H&H launches young rider pages
Horse & Hound magazine will now include a young rider section. Twice a month the magazine will contain pages aimed specifically at those aged 21-years-old or younger.
The pages will include news stories and bulletins from the Pony Club, schools competitions, pony racing and FEI disciplines. This week’s magazine will include news from the Dengie Winter League Pony Club finals and a “mini-feature” about schools competitions – where they happen, at what level and how to get involved. There will also be various other news stories from several disciplines, including showing, student riding, driving, dressage, eventing and show jumping.
If you have something to tell us, or know someone else who might, email us your details to our dedicated young rider email address: HHyoungrider@ipcmedia.com
Jill Gourley wins PC Winter League Champs
Ireland’s Jill Gourley was crowned winner at this year’s Dengie Winter League Championship (7 April). Held at the Warwickshire College of Agriculture, Moreton Morrell, the championships included the Winter League Finals and the new Open Finals. Over 4,000 Pony Club members contested the coveted championship places at qualifiers throughout the winter, with just 82 of those making the journey to Warwickshire.
Partnering her coloured mare Fizzy, Tullylagen Pony Club member Jill Gourley made the eight hour journey from County Tyrone worthwhile by cutting every corner in the jump off to finish in the fastest time. Trained by her Pony Club instructor, Deputy District Commissioner John Black, Gourley purchased the eight-year-old Fizzy 18 months ago and the pair won their Area Trial to come here. “I realised an ambition actually competing in this Final,” said Gourley, “but winning was more than I dared dream about.”
Last year’s runner-up Victoria Dawe had a feeling of déjà vu when she again took the runner-up prize, parntering the 13.2hh Rupert. “He’s actually my brother William’s pony, but as he plays rugby on a Sunday, I took his pony and qualified him at the Area Trial,” said Wokingham branch member Victoria.
More news from the PC Dengie Winter League Championships can be found in this week’s H&H, out 20 April.
Pony Races at Pytchley
Despite the incessant hail and snow, Georgina Andrews and Pepsi clinched the 14.2hh class at Pychley Pony Races. Onlookers watched in horror as a few of the jockeys rolled down Guilsborough Hill in their clean white jods: “The stains have been so difficult to get out,’ commented one jockey’s mother. But the conditions did not stop Lucy Saunders and Fair Game from finishing second with Freddy Tett and Jethro in third.
George Saunders and Cwrt-y-bettwys Vocalist were winners of the 13.2hh races, with Joe Hill and Charlie as runners-up. Rockchay Robin and Harriet Walker took third.
Essex and Suffolk Pony Racing Results
13.2hh
1st Ernford William Lobb (Charles Clover)
2nd Perryditch Tupelo (Edward Baker)
3rd Scaramouche (Jessica Joslin)
4th Firfield Starlight Lady (Sophie Whyte)
14.2hh
1st Monsoon (Arthur Boscawen)
2nd My Chelsea Girl (Ysobel Greenlees)
3rd Judgement Day (Juliet Chamberlain)
4th Pilgrim’s Orolan (George Westwood)
Puckeridge Pony Racing Results
13.2hh
1st Pepsi (Georgina Andrews)
2nd Sparkling Destiny (Sharon Slender)
3rd Hero (Amy Braham)
4th Nacona Shafali (Bridget Andrews)
14.2hh
1st The Road Runner (Harvey Roberts)
2nd Firfield Starlight Lady (Sophie Whyte)
3rd Cobweb (Tabitha Down)
4th Miss Dynamite (Christy Mews)
