Newmarket & Thurlow News

SUMMER RALLIES

We were once again very fortunate enough to have the wonderful facilities at Hall Farm, Thurlow for all our summer rallies thanks to the generosity of the Vestey family. Most of the rallies were well attended and although we did not enjoy the best of weather this summer, we only had to cancel one evening rally.

Special thanks to Sarah Burton who worked so hard to make the rallies run smoothly and to arrange her team of instructors who all did an excellent job.

Thanks also go to all the mothers who kindly provided delicious lunches for the instructors, drinks and biscuits for the children and those who helped collect and deliver the bbq food for the Riding for the Cups. A big thank you to Nick Duthie for so ably cooking and running the bbq. To all the parents, grooms and friends who helped unload and set up the jumps and arenas and clear them away at the end of the summer, a big thank you too.

Riding for the Cups reverted to it’s original format this year which seemed to go smoothly, with over 75 seniors and juniors attending. The results of the cup winners are listed below.

Jilly Beaton

                                                            SENIORS

Ride A                                                                           Ride B

T&T                             Minty Hanbury                           T&T                 Henrietta Sandison

Competitions                  Chris Hopkins                            Competitions      Henrietta Sandison

Ride C                                                                           Ride D

T&T                             Jemima Sandison                        T&T                 Charlotte Feathestone

Competitions                  Jessica Bickerton                        Competitions      Rhiannon Beal

Ride E                                                                           Ride F

T&T                             Zoe Johnston                             T&T                 Oliver Harrison

Competitions                  Jasper Upton                              Competitions      Fergus Wright

                                                            JUNIORS

Ride A                                                                           Ride B

T&T                             Katie Monks                              T&T                 Hamish Beaton

Competitions                  Tilly Upton                                Competitions      Isobel Stanley

Ride C                                                                           Ride D

T&T                             Rose Dunlop                              T&T                 Amelia Paltridge

Competitions                  Isabelle Upton                            Competitions      Belinda Dow

Ride E                                                                           Ride F

T&T                             Billy Vestey                                T&T                 Zara Paltridge

Competitions                  Algey Stanley                             Competitions      Zara Paltridge

Ride G                                                                         

T&T                             David Dow

Competitions                  Martha Dunlop  

Show Jumping Cup        Georgie Duthie               ‘Creeps’ Cup     Serena Johnston

Family Cup                    Wingfield Digby Family  

The 2007 Pony Club Polo Championships

This summer Will Hopkins and I joined the Cambridge Pony Club Polo Team to make up a Surtees team to compete in the Pony Club Polo Championships – a series of matches held over 2 weeks resulting, for those who qualify, in the championship finals at Cowdray. The sad thing was, I had to miss both cross-country days at Intermediate Camp, due to matches being held on those days. The great thing was, we made it to Cowdray, we didn’t come last, and it was GREAT FUN!

Pony Club polo can be quite confusing. For the benefit of those of you who don’t know a Jorrocks from a Surtees, these are the various levels at which you can play pony club polo, all determined by age and type of pony you have. Jorrocks players (under 12) and Handley Cross players (under 14) must all ride on “fluffies” – in other words, a pony club pony, and play one chukka polo – in other words, one match lasting six minutes against each team. From the Surtees level (also under 14) and up players ride on proper polo ponies. After Surtees there are Loriner (under 16), Rendell (under 21), Langford (under 21) and Gannon (under 21) teams. The difference between the three under 21 teams are the number of chukkas played in each match (Rendells play one chukka, Langfords play 3 chukkas and Gannons play 4) and therefore the number of polo ponies needed by each team member. 

To prepare for the Pony Club tournament, our team, managed by Cambridge Pony Club mother Katrina Allhusen, played in three “friendlies”. These took place in Daventry, Dullingham and Hertfordshire. The following week we again took to the road and played our three qualifiers – in Cirencester, Kirklington and Tidworth. We lost a few, drew a few and won a few, and waited at the Tidworth tournament to see if we had impressed the judges enough to “be taken to Cowdray.”

