Area Games
Orkney sent four teams to the Pony Club Area Games held in Angus on 21 May 2005.
Orkney Junior A
3rd Tack and Turnout
3rd Games
Qualified for Zone Finals at Doune on 16 July
Orkney Junior B
5th Games
Qualified for Zone Finals at Doune on 16 July
Orkney Senior A
1st Tack and Turnout
2nd Games
Qualified forZone Finals at Doune on 16 July
Qualified for Games at Royal Highland Show
Orkney Senior B
3rd Tack and Turnout
Click on links below to view Area Games pictures
Jack: Junior A Tack & Turnout Inspection.
Kirkwall Rally
Kirkwall Sub Branch held a very successful Rally at the Market Stance on 4 - 5 June 2005.
Click on links below to view Kirkwall Rally photos
One Day Event
Orkney Branch of the Pony Club held a One Day Event at Aikerness, Evie on 19 June by kind permission of Mr Brian Wood. This event was originally planned for Skaill in Sandwick but after course builder, Mr Nick Coward, injured himself it was decided to change to a more straightforward venue and use portable fences, straw bales etc. Thankfully Nick has made a full recovery and was able to assist at the event, despite his limp.
For several years now the Coward family have almost single handedly organised an annual one day event. Katie Coward, for so many years our Chief Instructor, now organises Pony Club Polo in Scotland but still keeps a close eye on Orkney Branch.
This event was kindly sponsored by Aurora Jewelry of Kirkwall who produced unique brooches for class winners and provided stunning rosettes. Check out the fabulous pieces on Aurora's website by clicking here.
Click on links below for photos from Aiknerness ODE.
ODE1 : ODE2 : ODE3 : ODE4 : ODE5: ODE06: ODE07: ODE08.
Royal Highland Show
The senior Games Team from Orkney Branch of The Pony Club travelled to Edinburgh and competed in the Pony Club Games at the Royal Highland Show on 26 June 2005. They competed in front of a huge crowd and achieved an excellent third place. As usual the girls were accompanied by Team Trainer, Sarah Reid.
Orkney Branch of The Pony Club would like to express their gratitude to Northlink Ferries for their very generous sponsorship throughout the year. Find Northlink Ferries website by clicking here.
Click on links below for RHS photos by Helen Foulis.
RHS1 : RHS2 : RHS3 : RHS4 : RHS5: RHS6 : RHS7 : RHS8 : RHS9 : RHS10 : RHS11 : RHS12
Senior Summer Camp
Senior Summer Camp, held at the new Riding Centre for the first time, ran from 3 - 7 July 2005 and proved to be immensely successful.
Test Results
C+
Aislinn Malloy
Leah Drever
Rebecca Drever
Jo Birkett
C
Kirstie Stevenson
Jo Donaldson
Karoline Bain
D+
Erica Tait
Vikki Cursiter
Nicola Cursiter
Christina Fraser
Rhona Norquay
Elizabeth Vines
D
Kirsten Tait
Prizes
Best OrkneyBred Pony (Pat Hourie Cup) - Kika & Erica Tait / Odin Blue & Christina Fraser
Most Improved Novice Rider (Plate) - Kirsten Tait
Most Improved Horse - Murphy & Rebecca Drever
Most Improved Rider (Hanley Cup) - Erica Tait / Karoline Bain
Most Promising Rider - Nicola Cursiter
Citizenship Award - Kirsty Stevenson
Special Endeavour - Vikki Cursiter
Click on links below for Summer Camp photos.
Camp1 : Camp2 : Camp3 : Camp4 : Camp5 : Camp6: Camp7: Camp8: Camp9:Camp10 : Camp11 : Camp12 : Camp13 : Camp14 : Camp15: Camp16 : Camp17 : Camp18 : Camp19 : Camp20 : Camp21 : Camp22 : Camp23 : Camp24 : Camp25 : Camp26 : Camp27 : Camp28.
Junior Summer Camp
Junior Summer Camp also at the Riding Centre was run from 8 - 11 July 2005 and was another outstanding success.
Trophies
Most Improved Beginner -Eleise Rhodes-Schofield
Best Beginner 1st time at camp -Megan MacGregor
Most improved rider -Signy Spence and Connor Malloy
Best Orkney Bred -Peedie (Shannon MacGuinness)
Tests
D
Ruby Merriman
Connor Malloy
Laura Hamilton
Caroline Litts
Isla Paterson
Andrina Hutchison
Louise Fraser
Jade Baxter
Laura Flett
Megan Rowland
Megan MacGregor
Anna Tait
Simon Loudon
Harve Symonds
Owen Merriman
D+
Sam Henry
Judith Rosie
Signy Spence
Alix Tait
Alice Tait
Jade Corsie
Shannon MacGuinness
Harriet Stout
Gina Marshall
C
Katharine Drever
Achievement Badges
Grooming and Handling
Signy Spence, Harriet Stout, Laura Flett, Isla Paterson, Andrina Hutchison, Laura Hamilton, Jade Baxter, Megan Rowland, Connor Malloy, Ruby Merriman.
