It is a superb venue where the camping/caravan/ lorry park is at the centre with the X/C start and finish in front, stabling for hundreds of horses to one side, the shoot in the indoor school behind us (set up with two ranges of 12 targets shot at simultaneously!!), and the run to the other side of the camping area. This was an international year (every 4 years) when teams come from Ireland, Canada and the USA to compete against the UK Senior Teams so there were 341 competitors in all. In addition to the beautifully constructed X/C course there was also Show Jumping for the overseas competitors who can only acquaint themselves with the horses supplied to them from the Equestrian College for 10 minutes before competing…a real test of horsemanship and an additional source of entertainment!!

Jo's class had 81 competitors the majority older that herself. A 780 shoot on Friday morning was followed by a 7 length swim at the University of Warwick. The run was on Saturday after rain so it was hard and slippery and truly cross country (ask her!!). Sunshine returned for Sunday and the X/C Ride when Athena and Jo went magnificently clear AND inside the time to give a total of 3466 points, so finishing well up the field at approximately 49th and only 672 points behind the winner!! And this all achieved after late night BBQs and Discos!!

The prizegiving was in sunshine on the lawns of Moreton Hall, a grand background to the huge semicircle of smartly dressed competitors and their friends and supporters, with all the international flags fluttering in the breeze. I have put some photos up in our shooting barn but it is impossible to capture on them the friendly atmosphere and camaraderie of this event but I hope here to have conveyed a taste of the "Tet Olympics". It is certainly worth everyone competing towards and a well deserved result for Jo….well done !!

Other notable results include Best Shoots for Kristian Callaghan and Charlotte Shepheard at the Area Qualifier where Charlotte also rode clear and with an excellent swim and run took first overall in the Mini Girls. Incidently, during the holidays Charlotte competed at Hartpury College in Gloucestershire in the Modern Pentathlon Nationals and came tenth in her age group - excellent!! So it is a real shame to hear that Modern Pentathlon may be dropped from the Olympics particularly as so many of the current Olympic competitors started out by competing in Pony Club Tetrathlon.

Rebecca Mayle and Georgia Misson made their first transition from triathlon to tetrathlon at the Royal Artillary event which was a very good starter X/C course for them both and Rebecca achieved 920, the Best Shot of the class…well done.

We warmly invite all those who have not yet tried this multi discipline section of the pony club to have a go. Having organised a Run, Shoot and Swim at Senior Camp and Mini Camp, I do hope that most folk will now know about the fun and challenge of this competition. It does need commitment from parents but this is shared amongst a large group of friendly families who help each other out with shared lifts both to practices and competitions so please don't discount the possibility of at least giving your children the opportunity to try shooting and swimming with us. Several families have joined in since camp and we have the largest number of boys aged 7 - 12 years than ever before, so if there are any more who want to make friends within the club and encourage riding then Tet is for you!!

Swimming Practice has now been extended to include a beginners' group from 5.30 - 6pm to be followed as usual by the "improvers" from 6 -7pm. This is at The Willink Leisure Centre at Burghfield Common on every Thursday evening thanks to three parents, Sarah Harris, Lauren Kilsby-Steele and Marie Shepheard who are swimming instructors. If there any other parents or friends are willing to come and instruct it would be great to hear from you. Shooting Practice also continues every Tuesday evening in the Bournefield Barn, Union Road, Bradfield. This too has been extended to accommodate the increase in numbers, from 5pm onwards in roughly 30 minute slots. There is a timetable to state your time preference to attend and thereby minimise any hanging around and to make staggered use of the available parking. Also in the barn, please check your results on the consolidated score sheets, that I have faithfully entered them all correctly, because your end of season trophies depend upon it!!

Our own Tetrathlon competition took place on September 25 and 26 and I am indebted to all those who gave up their time to help out, both before the weekend and on the two days, stewarding, scoring, making tea etc. Everyone is needed and thank you very much for all your support. I hope that the 27 members who were competing from our branch whether in Tet, Tri or Biathlon had a really enjoyable day. Remember, we compete for fun.