Sadly, my pony had fallen over getting up the ramp coming to Tidworth so was now out of action. My mother spent much of the time during our Isle of Wight holiday over the next five days trying to beg, steal or scrounge a pony. Jeremy Allen very kindly came up with “Blackbird”, one of his polo ponies. We arrived at Cowdray on a gloriously hot Friday morning, pitched our tents, checked on the pony lines (great portable stables) and played the first of our two matches. Over the next three days we played a total of six chukkas against three teams, losing four of the six, and eventually coming 7^th out of our Surtees group of eight teams. When you consider that they put the lowest seeded teams against the top two seeds (the eventual winner and runner up) the result was somewhat inevitable!

In between the polo we partied hard on the Saturday night, did some clay pigeon shooting and topped it all off with the most amazing galloping finale – all 300 polo players galloping off the field in pursuit of the huntsman blowing his horn.

It would be great fun to field a couple of teams from The Newmarket and Thurlow next year. Depending on your age on the 1^st January 08, you don’t have to have a polo pony to play – you just need something unflappable and fairly fast. You need to be able to attend various matches from 31^st July to 12^th August, including a couple of friendlies in the week prior to the 31^st, and your indulgent parents need to be happy camping out with you when you make it to Cowdray! If you are at all interested, please call either Emma Harrison on 01223 894849 or Sarah Hopkins on 01284 789535.

Oliver Harrison

Will Hopkins

Show Jumping

We have had a great many successes this summer and I would like to say how proud I am of all those competitors who were in our teams this year. They all showed great team spirit supporting and encouraging each other.

We sent 4 teams and 4 individuals to Area this summer

Intermediate B team won tack and turnout and finished 2^nd qualifying for the Nationals. Georgie Duthie finished in 1^st place and also qualified for the Nationals. There were also 5 double clears India Wadham, Beatrice Apthorp, Robert Barker,  Georgina Duthie and Laura Toller.

Nationals

This was a big day for all with everyone trying there very best unfortunately the team did not get placed but Georgie did amazingly well and came 8^th .

Burghley

Jackie Jarvis

Mimi Wadham

Georgie Duthie

Robert Barker

Unfortunately we did not get placed but Jackie and Robert jumped a clear round

Well done to you all and thank you to all the parents for giving up so much of their time to take their children to all these events. We have very high hopes for all our competitors next year.

Fiona Apthorp

NEWMARKET AND THURLOW

EVENTING TEAMS & RESULTS 2007

AREA HORSE TRIALS AT BURNHAM MARKET

OPEN

Jackie Jarvis   5^th in her section

Katherine Toller

Emma Pepperell

All team members performed very well, the standard at this level is very competitive.

Jackie Jarvis did a good double clear.

INTERMEDIATE

A TEAM

Beatrice Apthorp

Harry Bravery            7^th in his section

Sam Shepherd Barron

Mimi Wadham            (Team 8^th overall)                    

B TEAM

Millie Duthie

Minty Hanbury

Henrietta Sandison

The A team finished 8^th in the team competition, which was a very good result.  Bea Apthorp did a lovely double clear and Harry Bravery finished 7^th in his section.  Well done to all who competed.

NOVICE

A TEAM

Mimi Morley              6^th in her section

India Wadham

Jasper Upton

Annabel Duthie

B TEAM

Martha Crowhurst

Georgina Duthie

Frances Johnson

Jack Vestey

INDIVIDUAL

Emily Scott

This was a mixed bunch with several new combinations, and the results do not reflect how well they all performed.

Mimi Morley did a 30 Dressage which was excellent, and all the other A team members did double clears.

Unfortunately the Calvert Cup was abandoned due to bad weather.

I would like to thank Katrina very much for all her help with the Cross Country Schooling.

Our Pony Club Area is very competitive and I know people put a lot of time and effort into committing themselves to competing as a team member; so thank you and well done to everyone.

