Due to continuing issues with the Weekly News bouncing, and with the low number of emails which are read, from 25th July onwards, the Weekly News will be uploaded to the website and shared via Facebook, but NOT sent as an email. If you have any objections to this decision, please email support@fndponyclub.org.uk to voice your concern.

Area Dressage

Good luck to all our members who will be representing the Branch at the Area Dressage this next Sunday.

Camp

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO HELP AT CAMP. Parents of members attending camp please read the attached, so that you are aware of your duties at camp, and ensure that you turn up at the right place & right time.

Setting up for camp on Friday 28th July from 6pm. Many hands make light work. Please bring tools, strimmers, etc. (if you have them).

Arrive on the first day and leave pony in the lorry/trailer. DO NOT UNLOAD YOUR PONY. Camp induction talk at 9.30am. Cakes, biscuits etc. will be gratefully received for camp. Please bring them to the kitchen on the first day.

Ensure that tack & stitching on tack is in good condition and that it fits correctly. Ensure that your pony’s feet and shoes are in good condition and that it doesn’t need re-shoeing during camp.

If you are penning your pony – remember to bring the electric fencing, posts, charged battery, hay, bucket & MUCKING OUT EQUIPMENT.

It does get cold at night – remember to bring extra blanket & a warm sleeping bag.

If you are doing nightwatch, remember to bring your own sleeping bag, pillow, extra blanket.

Do not allow children to bring mobile phones, ipads or other valuable items to camp.

Llandyrnog District Hunter Trials and Tetrathlon

Saturday & Sunday 9th and 10th September – schedule out soon.

Newcastle Pony Racing Day

Entries are still been taken for the South Durham & Cleveland Hunt Branches Pony Club Race Day at Newcastle Racecourse on Saturday, 22nd July. Details can be found at the following link or see attached files: http://www.pcuk.org/index.php/sports/racing/racing_competitions_and_events/racing_instruction_day/

Bangor Racecourse – education and careers event for Pony Club Members

The Pony Club and Racing to School are working together on the Racing to School’s Education Programme, and are pleased to offer FREE workshops for Pony Club Members aged 12 years and over this coming summer.

We have a Racing to School’s Riders’ Programme for Pony Club Members taking place at Bangor Racecourse on Wednesday 16th August. As this is an evening race meeting, the workshop will start at 2pm and those attending can stay on afterwards to watch the racing!

The workshops provide fun and informative activities aimed at increasing knowledge and appreciation of horseracing, and Pony Club Members will be given access to normally restricted areas of the racecourse during the morning before watching live racing in the afternoon.

For those young people hoping to combine their love of horses with a future career, the team will provide details on a wide range of opportunities available in the racing and thoroughbred breeding industries too.

Recent feedback from attendees:

“The whole day was excellent from going behind the scenes, meeting a trainer, clerk of the course and the champion jockey! The team were knowledgeable and friendly, a great day.”

“Thank you so much to all involved in today. We as a family have had a fantastic day and a once in the lifetime opportunity to see behind the scenes. A very valuable day and I would highly recommend to others”

“An absolutely brilliant day for the children. Had I been younger it would have changed my career path. An opportunity not to be missed”

Spaces are limited to a maximum of 30, so will be offered on a first come first served basis. Parents are welcome to join their child(ren) for the activities if they wish.

For more information, and to submit names for registration, please contact Carrie Ford (carrie@racingtoschool.co.uk)

Ride for Research Sponsored Ride

Ride for Research is a committee for Cancer Research UK that has been set up in an aim to provide events for equestrians across the UK whilst also raising awareness and money for CRUK. They held their first event last August, a sponsored ride, and with over 400 participants raised over £21,000!

The sponsored ride this year will be over the weekend of 23rd and 24th September and in a nutshell, it is THE best type of sponsored ride there is! There is no location set for this event, so EVERYONE and ANYONE can take part!

You decide where you do your ride and how long you go for! You can do it on your own or as a group of friends. Some entries last year even camped over night at their yard! What a great excuse for a BBQ! Fancy dress is also encouraged, whether it be PINK or not…having fun is the aim of the game this weekend!

If you would like to organise a ride for your Pony Club group please contact Susannah Baughan by emailing rideforresearchcruk@gmail.com for more information. You don’t have to have organised a ride before, just have a group of riders and ponies that want to have a bit of fun whilst raising money for a cause that unfortunately has affected many.

If you would like to complete your Ride for Research sponsored ride at an organised ride that is already up and running, venues and dates can be found via the Ride for Research website at http://www.rideforresearch.co.uk

If your planned ride will be open to non Pony Club Members, you must ensure that any advertising material for the event states that non Members will not be covered for personal liability or personal accident under the Pony Club Insurance and that you strongly advise they take out their own equivalent insurance cover.

Rides should be risk assessed in line with normal Pony Club activities including first aid provision.

The John King Young Artist Award – Entries Close Next Monday!

If you haven’t got your entry in yet for the John King Young Artist Award, there’s still time, but don’t delay – entries close next Monday 17th July!

Now in its fifth year, the competition is open to all Pony Club Members in the UK and was relaunched two years ago as The John King Young Artist Award. One of the leading sporting artists of the post-war era, John King had close ties with both The Pony Club and the SEA and it is hoped that this competition will inspire the next generation of equestrian artistic talent.

How Do I Enter?

To enter the competition, you simply need to paint your favourite Pony Club memory based around the competition theme, which this year is ‘Memories’. You might wish to base your artwork around the following:

  • Your favourite memories from Pony Club camp
  • Your first pony or the first pony you rode
  • The first time you tried show jumping

Once you’ve finished your artwork, simply photograph it and upload it to our competition website at http://memories.pcuk.org. You can also find the full competition rules on this site.

There are three age categories – 11 and Under, 12 to 16, and 17 and Over. The 15 finalists will be invited to display their artwork at The Pony Club Championships at Cholmondeley Castle, and the winner will have the opportunity to have their artwork displayed at an SEA exhibition!

If you have any queries about the competition, please email Marty Bibby, marty@pcuk.org for further information.