3.45pm                       Turnstiles Open.          

4.30pm                       Hospitality Suite Opens.

5.30pm approx          Racing Tips from Celebrity Tipster Pamela Ballantine.

5.30pm – 7.30pm      Redeem your food voucher 

*Additional food options / Side Orders / Desserts also available to purchase.

5.45pm                       First Race.

8.55pm                       Last Race. 

9.30pm –11.30pm     Live Music after Racing with ‘The Chancers’

The four day Championships enjoyed some sun, a good few showers, but mainly equestrian sporting action across the three Olympic disciplines of Show Jumping, Dressage, Eventing as well as Mounted Games, Polocrosse, Centre Equitation, Musical Ride, Horse and Pony Care and Endurance.

Highlights at Open Team level included Killultagh Old Rock & Chichester Harriers, who enjoyed some fantastic results across the whole Championships, taking the top spot in the both Virbac 3D Worming Show Jumping and the NAF Superflex Dressage; as the Flint and Denbigh stormed home with the highly coveted Stonar Eventing Open Team title.

Rachel Coulter, from the East Antrim, made the long journey more than worthwhile taking the win in the NAF Superflex Open Individual Dressage Championship with Gorsehill Maya; Rachel was also selected to be a part of The Pony Club’s Rider Development Pathway squad earlier in the year. Bethany Shipley, from the Middleton Hunt, produced three faultless rounds and was a full second clear of the competition to take the honours in the Virbac 3D Worming Open Individual Show Jumping, riding Coedfryn Top Notch.

In the Equi-Trek Mounted Games the Oakley Hunt West took the Junior championship win, whilst the Senior Games, offering two finals slots for the Prince Philip Cup finals, saw the Sir Watkin William Wynn’s and the West Hants Branches securing their places for the final at Horse of the Year Show in October. The Mounted Games also welcomed teams from USA Canada and Australia as the finale to the 2014 International Exchange, providing colour, sport and the chance for Members to forge friendships overseas.

The Musical Ride competition, supported by NAF Magic, yet again produced some incredible displays of ridden choreography and costume; with the West Lancashire reclaiming the coveted title with their ‘Super Steeds’ ride depicting different super heroes including Batman, Robin and Mr Incredible; the Branch previously won the trophy in 2012.

In the Windsor Equine Centre Equitation, Foxes Riding School produced a clear 10 point lead to secure the team top spot, and the North Warwickshire battled their way to the top to claim the Maldon Championship in the NFU Mutual Polocrosse final.

Pony Club Endurance also enjoyed the Championship’s with those taking part enjoying a fantastic scenic route around the grounds of Cholmondeley Castle and surrounding area at Novice, Intermediate and Open levels. Old Surrey & Burstow’s Novice Team enjoyed success over the shorter distance Novice competition, whilst Bedale & West of Yore retained their title on the longer Open route.

Focussing on the horse care aspect, the Blue Cross Horse and Pony Care competition yet again produced some excellent displays of knowledge from 40 teams, with the Chipping Branch retaining their title for an amazing third year by a considerable margin, and the Old Berkshire Hunt kept up the pressure in the Junior section which was tight at the top.

Pony Club Mentoring, supported by NFU Mutual, made a welcome return after being introduced to The Championships in 2013, and catered for all disciplines involved. On hand throughout the Championships in their distinctive jackets courtesy of Matchmakers International, Mentors chatted to hundreds of competitors, drawing on their experiences and using the mentoring resources to help competitors perform at their best in the electric Championship atmosphere.

“Huge thanks must go to our Championship title sponsors, Weatherbys Private Banking, as well as all our discipline sponsors, including Stonar, Virbac 3D Worming, NAF, NFU Mutual and Equi-Trek for their valued support which allows us to produce this amazing Championship site” commented Mary Tuckett, Chairman of The Pony Club. “As always it has been a pleasure to see our Members excelling in their early careers in their chosen areas of equestrian sport, and Cholmondeley Castle has once again provided us with an incredible backdrop to host the array of competitions across the four days”.

