PONY RACING
For all Pony Racing information, please see
The Pony Racing Authority website
Pony Racing from Axe Vale at Stafford Cross
Sunday 25th April 2010
by Lee Glanville
The fog lifted in time for two exciting pony races at Stafford Cross near Seaton. The 148 race was over one and a half miles and tactics really came into play. The early leaders faded while those who held their ponies up finished strongly. There is no pony rider at the moment with a better tactical brain than Bryony Frost and she has a willing partner in her impressive new pony Billie Jean. The pair held up in mid division before making their move down the back straight and pushing for home once the final bend was rounded. It was an exiting finish though as Charlotte Hawker on Tarka II and Hugo Hunt on Jack Sparrow pushed her hard all the way up the straight.
The 138 race saw a win for Wessex area rider Harry Cobden in a close finish with Barnaby Treneer on Talponciau Perfect Print who produced his pony perfectly and Megan Nicholls who was very stylish on Merryment Topcat. There was a first ride here for Georgie Selley, from the host hunt Axe Vale, whose mum and dad were mounted stewards. Hopefully she has been bitten by the bug!
Sporting gestures should not go without mention and as the race was oversubscribed Bronze Lawrance and Bejowans Bouquet were reserves. When one place became available, leading rider Hannah Welch stood aside for Heidi Lewis to take up the remaining place. Don’t underestimate the move – it has cost Hannah the lead in the area championship but will mean that competition for points hots up in the last four meetings.
Current championship standings: Barnaby Treneer (138) 63pts; Hannah Welch (138) 60; Chloe Grove (148) 48; Heidi Lewis (138) 47; Anna Wotton (138) 30; Chester Williams (148) 30.
The next races are at Flete Park on Saturday (1pm). More information about pony racing go to www.devon24.co.uk/ponyracing
Pony Racing from Dartmoor at Flete Park
Saturday 17th April 2010
by Lee Glanville
Bumper crowds watched the pony racing at Flete Park where Hannah Welch increased her lead in the points championship, recording her sixth straight victory on Bronze Lawrance.
But the firming ground meant she had to work hard for the 138 win, fending off her cousin Barnaby Treneer on Talponciau Perfect Print by just a head and with Heidi Lewis on Bejowan’s Bouquet two lengths third, and both those ponies should improve with the better ground.
A controversial start in the 148 race saw two of the most experienced riders caught flat footed with a 15 length gap to make up. Flareon (Chloe Grove) looked most impressive as she closed the gap on the early leaders but was unlucky again, not getting a clear passage on the run through, eventually finishing third. Chester Williams, meanwhile, is having a great season on his showjumping pony Clover Jess and they were second, going down by five lengths to Ben Price (Frantic Fox).
Results – 138: 1, Bronze Lawrance, Hannah Welch; 2, Talponciau Perfect Print, Barnaby Treneer; 3, Bejowan’s Bouquet, Heidi Lewis; 4, Fudge, Anna Wotton. Five ran, hd, 2l, 1.16.
148: 1, Frantic Fox, Ben Price; 2, Clover Jess, Chester Williams; 3, Flareon, Chloe Grove; 4, Ginger Biscuit, Heidi Lewis. Seven ran, 5l, 2 1/2l, 1.56.
Pony Racing from Dart Vale and Haldon Harriers at Buckfastleigh
Sunday 14th March 2010
by Lee Glanville
BRYONY FROST got her pony Tarka home by a neck in a blanket finish to the Dart Vale and Haldon Harriers’ 148cm pony race.
Tarka, who is trained just a few miles away from the course, was bouncing back to form after a shock defeat the previous week by Total Eclipse (Rachel Leyshon) and was coaxed home ahead of visiting rider Ben Price, 13, on Frantic Fox who had alarmed paddock spectators by a bucking display. Frantic Fox is qualified with the Quantock Staghounds by Price who attends Brymer School.
Henry Armstrong, whose pony Ivory Girl slipped up on the bend at South Devon, had a much better run this time five lengths back in third pressed all the time by Chloe Grove on Flareon.
In the opening 138cm race Buckfastleigh rider Barnaby Treneer, 10, on Talonciau Perfect Print almost got the better of his cousin Hannah Welch, 12, but she completed a seasonal four timer by hanging on by a length at the post.
138cm: 1, Bronze Lawrance, Hannah Welch; 2, Talponciau Perfect Print, Barnaby Treneer; 3, Bejowans bouquet, Heidi Lewis; 4, Fudge, Anna Wotton. Four ran, 1l, 5l, 1.33.
148cm: 1, Tarka, Bryony Frost; 2, Frantic Fox, Ben Price; 3, Ivory Girl, Henry Armstrong; 4, Flareon, Chloe Grove. Eight ran, nk, 5l.
Pony Racing from South Devon at Ideford Arch
Sunday 7th March 2010
by Lee Glanville
Current Rose Bengal Scholarship holder Rachel Leyshon, 15, made the three hour journey to the South Devon hunt point to point pony races at Ideford Arch from Wales worth it by leading from pillar to post in the 148cm race.
