A reminder of our Easter Egg Hunt on Sunday 13th April - unmounted - at Redhouse Common, Chailey, BN8 4JE
Please meet Anne Cook for a 2.00pm start in the car park.
This is free! All members of any age and siblings are very welcome.
If you have not already registered please let Candy Robbins know so we have lots of easter eggs to go round.
Anne Cook, our District Commissioner, has decided she intends to step down from her role due to family commitments. Charlotte Russell has offered to act as interim DC with the view of taking on the role after that.
However we also have other Senior committee members looking to retire after many years of service – Candy Robbins, Mike Nichols, Mike Robbins, Sonia Chittenden.
Therefore we are looking for the following positions on our committee to be filled:
Branch Secretary
Branch Treasurer
Health Safety Officer
Safe Guarding Officer.
The general responsibilities of our committee is to:
Ensure financial soundness – managing budget and finances
Managing risk – implementing safety protocols and procedures
Operating within laws, rules and policies – ensuring compliance with relevant regulations.
Supporting the club's mission – working to achieve the club's goals and objectives
If you have the enthusiasm and time to take on one of these roles within the Committee, and are over 18 years of age, please let Candy Robbins know stating which role you would be interested in and a brief resume of why you would like the role and what merits you could bring to our Branch. If you would like more information on what each role comprises please ask and that can be provided in detail.
Full training and support would be given for all roles along with the essential DBS check, Safe Guarding training and where applicable a First Aid Qualification.
This would be a gradual changeover and nobody would be abandoned in their role.
All roles are voluntary and no renumeration paid.
Membership across Area 11 has been in decline and we are aware as a Branch we are not alone in falling numbers (membership across the Area is down by 230 since last year) This seems to be due to more events, clinics and clubs available and also for some a financial issue. We do however, make available a vast choice of rallies and activities for our members and these are also open all members of Area 11. We run all rallies that are supported by members and these are usually subsidised by the Branch.
We are luckier than many branches who have to cancel many of the activities they advertise.
We have explored the option of joining up with a neighbouring Branch but this was greeted with a complete takeover of our members rather than an amalgamation.
We very much hope the positions above will be filled and our wonderful Branch can continue. If for any reason it becomes impossible for this Branch to continue we will be under the guidance of Head Office and members given the option of where they would like to transfer their membership too.
Candy Robbins – Branch Secretary
Camp 2025
Sadly we are unable to run a residential camp at Plumpton Racecourse this year due to insufficient numbers.
We have explored several avenues including joining up with other branches but this still has not given us the numbers to enable running a residential camp. We are not alone. Many branches are also experiencing a decline in numbers, not running residential camps and holding day camps instead which seems to be the popular choice of parents.
We will try to run a residential camp in 2026 but that will rely on membership increasing across the area.
However we will run the 3 day rally at Bucklands Farm which was a huge success last year and much fun had by all.
This will run Tuesday 29th – Thursday 31st July 10.00-3.00pm and the cost will be £240
The official camp invitation letter will follow shortly and booking made available via our website.
Candy Robbins
The Pony Club Area 11 National Quiz Qualifier
Hosted by West Kent Meopham Branch
Sunday 9th March 2025, at 2- 4.30pm
Arrival from 1.30pm with briefing at 1.45pm
Ditton Community Centre, Kiln Barn Road, Ditton,
Kent, ME20 6AH
Entry Fee: £40 per team via Entrymaster https://wkmeophampc.entrymaster.online/
Closing Date: Wednesday 26th February 2025
Official organisers:
Jane Laird : 07957 252271
Beverly Saville 07791458621
Teas, coffees and cakes will be available
There will be a side hall for parents/carers to wait in and a raffle with lots of lovely prizes.
Please bring cash as no card payment option available.
SECTIONS
All ages will be taken from the 1st January 2025
Highest placed Centre and Branch teams from each section will qualify for the Quiz Final which will take place on 4th May 2025 at Sheffield Wednesday Football Stadium. Any further qualifying places will be in accordance with the rule book.
Competitors should wear PC sweatshirts/polo shirts and smart, comfortable trousers (no ripped jeans) and shoes. One team member must wear a XC bib containing their pony club branch and team name.
Team name will need to be printed at home.
STEWARDS
Each team entered is required to provide one steward to help officiate at each 'station'. Stewards do not need to have extensive equestrian knowledge but are there to assist teams and to ensure fair practise throughout the competition. Full briefing will be given for all stewards before the competition starts. Without sufficient stewards, the competition cannot run. Steward details will be requested on Entrymaster.
Health & Safety
Organisers of this event have taken reasonable precautions to ensure the health and safety of everyone present. For these measures to be effective, everyone must take all reasonable precautions to avoid and prevent accidents occurring and must obey the instructions of the organisers and all the officials and stewards.
Legal Liability
Save for the death or personal injury caused by the negligence of the organisers, or anyone for whom they are in law responsible, neither the organisers of this event or The Pony Club nor any agent, employee or representative of these bodies, nor the landlord or their tenant, accepts any liability for any accident, loss, damage, injury or illness to horses, owners, riders, spectators, land, cars, their contents and accessories, or any other person or property whatsoever. Entries are only accepted on this basis.
Please note, allowing members and others to post adverts for members is a service which Southdown East branch of the Pony Club is offering to members as a benefit of membership. It is done in good faith and without any liability on the part of the Pony Club. If you enter into any arrangement advertised or purchase any item following an advertisement listed by the branch, you do so as a private individual, without recourse to the Pony Club, and must satisfy yourself that any product or arrangement is suitable for your circumstances.
The following advertisement is placed by Gemma Johnson (a parent of a former member in the Branch). Gemma may be contacted on 07901 876199.
Two dates to add to your diaries - both on website and available for booking with spaces limited
Saturday 29th March - Working Hunter rally at East Byshee, Newchapel. Come and learn what working hunter is all about, training over natural obstacles within an arena with jumps 60cm upwards
Saturday 24th May - All Day Rally at Bucklands Farm Cross Country course - a mixture of dressage, showjumping, cross country, achievement badges and lots of fun
