Some Flint & Denbigh members enjoyed a mountain ride in the Berwyn Mountains on Friday 25th August.

Hunter Trials

If any one is thinking of entering the Hunter Trials on Saturday 9th September, please get your entries in this week. Iona and Gareth will need to do some repairs to the jumps and do not want to spend their time doing the work if there are not enough entries.

Spaces at Working Rally

Llanasa still have spaces on a working rally on Tuesday 11th September with Claire Jones at Highfield Livery, 6-8pm. Please email Jude (Llanasa@fndponyclub.org.uk) to book a space.

Bethan’s Summer Report

70 years Celebration of The Flint & Denbigh Hunt Branch

Summer holidays are nearly over and I hope that you have all had an enjoyable time with your ponies, whether it’s competing or just riding along in our beautiful countryside.

Camp seems a long time ago now. Thank you to all our army of helpers who came to help cook, supervise pony lines, evening entertainment and night watch. Without these volunteers there would be no camp. I hope that all members benefitted and had fun trying out new disciplines: cross country, mounted games, show jumping, and dressage to name a few. Lunchtime talks and displays from Terry Large and his birds, the fire brigade and also the working dogs were very informative. Thank you to Kate for organising. All members joined in the evening entertainment and had a great time: fun biathlon, water slide, treasure hunt, hungry hippos and a Hog roast to celebrate our 70th anniversary. I think the ponies were very happy to get home for a well deserved rest! Hopefully you will return again next year.

We had numerous members that had qualified at the Area 5 competitions for the championships, which is quite an achievement. The standard of the competition is very high, and several of our members were placed:

  • Brier Leahy 1st in the open horse trials, Sophie Toogood 9th in the open horse trials and 9th in the open show jumping
  • The horse trials team came 8th: Heidi O’Brien, Catrin Evans , Sophie Toogood & Brier Leahy
  • Intermediate competitor Sophie Wilson won her section in the horse trials. Lilly Ann Pardoe and Sali Wheyway had also qualified
  • Open dressage championships: Sophie & Ellie Wilson both represented the branch. The team was 2nd and Sophie was 7th individual
  • Katie Davies competed in an Area 5 polocrosse team, which did very well

Good Luck to the members that have qualified for the Grassroots regional championships being held at Eland Lodge.

Thank you to all team trainers that have put on training throughout the year, and to parents that transport and encourage the members to take part.

Chrissie organised the games teams to put on a very exciting display at the Denbigh & Flint Agricultural Show. The Branch also had a hunt relay team compete at the show, which the spectators enjoyed very much.

I must congratulate all members that have been competing, on how smartly turned out they are, and also on how well they ride. They are a real credit to our Branch.

Bethan Jones (DC)