Equestrian season gets off to a canter (From Gazette & Herald)

Equestrian season gets off to a canter

AS spring slowly creeps up on us, the new equestrian season has kicked off with great enthusiasm.

Well done to Middleton East Pony Club which represented the north at the Dengie and Quiz National Finals held at Warwickshire College. This was attended by Pony Clubs across the country and involved a test of horse-related knowledge.

Alas, the south won!

The Malton and District Riding Club was not deterred by the April showers on Sunday. The show jumping competition at Manor Farm, Thornthorpe, went ahead despite the rain.

Amidst excitement from the Grand National, there was a huge turnout and the winners are as follows: novice pony, Emma Taylor with Tilly; novice horse, Julie Staveley with Dictator; intermediate pony, Nichola Hill with Tico; intermediate horse, Tracey Clarkson with It's Up To You; open pony, Nichola Hill with Tico; open horse, Georgie Judge with Bella.

Upcoming events

Malton and District Riding Club - April 25, hunter trials at Brecks Farm, Wigginton, York; May 23, arena event at Brecks Farm, Wigginton, York; May 30, show jumping, Manor Farm, Thornthorpe, commencing at 10am with clear round, warm-up, novice, intermediate and open classes.

Derwent Pony Club - April 13, Easter rally at the G G Centre in York. Entry to the event is £10 for members and reply slips are to be sent to Jill Turnbull with a cheque. May 4, junior rally, to be held at Garth End, Ayton. May 9, one-day event, to be held at Appleton-le-Moors. May 11, senior rally, to be held at Garth End, Ayton.

Middleton East Pony Club - May 3, show to be held at Bridge Farm, Wold Newton. Show includes working hunter, gymkhana games, mounted fancy dress and show jumping. Entries must be received by the April 30, to Mrs F J Tuplin.

Many thanks to Anne Coleman, Mrs F J Tuplin and Nicky Lyons.

Gemma Kilby

Near miss for Chloe

DERWENT Hunt Pony Club's Chloe Hill jumped a clear round at the Dengie Winter League Pony Club Show Jumping Championships at Warwickshire College. But the Malton-based rider missed out on honours in the national final when she had two faults on the second run over a shortened track, although only five competitors enjoyed double clears.

Chloe, 13, has joined thousands of riders, all aged under 20, in this year's Dengie series across Britain and was one of a select group of 87 who qualified for the final, including contestants from Northern Ireland, Perth and the Isle of Wight. She was among 31 riders who went clear after the first round on her 13.2hh palomino pony Wispa.

Hill was a bit disappointed, having finished fourth last year, but she was fortunate to even make the finals after a problem en route. "We had a blow out on the motorway on our horsebox during the journey down," Hill explained. "We nearly didn't get to Warwickshire College on time for the class. I felt the course was trickier this year and quite tough, with some difficult striding on the related distances."

Updated: 11:42 Wednesday, April 07, 2004