NFU Mutual Pony Club Quiz Continued Success
Over 100 Pony Club Members gather at Moreton Morrell College, Warwickshire, on April 4th 2015 for The Pony Club National Quiz Finals, kindly supported by NFU Mutual.
The NFU Mutual National Quiz attracts teams from Pony Club Branches and Centres throughout the UK, who qualify for the final by winning their Area competition. A total of nineteen teams qualified for the event, and all were keen to demonstrate their knowledge across a range of equestrian and non-equestrian subjects, to be in the running to take the Branch or Centre title in this popular annual competition.
The teams were tested on a diverse range of topics across the eight rounds:
Round 1 – The Pony Club
Round 2 – Recognising Horse Ailments
Round 3 – Around the Countryside
Round 4 – Breeds, Colours & Markings
Round 5 – Practical Round (Individual)
Round 6 – Travelling & Road Safety (Pairs)
Round 7 – Know Your Spelling
Round 8 – Picture Round
The Branch competition was hotly contested, with teams including the Chipping Branch who were victorious in 2014 and the Hampshire Hunt who took top honours in 2012 and 2013. The marks were close at the interval, but the team from Hampshire Hunt – Ella Greenway (11), Catherine Van Randwyck (12), Archie Moffat (14) and Abigail Gant (15) – took the lead in the afternoon session, gaining an impressive 86 points out a possible 90 to win the competition; 30 marks ahead of second placed Chipping Branch who finished on 246.5 points who narrowly pipped Bramham Moor Hunt Pony Club came in 3rd place, with a total of 246 points.
Emma Moffat, Hampshire Hunt’s Quiz Team Manager was thrilled with the win. She commented “At the beginning of December, twenty of our Members starting training for the Area Quiz. We arranged a series of Achievement Badges throughout the winter to tie in with the quiz subjects this year.” Emma continued “Our winning formula is to supplement quiz training with pizza and chocolate biscuits!” Emma went on to thank NFU Mutual for the generous prizes which the winners received.
In the Centre competition, first timers Tumpy Green Equestrian Centre were in the lead after Round Six with 161 points, ahead of Lavant House Stables who were close behind with 159.5 points. The Lavant House Stables team, consisting of Jim Butler (11), Ellie Dickens (12), Phoebe Goodale (14) and Laura Pattison (21), gained full marks in Round Seven to beat Tumpy Green in Round Eight, meaning they romped home for a third successive victory.
Denise Pattison, Lavant House Stables Team Manager, commented “Lavant House Stables were delighted to win the Centres section of the Pony Club NFU Mutual National Quiz for the third successive year.” Denise went on to say that Lavant’s high score in the first round helped to secure their victory.
The team from Tumpy Green took second place with 197 points, just half a point ahead of Field House Equestrian Centre and Throstle Nest Riding School who tied for third place on 196.5 points. The judges decided that Field House Equestrian Centre should be awarded third place as they had a higher score in Round One, so Throstle Nest Riding School went into a respectable fourth position.
Pennant Park Riding Centre, who were also attending for the first time, won the Home Made Collage or Display competition with their papier mache horse’s head, which wowed the judges. Wyndham Branch were runners up with their artistic mini display called ‘All About the Horse’.
Hannah Clack, NFU Mutual National Quiz Secretary, congratulated everyone who took part in the final and added “Teams came from all corners of the UK and worked extremely hard to prepare for the final – and we thank NFU Mutual for their ongoing support of this popular competition.”
