Student Laura Hutton has just returned from the National Pony Club Tetrathlon Championships at Hartbury College, England, having achieved a magnificent result and finishing in 12th place.
Laura who is a member of the Fermanagh Harriers Branch of the Pony Club, travelled to the championships with her mother Lynda, who is herself an experienced horsewoman. Laura qualified to attend the championships by winning the Open Girls Northern Ireland competition in July. At the championships there were 82 starters in Laura's class. Finishing in 12th place was a significant achievement.
Tetrathlon competitions include four separate phases, usually over a number of days. The four phases are designed not only to test the competitor's equine skills, but also wider sporting ability. They are shooting, running, swimming and cross-country riding, each phase being allocated points which are totalled to give a final result. Getting to the top in the sport requires long term dedication and a lot of training.
At the championships, Laura shot a score of 940, and was awarded the Championship Glass for the best shooting score. In the other phases, Laura swam eight lengths and 19 meters during the three minutes, she ran the 1500m cross county course in six minutes and 16 seconds, and she rode a clear round with her trusty mount The Vagabond.
Andrew Harkness another Fermanagh Harriers members, also attended the Tetrathlon championships, and competed in the Intermediate class. Andrew finished 26th from 56 starters.
Laura, who has four A Levels, three of which are at Grade A, rounded off the summer by sitting her Pony Club B Test alongside another club member Amy Harkness. The B Test is a high level test well recognised in the equine world, and considered to be equivalent to A level standard. Both girls passed with flying colours, demonstrating their sound knowledge and skills in both riding and stable management.
Laura is now looking forward to continuing her riding and academic successes, by combining competing with her horse over the coming year, and furthering her studies.
