The winning Oakley Hunt West team, comprised of Jessica Cox, Jess Warner, Jess Russell, Katie Barrett, Emily Myrtle and Vicky Cox and the all important team trainer Maureen Thomas. The Oakley Hunt West team have been a regular sight at Pony Club Mounted Games for many years with their previous appearance at HOYS in 2007 seeing them just miss the mark and take second place. To date the Oakley Hunt West Team has qualified an impressive 18 times for the final at HOYS and have now won the Prince Philip Cup an incredible six times! Maureen Thomas has been a consistent part of the team’s success, and trained the team during their previous wins in 1997, 2001 and 2002.

Six Pony Club Branch teams including, Badsworth Hunt, Banwell, Cheshire Hunt North, East Down, Oakley Hunt West and Sir Watkin Williams Wynn’s, went forward to the final at HOYS after battling it out at the Zone Finals around the country during the summer. At HOYS the competition really hot’s up on the Thursday evening, and by the end of Sunday afternoon teams that have accumulated the most points during the week go on to meet in Sunday night’s prestigious final to compete for The Prince Phillip Cup.

The Pony Club Mounted Games is a competition requiring courage, determination and all round riding ability. The concept of the competition was first introduced by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh KG KT, who suggested that Cavalry competitions could be adapted for young riders on ponies in an entertaining and visually engaging format. The first competitions were held in 1957 and the winner received the coveted Prince Philip Challenge Trophy. The Pony Club Mounted Games is true team event, with five riders in each team the onus is definitely on working together as there are no individual events in this discipline.

This year’s final marked a special but slightly sad occasion as Sandra O’Sullivan, Secretary for Pony Club Mounted Games, attended her final HOYS with the teams before her retirement. Sandra co presented the Oakley Hunt West with the Prince Phillip Cup on the Sunday evening and commented “We have had another fantastic week at HOYS, who so generously allow us to showcase Pony Club Mounted Games”. “I will be really sad to leave all the friends I have made at The Pony Club but I am leaving my role in the very capable hands of Emma Horton-Barr, who I am sure will have as much fun as I have”.