Gay Jarvis

Chrishall Grange “Camp”

(15 and Over)

Two days of intensive training (Fiona Bowen, Dressage and John Adams, Show Jumping) took place at the wonderful indoor school lent to us by the Thorleys at Chrishall Grange. All the children who attended said that this was a hugely beneficial two days leading up to all the Area Competitions.

John Adams’ stable management on Tuesday evening at Waltons was followed by a barbeque attended by all of the participating children, their parents, and John and his family (28 of us in all) on one of the few warm nights of this summer. Thank you to everyone who brought food for the evening and for our gorgeous flowers.

Simon Thorley has asked me to pass on his thanks for the donation the Pony Club made to Jane’s favourite charities.

Tessa Vestey

Picnic Ride

Thank you so much to Simone Walls who stepped in to organise the picnic ride. She was ably assisted by Karen Condron and Gilly Beaton. The children met at Waltons, Ashdon and spent a very happy morning riding around the tracks with a stop for refreshments at the Beatons. This was followed by a picnic and swimming on one of the rare sunny days. I have had numerous messages saying how much the children enjoyed themselves, so thank you to everyone who helped make this such a lovely day.

Tessa Vestey

Gymkhana Evenings

During the summer term several Friday evenings were spent practicing and learning about gymkhana games at Waltons, Ashdon. These were extremely popular and a great way for new members and their parents to get to know each other. Many thanks to Sarah Burton and Erin Wittich for making these evenings such fun and so successful.

Tessa Vestey

Area tetrathlon

4^th and 5^th August

This year the tetrathlon was run in Norfolk by four different Pony Clubs, with the Newmarket and Thurlow running the shooting. A huge thank you to Paul Johnson, Nick Duthie and Neil Beaton, who helped Tim set this all up and run it smoothly.

This year for the first time we had a competitor in the Open Girls, Jackie Jarvis. The Intermediate Boys team consisted of Chris Hopkins, Philip Johnson and Sam Shepherd-Barron and there were two Junior Teams:

The shooting and swimming took place on Saturday and Chris Hopkins excelled by winning the Intermediate Boys shoot.

It was the most fantastic weather-probably the only really hot week end of this summer- which was a relief as we had decided that we would all camp at Gt Wichingham on the Saturday night, prior to the running and riding on Sunday.

While John Adams walked the course with the Junior and then the Senior Competitors, the parents set up camp. The Sandison clan produced a fantastic Bedouin tent, tables and chairs appeared, the Morley gas barbeque was pressed back into action, and their gas fridge was overflowing with Rose and beer. Following a large and lengthy game of rounders, dinner was eaten, with children from age 7 to 17 chatting, giggling, playing together and helping each other. Mrs Morley in her leopard skin nighty is still trying to work out how her lorry started itself at 11.30pm.

The cross country course was extremely challenging, but was set to the new tetrathlon guidelines: Juniors over the BE Intro course, the Intermediate over the BE Pre Novice course, and the Open over the BE Novice/JRN course, with a gate to open and shut and a slip rail to negotiate as well. Jackie was one of only 5 clears in the Open class. There was only one clear in the Intermediate Boys (Sam failed to close the gate on Maisy). Robert and Freddie were two of only six clears in a large Junior Boys class – you stars! This meant that, quite rightly, in a Pony Club competition, the riding made a hugely significant impact to the results.

The Running was the last phase, taking place in the heat of the day, and they all ran their socks off. Jackie was so brave having come back from an ankle injury, Sam ran his heart out to finish second, and Fergus obtained the best score of all our N&T Juniors.

The results were fantastic with Jackie qualifying for the Championships as an individual, and the Intermediate Boys as a team. Sam came second individually, having been lying last at the end of day one after an interesting shoot! Robert was 8^th individually in the Juniors.

A huge thank you to the Johnson, Sandison, Morley, Wright and Upton families for being such happy campers.

