Senior

Senior Camp is a time honoured Pony Club tradition and 2004's was no exception. Despite the avalanche of paperwork and relentless ring of the phone beforehand, it is a week that I, for one, really enjoy. Judging by the ever-increasing numbers, our members do too: Camp 04 was the biggest yet.

As ever, our hosts, Jack and Sandra Bucknell, graciously accepted the rude awakening their from summer peace and were on hand to fulfil our dreams and rescue us from our nightmares. And I couldn't have asked for a better bunch of instructors either: they kept hairnets and "let's go" ponies in place, beamed benignly through sunshine and torrential rain, and took their Talent Show punishments on the chin. A huge thank you to them all.

I hope we all learnt something. Certainly the test results were really pleasing, with passes from D and D+ through to C+. This year's teams also all gelled well under some excellent team leadership and the competitions for stable lines, turnout and social activities were hard fought. Thanks to Jan Jackson's enthusiasm and hard work, we ran a mock tet for the first time, introducing many members to shooting and a run through the water jump. Dilys Gordan brought some of us the chance to play at Le Trec too and we concluded camp with a change from the ODE of recent years: we combined dressage with a jumping derby which proved highly successful.

I have now run five senior camps for the South Berks and each one has been different. This year's was perhaps more memorable than some: three crews of extremely fit firemen were an unusual accessory to say the least. But I have to say that this year's children were the best behaved ever - they allowed me more sleep and most showed admirable dedication to their ponies' welfare. Parents should be proud of them: I certainly was.

Camp will be earlier next year, starting on the first weekend of the school holidays. Hopefully this will give families more time to fit in a holiday around our dates.

I still have a mound of lost property and more buckets than I know what to do with! Anything unclaimed by the AGM will go into the branch second hand sales.

Finally, a huge thank you to our DC, Lis, without whom I would be reluctant to take the reins. She allows us all to have fun, simply directing what the Pony Club does best - enjoying and tending to our ponies.

Junior

This year's camp went extremely well. Numbers were definitely up on last year, but fortunately we didn't have to turn anyone away. The weather was kind to us and thanks to Johnny Byrne, whose lovely premises we use, we had a great time and managed to get two swims in, which the children thoroughly enjoyed.

Thanks to Caroline Herbert for organising the games afternoon, this was a great hit. She has now got a year to dream up some new games!! We also managed to arrange a visit from Mike Scholl who gave a brief talk on hunting with the aid of a couple of his hounds. Thanks to him and his huntsman for giving their time.

This year we were in-undated with children wanting to do their D and D+ tests. We managed to accommodate most with the help of Jane Scholl and Jan Fletcher. All the children who passed were given their felts at camp. Well done to all (certificates will be handed out during the AGM in October).

British Native Breeds and Grooming and Handing Achievement badges were also taken during camp and will be sent out to all who have already paid for them in due course.

Junior camp is meant to be fun and gives the children the chance to meet others of a similar age, whilst enjoying the common love of their ponies. We do strongly feel that this target was met again this year and I hope that you all agree. We had a great time and can't wait until next year.

Junior Camp Cup winners

Helpful Cup - Ashley Pulleyn
Deverell Achievement Cup - Megan Daniel
Best Turned Out - Matthew Hick
Best Loved Pony - Annie Jo-Clarke + Sophie Clarke
Perseverance - Lilly Burnand + Cydney Webb
Most Spectacular Fall - Rebecca Mayle
DC Special Award - Piers Flawn-Thomas
Effort - Emma Daniels
Best Pony of the week - Sarah McCoid's "FLICKER"
Most Entertaining - Luke Faithful
Most Splats - Hugo Flawn-Thomas

Mini

Mini Camp was held at Bradfield House, by kind permission of Johnny Byrne. This year, we had forty minis attending camp, aged 4-10 years - almost double from last year! They all arrived on Monday morning, full of enthusiasm. The week's activities included: riding twice a day, a quiz, a talk on poisonous plants, a mini triathlon, a hack and mounted games. Lines and Tack and Turnout were extremely close in the results. The week concluded with a Handy Pony contest and tea and cakes.

Special awards this year went to

Mini Merit Cup - Louisa Stevenson-Hamilton
Best Cup - Maddie Armstrong
Best Kept Tail - Maya Burnand
Best Loved Pony - Storm Ryan
Achieved Most - Claire Waring & Emily Chaffer
Most Determined - Robert Misson
DC's Award - Michael Webber

Traci kindly donated a cuddly pony called "Treasure", who will be looking for a 5* home each year. This year, Treasure was awarded to Laura Bowler.

It was such an enjoyable and happy week. Thank you to all the helpers who gave their time and to all the instructors, also to Wendy Dance and Sara McNickle for all their help before and during camp. Last but not least, thank-you to everyone who came to camp, and their ponies, for making it such a super week and here's to 2005!