Full results for each of the Championship disciplines can be found HERE

Novice showjumpers with support team at the campsite in Chesire

Following on from the success of East Down members to secure qualifications for the intermediate and novice championships in England, the skill of these young riders continued resulting in prizes.

First to travel to Yorkshire was the Tetrathlon Team of Paddy Erskine, Ewan Findlay and Andrew Turley. This young team secured first place in the Intermediate Boys UK Championships. Two weeks later the same team travelled to Limerick to take part in the Irish Championships and were placed third. Congratulations to all three on a fantastic result

As the Tetrathlon team travelled to Limerick, Cathy Campbell was travelling to Cheshire with her pony, Cairnhill Lucy, to compete in the Intermediate Eventing. Cathy rode well over a very demanding course, securing a very credible 18^th place.

Sophie Truesdale on Beech Hall Star, Molly Evans on Jazzy Susie, Chloe Rooney on Lismahon Houdini and Tara Findlay on Cindy pic

On the last weekend in August a group of 17 members, family and friends travelled to Cheshire, this time to the Novice Championships at Kelsall Hill. It was the turn of the show jumpers, Tara Findlay on Cindy, Chloe Rooney on Lismahon Houdini, Molly Evans on Jazzy Susie and Sophie Truesdale on Beech Hall Star. All jumped a clear first round,(only 1 of 2 teams to do this).The second round was over a very demanding course and the team picked up a very unfortunate 12 faults, still enough to bring home the 8^th place rosettes out of a table of 45 teams from throughout the UK. Competing as an Individual at the show jumping was Tilly Horder on Murphy. Tilly also displayed great skill jumping clear in the first round and only four faults in the second. This resulted in 20^th place out of 70 competitors.

Tilly Horder on Murphy jumping at the Pony Club Novice Championships in Chesire (1)

Competing at such a high level requires a lot of talent, hard work and dedication. East Down Pony Club would like to thank all those who kindly supported them as they worked towards the Championships.

It was with welcome relief that the Home Championships were being held locally. Hosted by Killultagh Branch at Tullymurry Equestrian Centre, Clough, East Down sent 30 members along. From the very youngest in the 50cms assisted making their debut into the world of competition, to the more experienced in the 85cms class, a very successful day was had by the Club.

The 85cms Team of Amy Jo Regan on Charlie, Tiarna Drake on Flash, Jemma McMullan on Ringfort Juno and Sophie Truesdale on Rathruyan Girl were placed 2^nd with Jemma placed individual 1^st and Sophie individual 5th . The team of Tilly Horder on Murphy, Ellen Erskine on Houdini, Imogen McGucken on Maple and Erin Gabbie on Catalina Rascal secures 6^th place. A great result by all.

Cathy Campbell on Cairnhill Lucy competing at the intermediate eventing championships in Chesire

East Down also took 2^nd place in the 65cms class. This success was by Jenny Hogg on Peppermint, Anna Hogg on Cracker, Aoife Hamilton-Quinn on Beauty and Rachel Kerr on Squiggles. Rachel was individual 2^nd and Aoife Individual 6^th. Well done girls.

Proving themselves to be very successful competitors were the younger members. The 50cms assisted class was won by the East Down Team of James Murphy on Fudge, Aaron Dugan on Hazel, Emma Burns on Jodie and Chloe McMullan on Teddy. Ellie McDowell on Ben was placed 1^st individually with Aaron and Emma  both in 2^nd and James in 5^th. Not to be outdone, the 50cms unassisted team were also first place. Aimee Dugan on Benji, Charlotte McGladdery on Pepsi, Dylan Torrens on Bella and Thomas Murphy on A J Larcarno. Charlotte secured individual 4^th.A fantastic group of Junior members who certainly have a lot of talent.

East Down senior member, Jacob Morrow, recently travelled to Barbury Castle, Wiltshire, to compete with Irish Long Distance Riding Association. Riding Tambo, Jacob was part of the winning Home International Team and also won the Home International Junior Trophy.East Down Branch of the Pony Club would like to congratulate Jacob on this success.

East Down branch are very proud of all their representatives at the various National Championships. They are excellent ambassadors for their Branch and a credit to all concerned.

WELL DONE EAST DOWN !