Tessa Vestey

Results

Open Girls

Jackie Jarvis                             5^th Individual

                                                Qualified for Championships

                                                Clear Cross Country

Intermediate Boys                 1^st Placed Team

                                                Qualified for Championships

Sam Shepherd-Barron              2^nd Individual

                                                2^nd = Swim

                                                2^nd Run

Philip Johnson                           5^th Individual

                                                3^rd Shoot

                                                2^nd = Swim

Chris Hopkins                          7^th Individual

                                                1^st Shoot

Junior Teams

Hounds

Robert Barker                          8^th Individual

                                                Clear cross country

Frances Johnson

Henrietta Sandison

Archie Wright

Puppies

Freddie Morley                        Clear cross country

Jasper Upton

Jack Vestey

Fergus Wright

Tetrathlon Championships

16^th-19^th August

Hartpury College, Gloucester

Tim and I set off with a caravan, two tents and a car laden with food, drink and our three team members, Philip Johnson, Chris Hopkins and Sam Shepherd-Barron. Jackie Jarvis was sadly unable to compete due to a recurrence of her ankle problem. The boys quickly sorted out a camping spot, and we teamed up with the Essex and Suffolk Intermediate Girls team (surprise, surprise) and Ed Richards, who was very relieved to have some male support. It was a perfect result as they were all, parents and children, a delight to be with.

The boys all swam better that they had when qualifying. Philip had the best swim score of the three of them, despite having suffered a nose bleed 30 minutes before he swam.

The nerves started to show in the shooting, Sam gulping down Rescue Remedy, which had the desired results, with him shooting a personal best of 840.

After a course walk of both the cross country and running, it was time for the children to mingle, and the parents to have a glass of wine and barbeque supper for the little darlings! The next morning Tim and I emerged from our caravan to find it bedecked in Scotish, Irish and Welsh flags which had been flying (rather ostentatiously) above their respective encampments the previous day!

The Running started at the same time as the rain. Again the boys beat their qualifying times (by quite a lot) and the running course was hilly and soon slippery and muddy. Despite the revolting weather there was tremendous support for each other and the friends they had made.

Very sadly for Philip, Tycoon was lame so he could not compete in the cross country phase, but we were very grateful to Paul and Judith for letting Philip take part in the other phases, as I know it ate into their family holiday, and resulted in a lot of driving for Paul – thank you Johnsons.

The cross country was not as big or as technical as the previous year, but as the rain continued to fall the going deteriorated. By the time the Intermediate Boys started it was 4.45pm, with Sam and Chris riding at 6.30. I have never seen such carnage, with loose horses everywhere, and those who made it through the finish looking as if they had had a day’s hunting!

Sam and Maisy had a faultless round  and Chris and Merlin only a hesitation going into the first water and a few time faults – which was a huge achievement for Merlin, this tiny pony. A big thank you must go to Simone Walls who had Merlin to stay for nearly three weeks, clipped him and got him fit and ready to perform. She also drove both him and Maisy to and from Hartpury, which was a wonderful help to us all.

Still the rain fell – the tents were awash – supper had to move into the horsebox, but this didn’t seem to dampen the party atmosphere or the children’s enthusiasm.

Again the cross country made a significant impact on the results with our boys’ team finishing 6^th even with Philip scoring 0 for his ride. Sam finished 16^th individually. This is a quite amazing achievement in a national competition – well done all of you. Despite the weather, it was a fantastic four days, which I think the parents enjoyed nearly as much as the children.

Tessa Vestey

WEB SITE

I know it has been mentioned before, but the committee are very keen to have a Newmarket and Thurlow Pony Club web site. And I am happy to try to organise it.

If we could all communicate by email and you can access up to date information on a website it would make everyone’s job so much easier. We very much hope that all members will support us in this, and once again we would like to ask for everyone to please send an email address that we can contact them on. Please just take 1 minute of your time to email me with it at aliceolley@hotmail.com. With around 200 members I really need your help with this.

A website cannot happen without articles, information, photos etc. And I cannot set one up without everyone sending me some content! ( in WORD format please!) So take a look at the other PC websites and let me know what you think of them. If you have anything that is suitable to be included please send it, either by email or post.

