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pony club camp 2007
camp started on monday the 20th of august with many excited children
putting up their tents in the usual great british weather, but as always the
conditions didnt damper the spirits of the kids, who seemed to have willed
camp since last year.With all the tents set up early and the kids raring to go
tuesday was very organised and seemed to flow with 26 excited children and
twenty six apprehensive ponies all arriving for a fun filled week. once all
kit was unpacked and the horse were settled the usual brief went ahead with
the team captains being announced Hayley wilson, jess james, charlotte bariff,
and Ashley harrison the look of fear on there faces as the week ahead they new
would be hard. As always each team had a camp mum to help, these consisited
this year of sue rooney, becky van-oostrum, nicky wilson and alison ward,(many
thanks to them for all there help).
The first ride began with the usual tack inspection many children
encountering there first impressions of what the instructors expect which as
usual was not quite what the kids had achieved, especially last years kids
(you should have known). All the riding groups then went off with their
instructors and got off to a flying start, great fun was had by all.
Each day brought with it new challenges and higher standards than the
previous as the week went on the team moral was high and the competition
between each team was ever increasing of course none of this fueled by the
team mums at all.Then the decision was made that any achivement badges would
add extra points to your teams score, so Mike who had kindly offered to come
and teach the knot badge was regularly mugged morning and night to test for
the badge and every time the kids had a spare moment they would all be
frantically tying knots i think on the last night mick only just found time to
eat. Another badge that alot of the children did was there public speaking
badge which took place every evening after dinner were you had to stand up and
do a two minute talk on a chosen subject, as a joke on the last night at the
bbq we told all the kids they had to stand up in front of all their parents
this met with considerable silence then amy van-oostrum said that she would do
it and talked about knots very confidentally (well done amy, what a difference
from the quiet, shy little girl last year.
the week was a great success from the flat work to the jumping from
the x country to the gallops everything ran smoothly.
then in true camp style comes the last day the competition all
the kids got up extra early stable duties done quickly inorder to spend as
much time on there tack and turn out as possible standards were getting higher
and the teams were getting closer and closer in score especially hayleys and
jess'competition hotting up and so were the camp mums all trying as hard as
they can to make sure their teams were the best.What a standard all the
instructors were very impressed .
once the hard stuff was out of the way next came the showjumping many
of the kids achieving levels that they never thought they could well done to
you all.
the afternoon follwed with the handy pony as always lisa littlies
doing better than everyone else must have been all that secret practice in the
field,then came the mounted games to round the day off everyone having a great
day.
End off camp nearing and scores being added camp mums still trying to
fit achievement badges in for those last few scores(calm down nikki we had to
say)then came the results 4th place ashleys team, third place charlottes team,
second place jess's team and the winners hayleys team (well done to you
all)Watch ot hayley for next year there already talk of giving you a run for
your money,
Well camp at an end and a lot of very tired children reluctantly going
home but not before we got them to give their highs and lows of camp
camp the things they liked best
racing on the gallops ,
the food
swimming in the outdoor pool after dark (it is lit)
the bouncy castle
the showjumping
everything
the things they didnt like
the rules
having to go to bed
what they would like to change
longer at camp
A huge thankyou to everyone for their help at camp especially to keith
and anne for their lovely home that they allow us to use,
and a big thankyou to all you kids for making camp the great success
that it was as always you keep us laughing
look forward to seeing you all next year .
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