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There are 3 different days of Equestrian Competition at the event. Saturday hosts an exclusive Dressage Competition, Sunday is Show Jumping and Monday Driving.
Saturday 23rd August – Dressage to Music
The competition you will see on Saturday is the Area Dressage to Music qualifier for the National Championship at Adding in October hosted by Stoneleigh Riding Club. This competition is open to Junior and Senior members through the Area and is divided into the Novice, Elementary and Pairs classes. The riders select their own music to match the various paces of their pony or horse at walk, trot and canter. It is assessed by qualified British Dressage judges.
Sunday 24th August – Show Jumping
On Sunday you can see an Area 5 inter-club points show jumping competition for novice, intermediate and open standard riders and ponies/horses hosted by Onley Grounds Riding Club. The competitionis run under BRC and British Show Jumping Association (BSJA) rules with courses built by BSJA course builders and judged by qualified BSJA judges. This competition allows clubs and riders to accumulate points towards the Annual Awards presented in December each year.
Monday 25th August – Driving
On Monday we have the British Driving Society (BDS) Area 35 Carriage Driving through the ages along with the BDS trek, a skills competition and cones competition.
For more information on BRC and how join an Afilated Club or centre please visit www.britishridingclubs.org.uk or contact the BRC office on 0844 848 1666. For more information on BDS please contact Olive Bulcher on 01926 815240 or visit www.britishdrivingsociety.co.uk
Polocrosse Demonstration
By The North Warwickshire Pony Club
Monday, 25th August 2008
2.00 – 4.30 P.M. Approx.
The Pony Club is an international voluntary youth organisation for those interested in horses, ponies and riding. It is the largest association of riders in the World and it is represented in no less than 14 countries and has a membership exceeding 110,000.
What is Polocrosse
As the name implies Polocrosse is a combination of polo and lacrosse. Each player has a stick to which is attached a racquet size head with a loose twisted-thread net in which the ball is carried. The stick is usually 1m to 1.2m (39” to 42” long), but there is no restriction on length.
The ball is made of foam rubber and is approximately 4” in diameter and weighs 142g (5 oz).
The objective of the game is to score goals by throwing the ball between your opponent goal posts. The team that scores the most goals in a match is the winner.
It encourages a higher standard of riding throughout The Pony Club and to simulate among the future generation a greater interest in riding as a sport and as a recreation. It is suitable for ordinary children on ordinary ponies and encourages a strong and unselfish team spirit. You are never too old or too young to play the game.
How many are on a team?
A team consists of 3 players and a full Branch team for the Championships consists of six players. In a full Branch team (six players), the two sections play alternate chukkas so that any time while the game is in progress three players are on the field of play and the other three are resting. There can be 2, 4, 6 or 8 chukkas in a match.
The three players in each section play the position of No. 1 “Attack”, No. 2 “Centre” or a No. 3 “Defence”. The No. 1 in each section would be the only player to be able to score goals for the team, the No. 3 the only player able to defend the goal and the No. 2 would be restricted to the centre area.
What type of horse or pony can play?
Horses or ponies of all breeds can play polocrosse. Just use your favourite horse or pony. Players are allowed only to play one horse/pony in a tournament, except in the case of injury.
What does the field look like?
The field should be reasonably flat. It is 146.6m (160 yds) long by 55m (60 yds) wide, with goal posts 2.5m (6 ft) apart at each end. 27.5m (30 yds) from each end there is a line across the field which is called the ‘penalty line’ and encloses the ‘goal scoring area’. Directly in front of each goal there is a semi-circle of 10m(11 yds) radius. A goal can only be scored if it is thrown from outside this semi-circle, but inside the goal scoring area. Only the No. 1 of the attacking team and the No. 3 of the defending team can play in these areas. The middle area is 100 yards long. To score, the ball must be thrown from outside an 11 yard semi-circle in front of the goal.
How does the game start?
The game is commenced in centre field, the players lining up in pairs side by side and one behind the other, each team standing closest to the goal it is defending. The No. 1s are in front, then the No. 2s and the No. 3s are at the back, all facing the umpire and at least 5m (16ft) from him. The umpire throws the ball in overarm from the side line high between the players. The game recommences similarly after a goal is scored from alternate sides of the field.
Is it expensive to play?
A new racquet and ball will cost approximately £70, however some Branches have loan equipment until you are ready to purchase your own.
A Pony Club kit consists of 6 standard polocrosse racquets, 2 Milner polocrosse balls, 6 bibs, 1 kit bag, which holds up to 15 racquets and includes a polocrosse training video.
Equipment can be purchased from Tony Shearing at his website address which is: Equineweb.com
Where can I get more information about the sport?
If you are interested and want to learn more, watch the game or have a go, then please contact Mrs Hannah Clack at The Pony Club Head Office on 02476 698315
or email: Hannah@pcuk.org.
Monday, 25th August 2008
The Team Balanced - English Vaulting Squad
EVS has vaulters from various groups in England, including Warwick, Genmini, Venus, Wittering, Arrow and Overton. New members are always welcome. We train regularly at Fenny Compton in Warwickshire and travel many miles over the year in order to compete. Since 2000 we have been to France, Poland, Spain, Italy, Germany and Austria.
Vaulting can be described as gymnastics on the back of a movinghorse which is worked on a circle under the
control of a lunger.
It incorporates beauty and brilliance, power and strength, elegance and precision, all in harmony with the Horse.
For more information visit: www.englishvaultingsquad.co.uk
Download this booking form or see our full range of our booking forms on our booking forms page.
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