PIPPA JUST PIPPED AT THE POST!
Pippa Gibbon, Year 8 student at Richmond School, recently took part in her first Pony Club Pony Racing Day. Pippa is a member of the South Durham Hunt Branch of the Pony Club.
This is proper racing! The series of events take place on licensed racecourses around the UK, like Ascot and Cheltenham, allowing Pony Club members to experience the thrill of horse racing, but on ponies.
Note: A pony must measure 148cm or less at maturity – any taller and it’s a horse.
Emma, Pippa’s mum, takes up the story:
“Pippa, her pony Kitty and the family made the long trip down to Bangor-on-Dee Racecourse, just outside Wrexham, North Wales, for Pippa to compete in her first Pony Club Pony Racing Day.
Riders in the Novice 138cm race (Pippa’s class) were amalgamated with the more experienced riders and ponies of the 138cm Intermediate race, making a total of five competitors.
What an exciting race! Two of the intermediate ponies started very fast, but Kitty and Pippa kept on the pressure. As they rounded the final bend, the race for the overall win was on!
They were just pipped at the post in what was a close finish, but it meant that they took the win in the novice section, beating two other intermediate riders in the process.
What a fantastic venue Bangor-on-Dee is – a huge thank you to all the volunteers who gave up their Sunday. Thanks also to Jockey Coach, Brian Harding, for walking the course and mentoring the young race jockeys.
We all had a great day and made many new friends along the way – everyone was so supportive!”
Well done to Pippa – we look forward to hearing more about her equestrian exploits in the future!
For more information about the series and pony racing, go to this link: