EQUINE NEWS

British Show Pony Society

The British Show Pony Society held one of their best Spring Shows at Tall Trees Arena, Davidstow, Camelford. With Royal International qualifiers on offer, competitors arrived from all over the UK including Devon, Somerset , Hampshire, Wales and Kent .

Such was the competition that there were only five wins from Cornwall out of the entire schedule. Three ponies won classes were not Royal International qualifiers and there were Carnkeif Toyboy, who won the novice mixed height show hunter pony, Harlton Royal Tudor, who won the open 133cms show hunter pony and Rosemellyn Bubbling Brook, who won the mixed height novice show pony. However, tow local girls did extremely well in gaining their Royal International tickets. Three year old Abigail Dymond rode in her third class of the day on her 12hh coloured pony Presilli Blue Sky in the Open Lead Rein of Show Hunter Type and was, as the saying goes, 'third time lucky.'

Abigail was led by her mother Fiona and despite expecting her second child in eight weeks time, put up a fine individual show to secure first place.

Thirteen year old Heidi Masters from Bugle, who attends Poltair Community College, St Austell, and is on the schools Elite Athlete squad, gained her ticket on the seven year old Welsh Section C bay gelding Criterion Dynamite, winning the Heritage Ridden Class for section B and C's. Heidi spotted the pony whilst competing at the ponies UK championships last year. Heidi is still getting used to Chase, as he is known at home, but still has many wins to their credit, including Novice BSPS Heritage at Hereford Marches last month and the NPS Novice M&M ridden champion at the NPS Area 26 show.

Heidi hopes to be competing in mountain and moorland classes by the end of this year because Chase loves to jump and ride cross country. They are both trained by Jane Hoskin from Bodmin, who runs the BYRDS training scheme. Heidi said she is very fortunate that she receives such great support from the head teacher at Poltair, Mrs H Mellroy, and the sprots department.

Story by Cornish Guardian - Mandy Oakley