Southern Horse Magazine June / July 2016 | Page 61

Meet Melita Powell with JoJo at our first event together in my two wheeler. JoJo and I continued competing in the winter season and outdoors in the summer we did well and were selected to trial out for the Welsh team for the scurry and trails which was to be held in Sandringham in September of 2014. So obviously we went along to the training and gave it our all, I was over the moon to make it into the team, such a wonderful opportunity. Since then we have had a bit of a buzz for scurry and trails as well as the indoor and outdoor driving, JoJo just loves the cones!! he is my little pocket rocket and still in his prime at 10 years old. Melta Powell is 15 years old and lives in Mid Wales, she was driving in the British Scurry and Trials driving at the Dodson & Horrel International Horse Trials in the main arena on Saturday and Sunday 14th & 15th May and was one of the youngest drivers taking part. We interviewed Melita who told us a bit about herself and what inspired her to take up scurry and trials driving. I also qualified to attend Keysoe in 2015 with JoJO so we went along, unfortunately mum had an accident with another driver the day before my competition so she was in hospital when I drove , I was very nervous without mum as we were a team, but I got through it with the help of some friends and gained 4th place in the junior driver. Through 2015 mum was unable to drive so we only went to a few scurry and trails competitions dad groomed for me, until I found Philippa Scot who has helped me out no end at the events, along with other friendly competitors who all make me very welcome. Ruth Jenkins gave me the opportunity of driving her pony Sooty so I could have a feel of driving a bigger pony than JoJo. At the end of last year mum enquired about a pony for me to loan, from another driver of the club, Blackie is a 21 year Welsh Section A gelding and is fab, I fell in love with him and a month later mum and I brought him home, I then competed JoJo and Blackie at the indoor events. I qualified to drive at Keysoe in 2016 but could only take one pony, I chose Blackie and I came away from the championships as the Novice Junior Champion. I couldn’t believe it, what a different a year can make. I was completely over the moon. Since the championship Blackie, JoJo and I have attended a few more scurry and trails and have come up in the top 6 we are hoping to attend some more two day events around the country along with more scurry and trails.” Melita comes over as a very competent young driver and is obviously one to watch in the future, she took the experience of driving at an International event in her stride, performing in front of a packed audience both days of the event. Pictured is Melita at Chatsworth International Horse Trials with Blackie. “I started driving in November 2013 with Eppynt carriage club a sports driving club.” Melita told us “The first pony I drove was Rodney a 13.2hh Welsh Section C gelding that belongs to my neighbour. I entered my first indoor driving three phase event and came first in the junior class and got the bug, following that I entered both December and January events with equally good results. I enjoyed driving so much that for my birthday in February my mum and dad bought me my first driving pony a 9.2hh ride and drive Shetland pony named JoJo. I was thrilled to finish in first place [email protected] Page 61