Bishop Burton College hosted it’s first ever pony class during its bi-annual Horse Trials recently and attracted warm praise from young competitors and their trainers from the UK and abroad.

The class was intended to showcase the College and its facilities in the run up to the 2010 Pony European Championships which Bishop Burton is hosting next year.

Among the competitors who took part in the pony class was a contingent from Ireland invited over by British Eventing to familiarize themselves with the course at Bishop Burton.

Irish pony eventing team chef d’equipe Sue Shortt was impressed with the College and is looking forward to returning in July 2010 with her team.

She said: “It’s a fantastic venue and we’ve been made to feel very welcome.

“We have come on the invitation of British Eventing and we were delighted to do so. To be able to come and have a look at the place prior to the championships is very useful.

“All of the riders we brought with us have thoroughly enjoyed themselves. This is a fabulous venue for the Europeans, with a wonderful, undulating cross country course. The sod is lovely with fabulous going.”

Two of Sue’s riders were placed in the class. Angela Dennehy gained a 5th place rosette with a penalty of 37.70 with Rose Down, while Emma White took 10th with a score of 42.30 on The General II.

Angela Dennehy was part of the Irish team at the 2009 Pony Europeans and she too felt Bishop Burton College would be an excellent venue for the 2010 Championships.

Taking 3rd place in the class was Grace Walker with veteran Pony campaigner Noble Springbok.

Grace (15) and Spring have their eye on team selection for the 2010 Championships and took advantage of the Pony class to have a look at the College and get a feel for the layout.

Grace is trained by Laura Collett who was part of the gold-medal winning 2005 pony eventing team riding Noble Springbok.

Laura, who won Burgie this year riding Libby Soley’s Kachemire Le Beau and took team and individual gold at this year’s Young Rider Championships aboard Rayef, feels the College has the potential to be a great venue for the 2010 Pony European Championships.

She said: “The facilities are great – I’ve never been up to Bishop Burton College before but I’m really impressed.

“The stables are really nice, the ground is perfect – everyone’s done a fantastic job. It’s Grace’s first novice and the track rode really well.

“It’s nice to have everything in one place too – all the accommodation and the cafes – it’s like a little village and I’m sure it’ll make for a great atmosphere during the championships.”

Another 2009 Championships competitor took part in the pony class with a view to competing in the 2010 championships.

Alfie Bradstock took 1st and 2nd place in the class riding Sir Harry V and Montezuma II, with scores of 28.60 and 30.00 respectively.

He was delighted with his double success and also thinks the College will be a great venue for the 2010 Pony European Championships.

“I’ve had a really nice time and it looks really good for the Pony Europeans.”

As well as competing at the Championships in Belgium, Alfie came fourth in both his classes at HOYS and a 1st, 3rd and a 5th at Pony Trials at Weston Park, Aldon and Withington Manor respectively.

PON Results:
1 Sir Harry V  Alfie Bradstock  28.60
2 Montezuma II  Alfie Bradstock  30.00
3 Noble Springbok  Grace Walker  35.50
4 As Cool As Ice  Alice Sandberg  37.60
5 Rose Down  Angela Dennehy  37.70
6 Monklands Boy  Alice M Walker  38.30
7 Cairnview Cliff  Annabel Gray  40.00
8 Pebbly Paint Box Constance Copestake 40.70
9 Noble Goldfinger Sara Ashworth  42.10
10 The General II  Emma White  42.30