Melton horseball team claim victory at national open championships

A team from Melton, Leicestershire, took top honours at the British Horseball Association’s (BHA) Open Championships last weekend.

More than 100 horses and riders took part in the championships at Arena UK on 10 and 11 October — the final event in the BHA’s calendar.

In second place, in the open division, was Nottingham Red, followed by London Firsts.

Winning the novice senior division was South Causey, second Derby and third placed-team was London.

Derby was victorious in the junior division (player Christie Morgan, pictured), followed in second place by Newnham on Severn, and in third, South Causey.

Event sponsor PolyPads donated prizes for the division winners, and individual prizes, too.

Samantham Coulman of London Firsts won 2009’s most improved player, while Kaitlyn Gregory of Newnham Juniors won player of the tournament.

Matty Fawcett of South Causey Juniors won the best goal award and

Emma McGriskin of London Extras took home the best turned out prize for the weekend.

The Retraining of Racehorses Charity Trophy was awarded to Mikey Barton of Newnham seniors.

In an effort to step up welfare, prizes were also awarded to the best horses of the weekend and Newnham Juniors took home the prizes for the best presented at vetting each morning — courtesy of British Horse Feeds.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now