Plaiting & Trimming
Signy Spence, Sam Henry, Judith Rose, Katharine Drever, Connor Malloy, Alice Tait, Alix Tait, Gina Marshall, Ruby Merriman, Jade Corsie.
Points of the Horse
Isla Paterson, Megan Rowland, Connor Malloy, Ruby Merriman, Megan MacGregor, Owen Merriman.
Saddlery
Louise Fraser, Andrina Hutchison, Jade Baxter, Megan Rowland, Laura Hamilton.
Bandaging & Rugging
Jade Corsie
What did I like most about Junior Camp?
Jane�s Ride
Sam Henry - Loads of cross country jumping.
Signy Spence - Doing cross country, because I didn�t know Jack was that good.
Judith Rosie - Doing cross country, especially the banks.
Katharine Drever - Cross Country.
Dorothy�s Ride
Caroline Litts - Having Dorothy as an instructor.
Harriet Stout - Doing cross country.
Laura Flett - Everything.
Isla Paterson - Jumping.
Shannon McGuinness - Having Dorothy as an instructor.
Kerry�s Ride
Andrina Hutchison - Jumping on my new pony.
Megan Rowland - Doing a jumping course.
Louise Fraser - Long lesson and cross country.
Jade Baxter - Jumping courses in the sand school.
Laura Hamilton - The wide range of things to do and the opportunity to do it.
Jan�s Ride
Alice Tait - Doing a cross country course.
Ruby Merriman - Cross country.
Connor Malloy - Having Jan as an instructor.
Jade Corsie - Galloping in pairs.
Alix Tait - Being taught by Jan and jumping.
Gina Marshall - Knowing that I can do cross country.
Frances� Ride
Megan MacGregor - Cantering and jumping.
Simon Loudon - Galloping.
Harve Symonds - Riding.
Anna Tait - Going up over the mound and jumping.
Owen Merriman - Galloping over jumps.
Kirstie�s Ride
Isla Tait - Cantering and riding.
Tom Gordon - Jumping.
Clem Rowe - Riding.
Henry Gordon - Jumping and trotting.
Eleise Rhodes-Schofield - Jumping.
Eula Merriman - Riding.
Click on links below for Junior Summer Camp photos.
JCamp1 : JCamp2 : JCamp3: JCamp4: JCamp5: JCamp6 : JCamp7 : JCamp8 : JCamp9: JCamp10 : JCamp11.
Games Zone Finals
Orkney Branch had three teams who qualified for the Zone Finals at Carse of Cambus, Doune on Saturday 16 July.
Junior A - Katharine Drever, Alice Tait, Judith Rosie, Gina Marshall and Jack Reid.
The Senior Team was placed 4th and qualified for the Junior Championships.
Click on the links below for photos of the Zones.
Junior B - Davy Harvey, Ruby Merriman, Connor Malloy, Owen Merriman, Anna Tait. Senior - Kirsten Learmonth, Karoline Bain, Terri Reid, Jo Donaldson and Kelly Reid.
Against very stiff opposition the Junior A were 8thin the competition, but won the tack and turnout andJunior B were 10th.
Zones1 : Zones2 : Zones3 : Zones4: Zones5 : Zones6.
Interbranch Horse Trials
This event clashed with the Orkney County Show so the only competitor from Orkney Branch was Clare Wallace.
Clare had a really good competition. In Novice Dressage she came ninth in her arena while in the Showjumping she had 4 faults in the first round and 8 faults in the second. In the One Day Event Clare came 6th in Dressage, went clear in Showjumping but had one stop and an L at Cross Country.
Click on the links below for photos of Clare.
Pony Club Polo Camp at Scone
2005 saw the biggest turnout for this popular event ever with 41 members attending from all over Scotland.
Karoline Bain, Kirstin and Tasmin Learmonth and Ben and Margaret Coward, all members of the Orkney branch enjoyed three days of intensive coaching from HPA qualified coaches including Orkney�s favourite, Mike Hobday.
The ponies were all individually corralled in electrically fenced paddocks, thus avoiding any antics or kicking and the families all camped, caravanned or had �live-in� lorries at the lovely polo grounds at Scone Palace.
While the players were taught riding skills, stick work, including such challenges as �angled tail shots!� and rules and tactics, the parents acted as camp commandants and provided masses of barbecued food and cool drinks for the children!
Several of the players, including Kirstin and Karoline, who were saving their games ponies, rode polo pony hirelings and benefited greatly from riding well trained ponies who knew their job inside out!
There were many practice chukkas, which as well as being exciting in themselves, were great preparation for the tournament at the end of the camp. However, the Orkney members suffered torn loyalties when Kirstin and Karoline had to leave for the Games Zone finals and Ben and Margaret went off to watch the Gold Cup at Cowdray park, which is Polo�s major event of the season.
On the last day, however, Tasmin enjoyed success in the camp tournament and Kirstin was delighted to be awarded the prize for the most improved in her group.
October 28/29th sees a return to Orkney by Mike for another week-end of Polo coaching for any Orkney branch members who are keen and this time it is hoped that we might be joined by a few members from Caithness.
Scone Polo picture.