Horse of the Year Show

 

Our Senior A team have have again qualified for the Games National Championships at the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS). This is the 25th time we've qualified for the championships, having won a record 12 times.

 

The team members are: Neah Evans, David Ingram, Emma Keirs, Heather Ridland, Amy Fergusson and 6th member: Donald Evans with Robert Noble the team trainer (pic on left!).

 

This year there were 2 Scottish Teams competing (Eglinton & West Perthshire) - as we took the 'second chance' to qualify at Sansaw - details.

Unfortunately 3 ponies had gone lame since Sansaw so only 2 riders were on the ponies they had been riding all year, and Donald has injured himself - replaced by Amy Fergusson - so it was very difficult for the team going down the road.

Some of the Pony Club Riders at HOYS - (including Eglinton in yellow)

There were 2 competitions - the warm-up Robinsons Cup over the first 3 sessions of competition. Results below.

Then the team went on to compete for the the Prince Philip Cup over 6 sessions - with the top 4 qualifying for the final night - Results below.

West Perth and Eglinton - the two Scottish teams at HOYS

Wednesday Afternoon Session (Robinsons Trophy 1)

• This is part of a warm up for the National Championships getting the teams used to the arena and large audience.
• All six teams take part in each session - four competing in each race, swapping round, but this means that some teams will have competed in more races than others until Thurs afternoon session.
• Points awarded in each race: 1st - 5, 2nd - 4, 3rd - 3, 4th - 2, Elim - 1.

After the first session Eglinton are lying second after taking 2 seconds & a third in the races. But it was Wylye & West Perth who had great sessions with East Kent also winning a race.

(Note: Wylye and Quantock have completed a race less than the other teams)

Team	Session	Total	Place
WEST PERTHSHIRE (Blue)	13	13	1ST
EGLINTON (Yellow)	11	11	2ND
WYLYE VALLEY (White)	10	10	=3RD
EAST KENT (Black)	10	10	=3RD
BADSWORTH (Red)	6	6	5TH
QUANTOCK (Green)	5	5	6TH

The Eglinton tack room at HOYS

Wednesday Evening Session (Robinsons Trophy 2)

We were only in 2 of the races tonight - and the team did fairly well finishing 2nd and 3rd.

Team	Session	Total	Place
WEST PERTHSHIRE (Blue)	13 (2nd)	26	1ST
WYLYE VALLEY (White)	14 (1st)	24	2ND
EAST KENT (Black)	10 (3rd)	20	3RD
EGLINTON (Yellow)	7	18	4TH
BADSWORTH (Red)	6	12	5TH
QUANTOCK (Green)	4	9	6TH

 

Thursday Afternoon Session (Robinsons Trophy Final 3)

Well - we were eliminated in 2 of the races in this session - so score is not too good!! - this left us in second equal place with East Kent, with Wylye taking the Robinson's trophy.

Team	Session	Total	Place
WYLYE VALLEY (White)	14 (1st)	38	1ST
WEST PERTHSHIRE (Blue)	10 (3rd)	36	2ND
EAST KENT (Black)	6	26	3RD=
EGLINTON (Yellow)	6	26	3RD=
QUANTOCK (Green)	11 (2nd)	20	5TH
BADSWORTH (Red)	7	19	6TH

Team members got to meet top riders such as Tim Stockdale (above)
and Di Lampard (below - signing Heather's sweatshirt)

Prince Philip Cup

Thursday Evening Session (Prince Philip Cup 1)

On to the Prince Philip Cup - where there are only 4 of the teams in a session, competing in 5 races - making a maximum possible score of 25 points.
Eglinton was one of the teams that missed the session - but our members were there supporting West Perth!

Team	Session	Total	Place
WEST PERTHSHIRE (Blue)	21	21	1ST=
EAST KENT (Black)	21	21	1ST=
WYLYE VALLEY (White)	16	16	3RD
BADSWORTH (Red)	12	12	4TH
EGLINTON (Yellow)	Not in session
QUANTOCK (Green)	Not in session

Friday Afternoon Session (Prince Philip Cup 2)

Our first session - and it went quite well. All the teams were making mistakes and we finished the session in second place behind Wylye.