Rachel’s pony Total Eclipse set a blistering pace in the early stages which was matched by Tarka (Bryony Frost) and piled on the pressure late on when chased down by second placed Flareon (Chloe Grove) who was representing the host hunt, and Annie IV (Hannah Welch).
The Rose Bengal scholarship, supported by the Prince family and named after their successful racing pony, rewards riders (one in each race category) that have consistently shown hard work, dedication, commitment and improvement throughout the Charles Owen Pony Racing Series which takes place on racecourses. It includes one weeks tuition at the British Racing School or Northern racing College, personalised racing breeches, made to measure racing boots, a racing saddle, 12 months membership to the Amateur Jockeys Associatio and a VIP day at Cheltenham Racecourse with Channel 4 Racing, including private tuition on the mechanical horse from top jump jockeys and media training.
The earlier 138 race had seen just four runners go to post. Bejowan’s Bouquet (Heidi Lewis) tried hard to head Bronze Lawrance (Hannah Welch) but had to settle for second, Bronze Lawrance completing an early season hat-trick. Talponciau Perfect Print (Barnaby Treneer) chased home by the game Fudge who was stylishly ridden by Anna Wotton.
138cm: 1, Bronze Lawrance, Hannah Welch; 2, Bejowans Bouquet, Heidi Lewis; 3, Talponciau Perfect Print, Barnaby Treneer; 4, Fudge, Anna Wotton. Four ran, 2l, 2l, 1.28.
148cm: 1, Total Eclipse, Rachel Leyshon; 2, Flareon, Chloe Grove; 3, Annie IV, Hannah Welch; 4, Tarka, Bryony Frost. Seven ran, 15l, 2l, 2.10.
Pony Racing from Mid Devon at Black Forest Lodge
Saturday 13th February 2010
by Lee Glanville
JACK SPARROW (Hugo Hunt) won the Mid Devon 148cm pony race at Black Forest Lodge, the race being run over an extended distance of nearly 10 and a half furlongs.
Seven ponies went to post, the field being depleted by the fact that it was a rearranged fixture and some of the original entries were unable to take part. The riders were bunched up until they reached the top of the far hill near the open ditch when the leading contenders began to make their move. Along the top straight the leading bunch of Jack Sparrow, Chucka (Robert Williams), local pony Flareon (Chloe Grove) and Ivory Girl (Henry Armstrong) exerted the pressure with Jack Sparrow ahead as they started the downhill run for home. Around the final bend it Jack Sparrow was still in front and he didn’t really come under pressure but the competition for places was fierce, with Chucka just getting home ahead of Flareon in third.
The 138cm field was down to four before the off and again it was a battle between Bronze Lawrance (Hannah Welch) and Talponciau Perfect Print (Barnaby Treneer) up front, Hannah getting the win. Third and fourth were closely fought until Furby (Holly Needham) just went the wrong side of the final marker, leaving Oscar (Jordan Williams) home and hosed in fourth.
138cm: 1, Bronze Lawrance, Hannah Welch; 2, Talponciau Perfect Print, Barnaby Treneer; 3, Oscar, Jordon Williams. Four ran, 4l, 8l 1.50m.
148cm: 1, Jack Sparrow, Hugo Hunt; 2, Chucka, Robert Williams; 3, Flareon, Chloe Grove; 4, Ivory Girl, Henry Armstrong. Seven ran, 15l, 2 1/2l, 3.17m.
Pony Racing from South Pool Harriers at Buckfastleigh
Sunday 7th February 2010
by Lee Glanville
Local riders took the honours at the first point to point pony races of the season at Buckfastleigh. After a false start in the 138 race, Bronze Lawrance and Talponciau Perfect Print ridden by cousins Hannah Welch (from Totnes) and Barnaby Treneer (Buckfastleigh) fought out the finish with Bronze Lawrance getting the verdict. The field was closely bunched behind with Welsh visitor Oscar (Rob Williams) third. Anna Wotton on Fudge was the first South Pool qualified pony past the post.
Bryony Frost’s (from Buckfastleigh) tactics gave her the edge in the 148 race, getting Tarka home a length ahead of Connor Flint on Alongcomebell, Flint’s pony having its first ever race. In a field of nine runners, both dominated the betting market starting joint 6/4 favourites. The Flint family got up at 3am to see to their livestock and horses before making the long trip down from Wales. Chloe Grove was just behind in third on Flareon. It is good to see some Cornish riders now taking part but one of them, Jess Twentyman, thought she was not going to make it when they had a puncture with their horsebox near Saltash. They also had a point to pointer on board and a quick ring round of other Cornish trainers on their way to Buckfastleigh saw them manage to hitch a lift and get both to the track. Thanks to Blackburn Metals who sponsored the races.
138: 1, Bronze Lawrance, Hannah Welch; 2, Talponciau Perfect Print; 3, Oscar, Rob Williams; 4, Bejowans Bouquet, Heidi Welch. Six ran.
148: 1, Tarka, Bryony Frost; 2, Alongcomebell, Connor Flint; 3, Flareon, Chloe Grove; 4, Ivory Girl, Henry Armstrong. Nine ran.