Many thanks, 

Alice Olley,

HighView,

Sewards End,

Saffron Walden, CB10 2LQ

Parental Consent

As we develop our own website we would like to use photographs to illustrate the activities undertaken by the children with the Newmarket and Thurlow branch of the Pony Club.

If you do not wish for any photographs of your child to appear on the website please could you contact myself at:

deuce@haresform.orangehome.co.uk

Or:

Hares Form

Sparepenny Lane

Great Sampford

Saffron Walden

CB10 2RJ

If you are happy for your child to appear in photographs on the website you do not need to respond. This will be accepted as your consent for photographs of your child to be used for this purpose.

Many thanks,

Gail Deuce

Child Protection Officer

GOSLING CUP 2007

The lights went on in our stables at 4.15am on August 19^th.  Two ponies were competing in the Gosling cup, one of which is sadly grey!  Max had been bathed daily for a week in preparation.

The lorry left at 7am, with two ponies that would have had early acceptance to a Swiss finishing school!

The B team had tack and turn out at 10.10, so an 8am start seemed conservative.  We still managed to be sewing whilst walking into the arena to insure rules were conformed to and marks were not lost.

Jimmy Sandison, Sophie Balding, Jess Bickerton and Annabel Duthie were a credit to Newmarket and Thurlow as they entered the judging ring, and the marks reflected the enormous amount of hard work.

Dressage was next.  The team placed third overall – what an achievement.

Cross Country was a similar story with three going clear.

Show Jumping was a success – Jimmy went clear – another rosette for a double clear congratulations Jimmy!

The A Team had a lie in – Tack and turnout at 12noon.  By this time Millie had plaited 5 tails and had cramp, Max (the grey) was bored and making a mess of his new shiny white coat – slight panic as the white chalk used to clean/shine and gain extra marks began to melt and dribble down newly poslished hoof.  Extra confusion for the team as one lorry negotiated the A12 via Billericky adding approx 2 hours to the journey and another jockey arrived without jodhpurs. 

Newmarket and Thurlow members are creative and do not panic in a crisis.  The male jodphurless jockey wore his team mates’ jodhpurs whilst she found a pair belonging to her younger sister.  All was solved. Tricky breathing for those two competitors but as one is not supposed to do that whilst being judged for tack and turnout  it worked in our favour – once again, all credit to Harry Bravery, Bea Apthorp, Robert Barker and Millie Duthie, their ponies were spotless and no one knew we were cross dressers!

Dressage results insured the A team were up at the top, and they delivered a very polished team ride.

Cross country produced four clear rounds – and show jumping was competitive.  More double clear rosettes.

The finale of Gosling Cup is always long awaited.   At 6pm Horses and riders were back on parade for prize giving, which produced the following outstanding results.

B team:  3^rd overall in Dressage

               Sophie Balding 3^rd in her arena overall

                 Jimmy Sandison 3^rd in her arena overall

A Team:  2^nd Overall in Gosling Cup 2007

              6^th overall in dressage

                Bea Apthorp 1^st in her arena overall

              Millie Duthie 1^st in her arena overall

The host pony club, Essex Union “A” came first with a lead of one point.

Gosling Cup has been held yearly since 1945.  Thurlow has hosted it twice and won it seven times, last in 1995.   This year 23 teams took part – there were 92 individual riders competing.

A big thank you to all those who took part.  The Gosling Cup is a massive commitment in the middle of summer holidays.  Thanks for being patient and responsive at all the rehearsals and for being great sports on the day.

But a special thanks also to all those parents, grooms and helpers who ferried, cleaned, nagged, sewed, pulled, clipped, washed, scrubbed, oiled, brushed and generally nodded at the right time.  The day was great, with fantastic results.

And of course a thank you to Sarah who had faith throughout in her A team and Tracy who supported the B team – could not have done without you!

Next year I’ll be in Portugal or at the ballet.

Gre Duthie