David Hodnett trounced the opposition to take the prestigious Open Eventing title at the UK Pony Club Championships, held at Draycott house, Derbyshire. David led from the start with his horse Mistaken Identity III performing a beautiful dressage collecting only 24 penalties. Although the jumping phases were challenging for many, David completed both a clear show jumping round and then a text book cross country performance, being only one of a few competitors to complete the course inside the optimum time. David finished on his dressage score of 24 penalties; 14 penalties ahead of the next competitor which was further testament to such an impressive show of horsemanship, making him the worthy winner at National Level.

Whilst the team of David, Rupert Batting and Katie Paul were not successful, Rupert managed a credible 14th on Timaru, with only 4 faults show jumping and a couple of time faults XC to add to his dressage score.

Emma Selby competed on Another fidget at the championships in the intermediate section and although it did not go to plan, she was very pleased with her young horse at this level.

Jemma & Goldielocks also qualified for the Riding Club National Horse Trials this year, representing Witheridge Riding Club. The finals were held at Aston le Walls in August and Jemma finished a very creditable 10th in her section and brought home a rosette. The video of them going XC is on the website www.total-recall-videos.co.uk

In the open section Rupert Batting (Not Another Firday), Alexa Batting (Manyoshu) and Katie Paul (Astra) came up against some stiff competition on the day and even with all their best efforts only managed to secure a team place of 4th, but well done to them for having a go against our region's best show jumpers.

Open Team

Rupert Batting

The intermediate team comprised Charlotte Hare (Laisser Faere II), Maddie Scott (Lir Rose), Emma Selby (Another Fidget) and Alice Spicer-Edwards (Isla).

They too were competing against some very tough opposition but they tried very hard and managed to gain a 4th place as a team. A very good result given that there were only 2 double clears produced from the 33 riders taking part. This meant a jump off for the 3rd individual qualifying place amongst all those that finished their second round with only 4 faults overall, this meant both Charlotte and Alice had another chance. I think we all held our breaths as we watched them jump again, both delivering superbrounds, with Alice being very fast but getting 4 faults and Charlotte going clear, but getting pipped into 5th place by a matter of seconds. They all did very well and looked like they were enjoying themselves too.

Josie Vos ( Cherry IV) riding as an individual had a beautiful first clear round, but four faults in the second round unfortunately, but as a member of mixed team B they managed to put themselves into 5th place as a team

Josie Vos

Intermediate Team

Emma Selby

Alice Spicer-Edwards

Maddie Scott

Charlotte Hare

The Novice team of Molly Watson (Major Minor), Pippa Vos (Woodhouse Captain) and Jemma Murphy (Never Know) did themselves proud by gaining 5th place as a team against 18 other teams from the region, well done!

In the junior novice section Mary Daykin ( Strawberry) had a lovely first round going clear, but had a pole down in the second round. She was in a team with 2 from Devon and somerset and as a team they came 3rd with just 8 faults.

Molly Watson

Novice Team

Pippa Vos

Jemma Murphy

Open Team

The Open team of Alexa Batting, Rupert Batting, Katie Paul and Emily Mayes did very well to come 4th. Emily Mayes and Primitive Knight produced a lovely test which was good enough to be placed second individual and qualify for the Championships.

[Update] The open team came 2nd, Emily 2nd, Rupert 4th

Emily Mayes
(See also 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

Intermediate Team

Our intermediate team of Emma Selby, Maddie Scott, Cobi Lawrence and Charlotte Hare produced some lovely tests which, at one stage, we thought would be good enough to get us to Draycott. Sadly this wasn't to be and we finished a very close second, Charlotte and her lovely horse Laisser Faere II were placed 2nd individual and, like Emily, qualified to go to the Championships.

Emma Selby (see also)

Intermediate individual

As Josie decided to make the 'step up' to intermediate showjumping this year, she had to compete at intermediate level for dressage as well. The test went very well and Cherry IV produced some lovely work, especially as she too had willingly 'stepped up' to the next level. (Sorry Josie, I haven't got any photos)

Novice Team

Unusually this year we didn't have as many novice riders come forward as previously but we were still able to enter a team of 3 who were Jemma Murphy, Ellie Discombe and Pippa Vos.

Generally there are a large number of PC teams entered at this level and this year was no exception. Although not placed, our team coped very well and will have put in some of the ground work needed to build on for future years. Especially Jemma, who, we hope found the extra practice helpful before setting of for the RC Championships later in the month.

The new dressage team partnership of Ellie Discombe and her pony Robbie looked as though they were enjoying the experience (especially Robbie) and they did very well to be placed 8th individually.

(Sorry, I don't have any photos of this team.)

Tiverton enjoyed a third successive year of success, with the Team of David Hodnett, Katie Paul and Rupert Batting winning the most demanding Open section.

At Open level the course was so challenging, that in spite of over 16 pony clubs in the Area 15 region, only the Devon & Somerset and Tiverton could field teams capable of jumping this standard. Bicton produced an impressive cross country track, requiring bold, accurate riding. All three members of the Tiverton team completed clear rounds proving their ability at this level stealing the top placings, with David Hodnett 1st, Rupert 2nd and Katie 5th. David won the Musto Open league Eventing in the Affiliated section, and Rupert on his other horse won the title in the unaffiliated section.

In the intermediate class, the Tiverton team of Emma Selby, Charlotte Hare, Alexa Batting and Maddie Scott gained a respectable 5th place, with Emma completing a beautiful double clear to secure a much deserved 2nd overall and qualification to the UK Championships along with the Open Team.

Charlotte produced a "wow factor" dressage score, but sadly, her horse took exception to the last fence on the xc, as did Alexa's so team hopes of qualification were dashed!

(Does anyone have any more photos of the intermediate team? Please send them to me if you would like them to be published.)

Although the Novice team of Molly Watson, Pippa Vos & Ellie Greene were not placed, Molly produced a good dressage and an impressive clear in sj and xc, but just missed qualification gaining 4th place overall. Pippa produced her best dressage yet, but again the start and finish of the xc proved most influential. A special mention to Ellie who, at the eleventh hour entered the competition to make a novice team. Her horse didn't quite understand the meaning of dressage and saw the white boards as some sort of race track - we were all in awe at the way Ellie managed to keep her horse in the arena.

Many thanks to Ben Van Sommeren who looked after the dressage warm up on the day, providing support and good humour to the Tiverton Teams and entourage. Many congratulations to all who took part - whilst it didn't go to plan for all, the team spirit and camaraderie was lovely to see and experience. A proud day for Tiverton. (Thanks to Georgie Batting for this report)

The UK Pony Club Championships will take place at Draycott House, Derbyshire in August.

Alexa Batting
Charlotte Radley
Lucy Clist
Rosie Heard

came 2nd!! They were pipped to the post by just 2 points Taunton Vale being the winners

Tiverton hunt Juniors had a successful day at the Polden Hills Eventers Showjumping at Stockland Lovell last Sunday, 20th February.

Connie and Megan Isaac and Nell Baillie made up a team of three (so no discard score) but this proved no disadvantage and they finished on a clean sheet to take 5th place as a team in the 14 and under class out of 17 teams with Megan 6th individually.

Another 17 teams competed in the small open and drawn first, Tiverton provided three exemplary rounds over a course which later caused lots of problems to finish up in 2nd place. Very well done to all three members who have braved the weather regularly at the rallies with Sian Brown through the winter.

Unfortunately this was my (Jane Phillips') last event as team manager for Tiverton Juniors, but I would like to say I have thoroughly enjoyed myself, and the girls have been a pleasure to be associated with.