In The Saddle
As the year drew to a close Chipping Pony Club members showed no signs of slowing down, writes Daphne Garment and Anne Williams. Photography: Dobbins Photography
Chipping Pony Club members have been competing across the North West in many different disciplines, learning as ever, along the way.
The show jumping Winter League series is held at Myerscough Equestrian Arena, organised by West Lancashire County Branch. Over the winter months it gives all abilities a chance to represent their club as a team or individual. Chipping has competed at the last three competitions with teams in the 10 years and under, 12 years and under and the 65cm competition. Having fun and being with their ponies is what it is all about for the Chipping members.
Dressage competitions saw our members travel to Formby to take part in the Winter League Series, run by the Haydock Park Branch. There are several classes to enter at varying levels. We were delighted to see our younger members having a go putting into action the skills they learnt at Junior Camp. Lucy, Temps and Poppy rode beautiful tests and Amy and Olivia both did very well with 5th and 6th placings!
Carrying on with the club’s busy end-of-year schedule the next competition was the Arena Eventing which took place at Kelsall Hill, Cheshire. This was a qualifier for the National Barrier Health Spring Festival 2022. Chipping organised this together with Haydock Park as a joint venture.
Entries came from as far south as Crewe, from Anglesey and Peak in the west and as far north as Oxenholme. Again, several Chipping members took part with Lucy winning the 70cm and Sarah the 100cm. This is a test of jumping starting with show jumps and then carrying on to cross-country fences including a water jump and ditch. The final fence is always a show jump in Arena Eventing which is a true test for horse and rider, as gaining back the control required for this often proves tricky after several cross-country fences.
The Mounted Games Winter League saw a delighted Chipping able to enter a brand new team for the Juniors Competition at Myerscough Arena. The young members have been committed and enthusiastic attending regular practice sessions to get them ready for a competition. Chipping’s first competition was eventful as they encountered the noise and excitement of so many ponies racing up and down. They all coped so well and learnt a lot so will be undoubtedly more confident at the next competition.
As 2021 drew to a close, Chipping Branch of the Pony Club held a fundraising event with not a pony in sight. Parents and friends enjoyed a Christmas wreath-making workshop where committee member, Sarah Fishwick, had gathered together a wonderful array of greenery, moss, dried flowers, seed heads, colourful ribbons and even beautiful pheasant feathers. Everyone went home proud of their handiwork after a very enjoyable afternoon.
If you’d like to know more about Pony Club, and in particular Chipping Branch, please contact the District Commissioner Joanne Conlon 01200 445143 or email: chipping@pcuk.org
