WRITE TO RIDE: CREATIVE WRITING COMPETITION
I am writing to inform you about a great competition organised on behalf of Nicky Morrison for Pony Club Area 3, to be launched today, Tuesday 14th April, which will be open to all Pony Club members from across the country. The idea to run a creative writing competition is the brain child of one of our York & Ainsty South Pony Club coaches and volunteer, Pippa Ireland, who along with a couple of other pony club Mums, has put together a fantastic package which I hope we can encourage all our members to support.
There will be 3 age groups, 11 years and under, 12 to 15 years, 16 years and over and children can submit up to three pieces of work. This will be free to enter but all entrants will be asked to make a donation to a charity of their choice and put who they supported on their entry. The theme is very loose, anything ‘horsey’ with a special section for stories with a Racing theme, up to 1500 words.
The entries will be judged by Danuta Kot, Times best-selling novelist, English Language specialist and experienced A-Level examiner, and by Penny Grubb, award-winning crime novelist who not only still rides but used to compete. John Fairley, well known author and former Channel 4 Racing executive producer, will judge the Racing pieces. John has very strong connections with the Pony Club, his three daughters all being former Area 3 members in The Vale of York branch.
There are some fantastic prizes on offer from around the country, all kindly donated, which will hopefully inspire members to have a go and put pen to paper. Please check out the competition page, which includes the rules and entry details, as well as all the amazing prizes. It is likely throughout the duration of the competition that more prizes will be added and if anyone from any of the other Areas nationwide is able to offer a prize of any kind please get in touch with Pippa who will be extremely grateful.
During the first week a top tip will be added daily to help entrants create the best piece they can. It is hoped many may see this as an opportunity to incorporate this into their home schooling schedule which can then be used as course work at a further point.
Total Recall Videos have kindly agreed to assist with promotion by using a weekly clip to remind everyone to check out the page and help keep up momentum throughout the 5 week duration of the competition.
When the competition has been judged and winners selected, the organisers will check with the named Branch or Centre to ensure the entrant is a current Pony Club member before making any announcements.
The best entry overall will win a weekend stay at Morton Morrell in Warwickshire in a luxury courtyard cottage. A selection of other prizes includes:
- A yard visit and a day’s training with video analysis from Olympic event rider, Nicola Wilson.
- A lesson in Yorkshire with Gary Parsonage, member of the British 3-day event team at the Atlanta Olympics, Technical Advisor for British Eventing and, until recently, Chairman of Selectors for the British Pony Squad.
- A car pass and two tickets for Cross Country day at Badminton Horse Trials 8th May 2021.
- A visit to William Fox-Pitt’s yard in Dorset.
- A private showcase into the training of International Dressage and Showjumping horses plus a special horse training and management theory discussion session at their yard in Staffordshire with Richard and Joe Davidson Olympic riders in dressage and showjumping.
- A voucher for arena hire from Moreton Equestrian Centre in Dorset.
- Go with your horse or pony for a day with Willa Newton, one of Britain’s top professional event riders, at her yard near Melton Mowbray.
- Audio or ebooks from Fantastic Books Publishing (prize in each age group).
- A photoshoot voucher valued at £125 from TMS Photography.
- A portrait of your horse or one of your pets by illustrator Sophie Morice.
- The name of your favourite horse or pony featured in Horse of the Same Colour, the sequel to Horse of a Different Colour that is expected to be published next year.
