A junior team of Manx pony riders qualified to take their ponies to the Hoof Print Classic Club Championship, held at South View Equestrian Centre, Wettenhall, Cheshire recently.
The team comprised of: Janna Horsthuis, Kristen Clucas, Hannah Goodby, Katy Druggan and Catherine Garrett.
The main championship on this occasion were for working hunter ponies, and the Isle of Man team acquitted themselves extremely well in this sphere.
The first class was for novice working hunter ponies, and was won by Katy on Millford Flamingo followed by Catherine in fifth place with Kerrowmoar Doinney Cherrey.
Then followed an even more amazing feat, first, second and third prizes in the mountain and moorland working hunter pony class. The winner this time being Catherine with Kerrowmoar Doinney Cherrey, second was Katy on Millford Flamingo, with Hannah taking third place with Llangeithrow Bimbo.
In the open working hunter under 13hh, Katy took third prize, and in the 14hh working hunter Hannah, with Fair Feathers, was second, with Hendor Freddie Fox in a very strong class.
This the second time that Catherine Garrett has represented the Island as a Riding Club team member, and at the tender age of 10 she must surely be following competitively in her father, Raymond's footsteps, as he is ploughing match champion. Last time she won the junior dressage title.
Kristen and Janna have not represented the Riding Club previously, but both put up very creditable performances. The two other girls, Katy and Hannah, are almost old hands at the job, both having competed at Wembley, Katy taking sixth last year in the working hunter pony class, and Hannah this year winning sixth in the junior British novice championship.
At the end of October another team will go out to Birchinley Manor, near Rochdale, to compete purely in showjumping classes. On the Saturday there will be individual height classes, and then on the Sunday there will be a team competition.
Two of the same riders will be representing the Club, Hannah and Katy, but this time they will be riding Lucky Strider and Conrhenny Folly.
Janna will again take Hendor Freddie Fox, and the fourth place will be taken by Suzanne Corlett on Conrhenny Treat.
Let's hope their trip will be a success!
