented. Our Open Girls were brilliant max ride score for Jess to hang onto her lead after 3 phases. Clear jumping for Sasha and Emma and a very good round for Isla who has leap frogged straight from Junior to Open levels in one year. Intermediate Boys next: 1400 max for Henry and just one small error each for Henry and Tom. Intermediate Girls followed: 1400 max for Maddy, just two pesky time faults for Amy and a great round for Ella with some annoying technical faults for crossing tracks etc.

The turn of Junior Boys next. Tom & Will C were sharing a ride and so Tom was early to go in this class and Will late. Fortunately the pony took both boys round for 1400 points each.

Josh s own pony was off with an injury and he did particularly well to ride a pony he had no previous competition mileage on: Belle, most generously lent by the Clark family.

5 The turn of Junior Boys next. Tom & Will C were sharing a ride and so Tom was early to go in this class and Will late. Fortunately the pony took both boys round for 1400 points each. Jack T and Dolly produced another clear. Josh and Charles jumped beautifully round their first Championship course and Sam also rode with great maturity. Josh s own pony was off with an injury and he did particularly well to ride a pony he had no previous competition mileage on: Belle, most generously lent by the Clark family. The Junior Girls did not disappoint with all 6 recording clear for maximum points. On Saturday evening, the Beaufort PC hosted a Barbecue for all Area 9 and anyone else looking hungry. Numbers neared 100 and it was all hands to the wheel. Everyone there had a great time and it was great to spend time with our Tetrathlon friends from all branches. For competitors it was on to Party Time HOLIDAY was the theme and I would not be surprised to hear that Amazon had sold out of grass skirts and flower garlands. I daresay coconuts were in short supply also (don t ask!). I ll let the pictures do the talking!

And so to the final phase. A brisk start again on Sunday for everyone as the running course needed examination and all our teams held valuable places that they wanted to hold or improve upon.

However as the run heats were clocked up and every one of our Tetrathletes gave it all they had, we were astonished and humbled by their efforts to achieve FOUR national titles and, if we include the

7 And so to the final phase. A brisk start again on Sunday for everyone as the running course needed examination and all our teams held valuable places that they wanted to hold or improve upon. After last year s records breaking 3 team titles, it seemed too much to hope that we could ever match that feat again. However as the run heats were clocked up and every one of our Tetrathletes gave it all they had, we were astonished and humbled by their efforts to achieve FOUR national titles and, if we include the Grassroots team, THREE team 3rds. Every athlete on a podium at the prizegiving and 26 silver dishes. Jess also finished in 3rd place in Open Girls and was the only Open Girl to received a GOLD award. This award is extremely hard to achieve and requires a specific minimum score at Open level along with 1400 ride. Open Girls: Team win for Jess (Ind 3rd), Emma, Isla and Sasha Inter Boys: Team win for Henry (Ind 9th), Harry & Tom Inter Girls: Team 3rd for Maddy, Amy & Ella Junior Boys: Team win for Tom (Ind 10th), Will, Jack & Josh Mixed Juniors: Team 3rd for Finnola, Grace, Charles and Sam Junior Girls: Team win for Poppy (Ind 4th), Meg (Ind 9th), Bea and Rachel As a team manager, I just couldn t ask for more. The sporting achievements are one thing, but the joy and the companionship of such an outstanding group of parents and children is what makes this club something very special indeed.

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