Quiz Champions Iveagh Penguins, Casey Webb, Kathryn Morton, Fin Walsh, Lucy Morton who were the winning Team with their trainer Sharon Lyle Hall

Iveagh Branch of the Pony Club recently hosted the Area 17 NFU Mutual National Quiz at the Village Centre in Hillsborough. This was the first Area 17 competition of 2015 and was attended by approximately 30 teams from Branches and Centres throughout Area 17. Competition was fierce with the winners qualifying to go to the National Final at Warwickshire College, Moreton Morrell  on Saturday 5^th April 2015.

Results:

1^st Magpies – Casey Webb, Kathryn Morton, Fin Walsh, Lucy Morton

2^nd Pandas – Katie King, Abby Morton, Jack Scott, Lorne Walsh

3^rd Zebras – Claire Sinton, Rachel Taylor, Helen Sinton, Katie McComb

4^th East Antrim – Emma Brown, Robyn McConnell, Charlotte Harding

5^th Penguins – Carla Troughton, Beth Parker, Anabelle Heffron, Rory McIlduff

6^th Blue Mid Antrim – Amy McNeice, Sarah McNabney, Tori Surgenor,  Alex Henry McCool

Laurel View Pony Club Centre Team Cora McNulty; Erin McCrea; Lucy McMahon-Beattie; Aimee Davis and Team reserve and Mascot chaperone Sophie McGuckin.

Team Going to the National Quiz Championships is Iveagh Sarah Sinton, Rachel Taylor, Jack Scott and Lucy Morton

Many thanks to all who helped – Vickie White for her fantastic questions, Horace De Courcy Wheeler who was Quiz Master, Margaret Murphy for the delicious catering, Sharon Lyle Hall for the thorough training of the Iveagh teams and everyone who hosted the training and helped on the day.

The teams were tested on various aspects of equestrian and non-equestrian topics across the following eight rounds:

Round 1 – The Pony Club

Round 2 – The Stable Yard and Tack Room

Round 3 – Mountains, Rivers and Lakes

Round 4 – Missing Words

Round 5 – Practical Round

Round 6 – Grooming, Clipping and Trimming

Round 7 – Picture Round

Round 8 – War Horses in History

After being victorious for the past two years, Hampshire Hunt were favourites to repeat their success in the Branch competition, but it was the Chipping Branch who held the lead at the halfway stage; with just four points separating the top four teams, however, there was still all to play for. In the Centre competition there was a clear leader early on, with defending champions Lavant House Stables forging a ten point lead over their closest rivals from Talygarn Equestrian Centre.

The afternoon session saw teams split up for the individual practical rounds, and despite strong competition from the Llangeinor Hunt and Cheshire Hunt North Branches, the Chipping Branch managed to hold onto their lead and seal the title in the Branch competition. The Chipping Branch team of Victoria Hargreaves (17), Jack Mellin (14), Vanessa Lace (11) and Charlotte Gibb (11), finished on a final score of 244 to give them a 9.5 advantage over Llangeinor Hunt in 2nd place.

With such a commanding lead in the first half, the Lavant House team of Helena Bissex (20), Livvy Linares (15), Phoebe Goodale (13), and Lydia McKimm (10) could have relaxed, but they were determined not to let their lead slip and finished on an impressive 241 points, well ahead of Talygarn Equestrian Centre in 2nd place (226 points) and Friars Hill Stables in 3rd (208.5 points).

“It was very special returning to the Quiz Final with Livvy, Phoebe and Lydia to defend our title as National Quiz Centre champions” commented Lavant House team member Helena Bissex, “we have also had such a great time over the last few months preparing for the National Quiz and spending time together.”

The mascot competition also proved as popular as ever, with the theme this year being “the best homemade display or collage representing the Branch/Centre”. After a difficult judging process, Pennant Park Riding Centre were chosen as the winners, with the Vale of Taf Branch claiming 2nd place.

“Blanche Surman, Affinity Marketing Executive from NFU Mutual, commented “the day was thoroughly enjoyable, well done to the winners and all those that qualified to take part in the final!”