The Oakley Hunt West Branch of The Pony Club have won the Equimax Prince Philip Cup Mounted Games Final held at Horse of The Year Show (HOYS), NEC Birmingham.

The winning Oakley Hunt West team comprised Aimee Russell, Jenna Privett, Harry Gates, Thomas Kitchiner, Sally Kitchiner, Samantha Garrett (reserve), as well as the all important trainer Maureen Thomas.

A strong Mounted Games Branch and regular visitors to the Prince Philip Cup finals, only narrowly missing the win in 2010 by one point, the Oakley Hunt West have held the Prince Philip Cup a credible seven times, last winning in 2008. They took the 2011 honours in style on a score of 122 points, 12 points clear of the second placed Strathearn Branch. This was trainer Maureen Thomas’ 10th year as a Prince Philip Cup trainer at HOYS, and she commented “This year’s Prince Philip Cup Final was most enjoyable, and it was great to meet the Strathearn Branch team on their first visit to HOYS”. “All of the teams got on very well, with the Oakley Hunt West being especially close knit as three of the team Members are cousins. Our District Commissioner was as always a keen supporter, and as it is her 30th year in office winning is not a bad way to celebrate!”

Six Pony Club Branch teams including, Oakley Hunt West, Devon and Somerset, Orkney, Cheshire Hunt North, Strathearn and Rockwood Harriers went forward to the final at HOYS after battling it out at the Zone Finals around the country during the summer. At HOYS the competition begins to gain momentum on the Thursday evening, and after the Sunday afternoon session teams that have accumulated the most points during the week go forward to Sunday night’s prestigious final, to compete for the Prince Philip Cup.

The Pony Club Mounted Games is a competition requiring courage, determination and all round riding ability. The concept of the competition was first introduced by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh KG KT, who suggested that Cavalry competitions could be adapted for young riders on ponies in an entertaining and visually engaging format. The first competitions were held in 1957 and the winner received the coveted Prince Philip Challenge Trophy. Pony Club Mounted Games is a true team event, with five riders in each team the onus is definitely on working together as there are no individual events in this discipline.

A full set of results for the Prince Philip Cup is available HERE

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