Team	Session	Total	Place
EAST KENT (Black)	16	37*	1ST
WYLYE VALLEY (White)	19 (1st)	35*	2ND
WEST PERTHSHIRE (Blue)	Miss	21	3RD
EGLINTON (Yellow)	18 (2nd)	18	4TH
QUANTOCK (Green)	16	16	5TH
BADSWORTH (Red)	Miss	12	6TH

Robert and the team

Friday Evening Session (Prince Philip Cup 3)

The half way point - not a great session for us. Again quite a few mistakes from all teams with Quantock coming out on top in this session.
But it was very close between the first 3 teams half way all on 37!

Team	Session	Total	Place
QUANTOCK (Green)	21 (1st)	37	1ST=
WEST PERTHSHIRE (Blue)	16	37	1ST=
EAST KENT (Black)	Miss	37	1ST=
WYLYE VALLEY (White)	Miss	35	4TH
BADSWORTH (Red)	17	29	5TH=
EGLINTON (Yellow)	11	29	5TH=

Saturday Afternoon Session (Prince Philip Cup 4)

Saturday had capacity crowds in the arena for both afternoon and evening.
With the pressure on the teams there was little to separate the teams - Eglinton won the Hurdles. Wylye won the most races, but mistakes in other races gave the session win to East Kent.

Team	Session	Total	Place
EAST KENT (Black)	19 (1st)	56*	1ST
WYLYE VALLEY (White)	17	52*	2ND
BADSWORTH (Red)	17	46*	3RD
EGLINTON (Yellow)	16	45*	4TH
QUANTOCK (Green)	Miss	37	5TH=
WEST PERTHSHIRE (Blue)	Miss	37	5TH=

Action from the balloon race - Amy & David

Saturday Evening Session (Prince Philip Cup 5)

This was one of the sessions our riders missed, but it gave them a chance to watch the show and cheer on West Perth!
There was some close finishes in the competition with East Kent finishing just 1 point clear of West Perth.
Eglinton were lying 6th at this point, and though two teams were a session ahead the team had their work cut out if they were to stand a chance of qualifying for the final night.

Team	Session	Total	Place
EAST KENT (Black)	20 (1st)	76*	1ST
BADSWORTH (Red)	15	61*	2ND
WEST PERTHSHIRE (Blue)	19	56	3RD
QUANTOCK (Green)	16	53	4TH
WYLYE VALLEY (White)	Miss	52	5TH
EGLINTON (Yellow)	Miss	45	6TH

Sunday Afternoon Session (Prince Philip Cup 6)

The last session to sort out qualifying positions for the final night and a nervous one it was!
For Eglinton the 3 new ponies were showing - and it didn't go too well - we did finish second in one of the races, but it wasn't enough - we sadly didn't manage to qualify for the final night.

Team	Session	Total	Place
WEST PERTHSHIRE (Blue)	21	77	1ST
EAST KENT (Black)	Miss	76	2ND
WYLYE VALLEY (White)	22 (1st)	74	3RD
QUANTOCK (Green)	12	65	4TH
BADSWORTH (Red)	Miss	61	5TH
EGLINTON (Yellow)	14	59	6TH

The team entering the arena

Sunday Evening Session (Prince Philip Cup- THE FINAL!)

So the first 3 teams went into the final, West Perth with a lead of one point, but with only 4 points between them and with double points in the final (1st-10, 2nd-8, 3rd-6, 4th-4, Elim-2) the places could change rapidly - and it did!!
East Kent took the lead with a win in the bending, only to have West Perth snatch it back in the Ball & Bucket which saw mistakes from all four teams. The pressure was definately showing as all the teams again made mistakes in both the 5 flag and the Robinsons Mail Order races but the speed of the Wylye ponies pulled them to wins in both to take the lead in the competition.
So the final race was the Big Sack. Wylye were leading by 3 points, from West Perth in second - so to beat Wylye, West Perth had to come in 2 places ahead.

The race was close with Wylye first to the sack, but West Perth closed all the way to the line, and the teams could not be split - tying for first!
This meant Wylye had won! Rosettes and the trophy were presented by HRH The Princess Royal who came to speak to all the teams. Then the lap of honour in the spotlights!

Team	Session	Total	Place
WYLYE VALLEY (White)	51	125	1ST
WEST PERTHSHIRE (Blue)	45	122	2ND
EAST KENT (Black)	36	112	3RD
QUANTOCK (Green)	32	97	4TH
BADSWORTH (Red)	DNQ	(61)	5TH
EGLINTON (Yellow)	DNQ	(59)	6TH

Pictured below is 'Uncle' Ted Hunter the starter - a character all week along with Danny Wilson who was organising the arena party.