Intermediates
We have had a good season with lots of people jumping at 2'9" and a few going on to jump bigger courses as the summer progressed. The following represented the SBPC at 2'9" to 3'3" this year. Lauren Innes, Emma Strang, Lottie Crocker, Katy Haddock, Camilla Beavon, Grace Bovill, Laura Burgess, Daniella Kilsby-Steele, Vicky Dance, Lily Parkinson and Charlotte Shepheard.

We started the season (as ever!) at Bisley in April with only one team jumping at 2'9". Success was with us - the team Of Lauren, Emma Strang, Emma Harris, & Daniella Kilsby-Steele won, with Lauren winning her section.

At the end of May we entered two teams at WEC for the Garth South ODE. The Gold Team: Lottie Crocker, Emma Strang, Lauren Innes managed to win again. Emma won her section despite losing her right stirrup half way round - there were a few nail biting moments as she approached the coffin at mach 2! The Blue team of Camilla Beavon, Katy Haddock, Emma Strang, Laura Burgess weren't placed but Katy Haddock had a fantastic round to finish 2nd in her arena in her first outing at this level.

June brought Rosehill and a win for the team of Laura Burgess, Victoria Dance and Daniella Kilsby-Steele. The team of Emma Strang, Grace Bovill Ali Matchwick and Laura Burgess were less successful at Rogate but this was probably due to Emma taking an impromptu dip in the second water and Grace testing out a her new dismounting technique at the finish.

We struggled to find a team to go to Stilemans for the Novice Qualifier but the team of Emma, Lauren and Laura acquitted themselves well over what was a challenging track. It is a huge jump up from 2'9" courses to 3'-3'3" and the girls' lack of mileage at this level in the XC phase showed. However the experience gained this year should pay dividends next year as the basics are there and we are very strong in the dressage phase. We are very proud that they were prepared to have a go.

The bigger courses are few and far between. The next ODE was the Heythrop Hunt in July. We failed to get a team - largely due to the lack of rain and the hard ground. A couple of individuals went.

The season finished on a high note at Bisley in September, with two teams finishing second and third respectively - well done to all.

Next year bodes well for the South Berks. We have lots of members moving up from minimus to 2'9" which means that our intermediate teams will remain a force to be reckoned with !!

To summarise we had some great days out (and some even better picnics!) and it was a joy to be chef d'equipe to the girls. The sense of camaraderie was huge as the girls got to know each other well. A big thank you to the girls (and the parents!!) for being so well behaved and making my job pretty straightforward. Happy eventing next year- get the Pimms in the fridge! Apologies if I've missed anyone out - there might have been a number of individual entries that I couldn't track down.

Juniors & Minis
This has been a fantastic season for our junior and mini eventers. We have seen forty individuals consistently representing South Berks. We have never come away empty handed and have seen success everywhere we have been, whether it be individual placings, best dressage or team wins. We have seen some of our minis progress into junior teams and the transition has been a complete success with outstanding results. We have seen mini mini's make their debuts and gain placings first time out, and in general there has not been one child who has not gained in confidence and moved forward.

I think our success has been mainly due to the sheer determination of our members, the consistent improvement through the season and the heaps of support from peers. I think I have been even more impressed by this than the results!, Many friendships have been forged and strengthened this season.

In total we were well represented at ten competitions by, on average four teams, and sometimes as many as seven; this must be a record!

Although the number of placings achieved by the branch and individuals are too numerous to mention here (see website for more details) some children deserve a special mention. Leanne Turner-Stephenson, for persevering all season and finally reaping the rewards on our last two outings. Hilary Scutter who has been placed consistently and finished the season well progressing on to the junior class and being placed. Sophie Bee, Matthew Hick, Rhiannon Honey, Elizabeth Dance and Jacqui Herbert who made their debut late on in the season and were placed first time out. James Butler, who always wears a huge grin and tries extremely hard and is an example to us all. I think you will agree that the future looks bright for South Berks "eventing" with so many up and coming talented youngsters.

Very Well Done to Alexandra Dance, Victoria Dance, Elizabeth Dance, Scarlet Harter, Edward Mckeown, Courtenay Argyle, Alexandra Wicks, Annabel West, Olivia Palmer, Elizabeth Frank, Georgina Frank, Charlotte Shepherd, Leanne Turner-Stephenson, Jessica Hazell, Michelle Butler, James Butler, Georgina Haig, Daniella Kilsby-Steele, Rachael Haig, Rosie Riall, Rebecca Blackburn, Jacqui Herbert, Alicia Beavon, Lily Parkinson, Annie Clarke, Paige Harding, Hannah Turnbull Sophie Bee, Matthew Hick, Rhiannon Honey, Joanna Sprules, Mille Altmann, Zoe Daniels, Lottie Crocker, Rebecca Steljes, Lauren Innes, Emma Strang, Katie Haddock, Emma Horner, Hilary Scutter.

One last note, Eventing is great fun as demonstrated by our members this year, so if there is anyone out there who hasn't given it a go yet, let us know. There will be lots of help and support from all of your team-mates.

Thanks to everyone who has given me their support over the past two seasons.

Seniors
The senior eventing squad has had a very positive season. Some members had not competed at this level before and some, indeed, had done very little eventing at any level. All the more commendable that we finished on such a high note at the National Championships at Sansaw, near Shrewsbury.

During the season, starting in May, there are several Pony Club Open (3'6") events to which we endeavour to send a team , exams permitting. A squad, which included Hannah and Lucy Bucknell, Leanne Toms, Charlotte Eley, Grace Bovill, Katy Tooth, Tessa Hempell and Vicky Hempell started the season with everything to play for. Sadly, Vicky broke her leg before the season began in earnest, which was a tremendous disappointment to her (and us!). At every event the squad gained experience, with Hannah and Lucy going down the JRN (British Eventing's Junior Regional Novice Horse Trials) route, with Hannah qualifying to go to Weston Park 3DE in October for the Southern Region.

The area competition was held at Somerley Park near Ringwood, so some members who were competing in more than one discipline stabled overnight down there. The Gold team comprised Hannah, Lucy, Charlotte and Leanne and the Blue team unfortunately only had 3 members, Katy, Grace and Tessa. All went exceptionally well, but the Gold Team surpassed themselves and finished 2nd, thus qualifying for the Championships. Leanne and Hannah finished 2nd and 3rd in their individual arenas.

Only Hannah had experience of Sansaw before and it stood her in good stead as she performed consistently well throughout to finish individually 5th in her section. This is a tremendous achievement as the cream of all Pony Clubs all over the UK were there and it was widely regarded as the most technical course seen at the Championships for many a year. Leanne had an unfortunate stop on the XC at one of the easiest fences and would otherwise have been placed. Lucy was thrilled with the evergreen Berkeley whose first trip to the Championships after an illustrious career this was. Charlotte, who had done no eventing until this year at any level, was on a steep learning curve with Challenge and will benefit next year from knowing just how big the course is at Sansaw! She, although disappointed with her performance, was wonderfully supportive of the others. A good time was had by one and all and even the GCSE results were good so well done everyone.