Well done to Georgina Varkaamp, Orlagh Toner, Katie Davies and Mali Roberts who represented Flint & Denbigh in the Area 5 Horse & Pony Care competition. They were not placed but there was a good turnout in the junior section of 13 teams.

Hat Tagging at the Branch AGM

The Branch AGM is on Thursday 25th February at The Brookhouse Mill, Denbigh. The event will start at 7pm. There will be a guest speaker and refreshments will be provided.

If any member needs to have their hats tagged, please bring them along. Please note that the new Hat Standard Rule: check that your riding hat meets the new standard required by The Pony Club.

Waen y Llyn Winter League Show Jumping

Attached are the running orders for the Winter League Show Jumping on Wednesday 17th February (each class is on a different worksheet).

Below are the approximate course walks/class times.

  • Clear Round- 8.45 am to 9.30
  • Class 1 -course Walk 9.45 am, start 10am, finish approx 11.30am
  • Class 2 course walk 11.45am , start 12 noon, finish approx 1.45pm
  • Class 3 course walk 2pm, start 2.15, finish approx 4pm
  • Class 4 – course walk 4.15pm,  finish approx 5pm

Pony Racing Rally

Please find attached information about the Racing Rally at Forestgate Farm, Norley in the morning followed by the gallops at Kelsall.

Tanatside Dengie Dressage

Please find attached the entry form for the above competition, being held on 21st February at Radfords Equestrian Centre.

Area 4 Triathlon

Please find attached the schedule for the Area 4 Triathlon at Merchant Taylors Boys School, Crosby, Liverpool on Saturday 27th February. This is a qualifier for NFU Mutual National Triathlon Finals on 13th March 2016 and entries close Saturday 20th February.

Flint & Denbigh Point to Point

Flint & Denbigh Hunt Point to Point Races will be held on Sunday 13th March at Bangor-On-Dee Racecourse.

We need volunteers to help selling race cards on the day. You will be put in groups of 3 or 4 and will need to bring a bag to carry race cards. Volunteers will need to be at the racecourse by 11am. Volunteers will be given car passes for free entry. Bring your friends or family with you, as it’s a great day out.

If you are available to help please contact Bethan (bethan@jones-bros.com  or text 07887 722583).

Wrekin Triathlon Report

Under the cover of darkness (literally) the frontline of the Flint & Denbigh Tetters headed over the border to Area 7 for the Wrekin Triathlon for an action packed day of shooting, running & swimming and the hope of bagging the odd ‘out of area’ qualification (for coming 1st or 2nd in qualifying classes) for the National Triathlon Championships in Milton Keynes in March. There was a great turnout of about 90 competitors in 25 teams. There were 11 competitors from Flint & Denbigh taking part at all classes, from Casper in Pre-mini biathlon (bean bags & run) to Orla & Daisy in Pre-mini (<8yrs), Leah, Isabella &  Imogen in Mini (8-9yrs), Scarlett & Neisha in Mini (10-11yrs), Will in Mini (8-11yrs), Mia in Junior (12-14 yrs) and Ben in Open (<25yrs).  The spirit in the Flint & Denbigh camp was high all day, fuelled in part by the fantastic range of homemade cakes provided by Area 7! The weather was mixed with sun, hail & sleet but everyone battled on in the run and we all came together in the swimming pool to cheer (or scream) everyone along. The final scores provided plenty of medals and rosettes: Casper 2nd; Orla 1st; Daisy 3rd; Leah 2nd; Isabella 6th; Imogen 3rd; Scarlett 9th; Neisha 1st (qualified for Nationals); Will 5th; Mia 2nd (qualified for Nationals); Ben 3rd. In the Team competition, the Flint & Denbigh ‘Blue’ Team of Ben, Mia, Neisha & Leah came 3rd. These promising performances bode well for our own Area 5 Qualifier on 28th February and hopefully more qualifications for the Nationals! Well done everyone – keep training!

One of your Members could star in The Queen’s 90th Birthday Celebrations!

We are delighted to announce that The Pony Club has been asked to find a Member and a suitable pony to play the part of a Princess in The Queen’s 90th birthday celebrations at Windsor Castle in May.

The Celebration will use horses, actors, bands and dancers to tell the story of The Queen’s extraordinary life – from birth, through to World War Two, her marriage, the coronation and a reign of more than 60 years. Our chosen Princess will be teamed up with another rider, and together they will become Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret as children in the 1930s.

There will be three stages to the competition, as described below:

Stage One

Members will shortly be sent details directly and asked to apply in writing to The Pony Club Office (max. 200 words) stating why they would like to be chosen as a Princess and providing a photo of them on their chosen pony, along with details of that pony. They will also need to provide an email address for them and/or a parent so we can inform them if they are shortlisted. All letters and photos received may be used to create a display in the Royal Enclosure.

Entrants will also need to arrange for an Official from their Branch or Centre to send us a confidential reference in order to complete the application.

The reference will need to confirm that the rider is at C Test standard or above, and give examples of the combination having previously experienced a similar atmosphere; other horses, noisy crowds, music, lights etc. The contents of the reference will NOT be divulged to the entrant so, if you feel that they may not quite be experienced enough or if their pony may be a little nervous in the surroundings, please state this.

References can be posted to ‘Search for a Princess’ at The Pony Club Office or emailed to princess@pcuk.org. Please clearly state the name of the rider you are supporting and the name of your Branch or Centre so we can marry the two parts of the entry up.

Applications close on Friday 11th March 2016

Stage Two

A group will form to narrow entries down to ten riders who will be asked to attend a Selection Day. The shortlisted riders will be informed by email on Monday 14 March 2016.

Stage Three

The shortlisted riders will attend the Selection Day on 01 April 2016 at Moorwards Farm, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire. The selection committee will be comprised of two Pony Club representatives and a third representative from Royal Windsor Horse Show who will put riders and ponies through their paces.

On the day, all ten of the shortlisted riders will receive hats from Champion, and we will choose our Princess plus two reserves.

For more information, please email princess@pcuk.org