EQUESTRIAN NEWS
#ehuknews
Pony Club News
The Pony Club Conference 2015
The Pony Club’s Annual Conference
was held on March 4th at its bi-annual
venue of Cheltenham Racecourse. The
event boasted a jam-packed and varied
line up that reflected the feedback from
volunteers on what would most help
them to run their Pony Club activities,
as well as acting as the final official
engagement for Chief Executive, Judy
Edwards.
The day kicked off with some
‘Inspirational Thoughts’ courtesy
East Cheshire Branch District
Commissioner (DC), Geoff Bell, who
has held the role of DC for 10 years, as
well as Centre Proprietor of Carrington
Riding Centre, Sharon Groos.
Sharon, who boasts 125 Pony Club
Members at her riding school in
Manchester, commented “Pony Club
is now a major influence on our riding
centre and plays an important role in
increasing the participation of young
people who have a passion for horses”.
Following on was a new addition
to the line up, with Volunteers being
introduced to the latest developments
in the areas of IT, including database
integration and the exciting prospect
of centralised Membership for The
Pony Club in 2016, as well as training
initiatives for Members and Health and
Safety advice for volunteers; followed
on by the opportunity for interaction
between delegates and Pony Club
representatives from the relevant areas.
Before the break for lunch there
was a presentation from Mary Tuckett,
Pony Club Chairman, to outgoing
Chief Executive, Judy Edwards, to
mark her final official engagement for
The Pony Club.
Speaking after the presentation Judy
commented “To promote the highest
ideals of sportsmanship, citizenship
and loyalty to create strength of
character and self discipline, I believe
is even more important today than it
was 86 years ago. We are all custodians
of this very special ethos and I feel
enormously proud and privileged to
have been able to serve for this length
of time”.
After lunch, there was the
opportunity to sit back and enjoy
a light hearted slot from Pony
12
Club Members John Church and
Chris Harris, around their amazing
‘Australian Experience’ as part of The
Pony Club Tetrathlon International
Exchange. Including teams from
Great Britain, Ireland, Australia and
New Zealand, John and Chris shared
their memories some of the amazing
activities, including sky diving and
surfing, along with the friendships they
formed whilst on the tour.
This was followed by the rare
insight from Terry Pendry, who acts
as Stud Groom and Manager to Her
Majesty The Queen, at The Royal
Mews, Windsor Castle. Terry shared
some wonderful memories of his time
in the role, which he has held for 20
years, following retirement from The
Riding Staff, of the Blues and Royals
Regiment, Household Cavalry, having
started his career as a professional
jockey.
The presentation of ‘Pony Club
Secretary of the Year’ was made by
current Pony Club President, the
Lady Lloyd Webber, to Iona Griffiths
Pierce from the Flint and Denbigh
Hunt Branch; which is the 4th largest
in the country with a membership
of 270. Iona was nominated by the
Flint and Denbigh Hunt Branch DC,
Bethan Jones, who commented “Every
Branch needs a special person like
Iona! She encourages all children from
all backgrounds to make the most of
being a Member of the Branch, by
giving them opportunities to try all
activities connected to The Pony Club”.
Those attending also had chance
to meet The Pony Club’s valued
sponsors, browse sponsors trade stands
and The Pony Club’s wide range of
merchandise, as well as being given
access to Discipline Chairman and
other key members of Pony Club staff
to give help and guidance.
Pony Club
Members Set
Out On The Rider
Development
Pathway
Pony Club Members from all over
the country are taking their first steps
on the Rider Development Pathway
(RDP), as the regional assessment
Rider Development Pathway days get
underway for 2015.
184 Members, who fit the specified
criteria, have gone forward to attend
one of the ten regional assessment
and training days across the
country, where riders will work with
recognised and experienced coaches
in their chosen discipline of either,
Show Jumping, Dressage or Eventing.
The scheme, supported by the
Sport England funded BEF Excel
Talent Programme, is designed to
aid the development of Pony Club
Members who show the ability to
progress in their sport. The initiative
also helps to provide a stepping stone
for young riders working towards
the talent pathways of the Olympic
disciplines, the British Equestrian
Federation’s Sport England
funded Excel Talent Programme
and the UK Sport Funded World
Class Programme. Together
these initiatives form an athlete
development pathway set out for
equestrian sport towards the creation
of future Olympians.
30 of the most talented riders
from the regional assessment days
will be invited forward to attend a
national camp, July 4-5th 2015 at
Somerford Park EC, where they
will receive top class coaching in
their chosen discipline of Dressage,
Show Jumping or Eventing. At the
end of the national camp, a final
six riders will be selected to be part
of the Rider Development Squad
to receive specific guidance on
future development and training
opportunities.
Further information visit
www.pcuk.org
Everything Horse UK • Issue 19 • April 2015