AIM to encourage interest in riding by combining with other activities, thereby
retaining interest in Pony Club.
PERSONAL AIM to amass as many points as possible over the different activities
TRIATHLONS usually consist of Running, Shooting and Swimming.
Add Riding for a
TETRATHLON!!
RULES are quite complex but a brief summary is listed below. Please contact the
Secretary for a copy of the current rulebook for more details.
AGE GROUPS (on 1st January)
- Beanies 7yrs & under
- Tadpoles 8-9yrs
- Minis 10-11
- Juniors 12-14
- Open 15 +
There is also a Novice section, which is primarily to bridge gap between Junior and Open
ENTRIES. All compete as individuals, also each pony club can form teams of 3 or 4
competitors in an age groups. If not enough from our branch to submit a team, organising branches often
amalgamate members to make up mixed teams, within an age group. The 3 highest scores from each team
count towards team prizes.
PRIZES usually individual, teams and best of each phase are awarded, per age group.
PHASES
- SHOOTING.
Beanies: Throw Beanbags. 5 practice throws followed by 10 Beanbags. Maximum 1000 points
Others: Air pistols shot at standard pony club targets. 5 practice shots, followed by 10 competition
shots. Maximum 1000 points
- Tadpoles: 2 handed 7 metres from target (static).
- Minis: 2 handed 7 metres from target (turning).
- Juniors: Single handed 7 metres from target (turning, 4secs per shot)
- Novice & Open: Single handed 10 metres (turning, 4secs per shot
TRAINING Our club has a few pistols for use by members at organised practice sessions.
- RUNNING.
Over a marked course, usually all grass!! Distances as follows
- Beanies (boys & girls) 500 metres
- Tadpoles (boys & girls) 1000 metres
- Minis (boys & girls) 1000 metres
- Junior (boys & girls), Intermediate & Open girls: 1500 metres
- Intermediate Boys: 2000 metres
- Open Boys: 3000 metres
TRAINING make the most of XC running at school plus any training you can do at home
will help.
- SWIMMING.
Each competitor has a lane of a 25m pool (usually), The object is to swim as far as possible in
the time allowed for your age group. Any swimming style can be used, you do not need to dive
start or tumble turn if you don’t want to!! You can even stop and re-start from the same point
if you wish!!
- Beanies: 2 minutes
- Tadpoles: 2 minutes
- Minis: 2 minutes
- Junior boys & girls, Intermediate girls & boys and Open girls: 3 minutes
- Open Boys: 4 minutes
TRAINING most of you will do swimming at school or via a swim club.
- RIDING
Over Cross Country course, much like a normal Hunter Trial but usually with both a slip rail
(negotiated by dismounting) and a gate (mounted). For Juniors plus, the course is also given an
optimum time. For a clear round within any time allowed will amass a maximum of 1400 points.
Below is list of the maximum height of fences per section, but very often (especially for minis)
the courses are more lenient. Some competitions offer novice classes with a lower height, others
offer a drop in height with some penalty points.
- Tadpoles: 60cm (when available)
- Minis: 80cm
- Juniors: 90cm
- Intermediate & Open: 100cm
TRAINING attend as many XC schooling rallies as possible, and any Hunter Trial will
provide good practice. Gates and slip rails can be practiced at home!!!
You don’t have to be a brilliant athlete to take part in this very enjoyable Pony Club event. It
really is lots of fun and you get to know Pony Club members from other Branches and Centres.
GO ON – GIVE IT A GO!