Oakley Hunt West do the Double at HOYS
The Oakley Hunt West Pony Club have won the Virbac 3D Worming Cup and the Prince Philip Cup after dominating the competition over five nail-biting days at the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS).
The team, consisting of Charlie Yates (14), Charlotte Sabatier (14), Jaimsye Bailey (14), Sophie Grimshaw (14), Jaime Medcalf (14) and reserve Luke Grimshaw (12) won every session they took part in to clinch victory with 123 points; a massive 24 points ahead of joint runners-up West Hants and Eglinton Hunt.
Three other teams, including Romney Marsh who finished fourth, Banwen and District and first timers North Herefordshire also qualified to compete at HOYS after battling it out at the Area competitions.
The final on Sunday evening at HOYS captivated the crowds, with the teams giving it their all to thrill spectators with some very close finishes. Classic games such as the Bending Race race tested the Members’ control and athleticism, but the loudest cheers were for the novelty games which included the 3D Worms game which saw a team member dressed as a worm!
The Pony Club Mounted Games is a competition requiring courage, determination and all round riding ability. The concept of the competition was first introduced by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh KG KT, who suggested that Cavalry competitions could be adapted for young riders on ponies in an entertaining and visually engaging format. The first competitions were held in 1957 and the winner received the coveted Prince Philip Challenge Trophy.
A full set of results for the Prince Philip Cup is available HERE
Suzanne Ashton, Founder of Everything Horse (Est, 2012), has a BA Hons in Marketing Management and a Diploma in Equine Science. Suzanne has ridden and owned horses all her life and has twelve years of experience in marketing, writing, design, SEO, and website creation.