The Vale of the White Horse (VWH) Pony Club won the BETA Pony Club inter-branch team jumping at The Festival of British Eventing. During an exciting second round over an up to height, winding course in the main arena, the four riders pulled out the stops to climb from 13th at the end of the first round to joint first with the neighbouring Cotswold Pony Club forcing a deciding jump off between a rider from each team. First to go for the VWH, George Dibble and his eight-year-old mare Springleaze Rhapsody set the target of a fast clear which Amy Sumaria and Kidogo King could not match.

The VWH team (George Dibble-Springleaze Rhapsody, Jess Harris-Baraka, Harry Dibble-Dee Jays Gunnar Boy and Miranda Filmer-Papa Nue) are trained by Brian Hutton of Talland Equestrian Centre. ‘I nearly went home after the first round as I didn’t think there was much of a chance,’ said Brian, ‘But after jumping like eventers in the morning they rode like show jumpers this afternoon and what a difference.’

The Cotswold Branch team of just three members (Ellie Tuck-Lunar Magic, Amy Sumaria-Kidogo King and Harrietta Blake-Riverside Snapdragon) took second place while the Clifton on Teme was third. Twenty four teams contested the competition that has become an annual feature at the Festival of British Eventing.

Results:
1) Vale of the White Horse (VWH) 16
2) Cotswold 16
3) Clifton On Teme 20
4) Avon Vale 20
5) North Cotswold 24
6) Teme Valley 33