Yorkshire college is braced for huge event

Around 1,000 people from 13 different countries will be staying on the campus for the FEI Pony European Championships which begin on Tuesday.

Ann, who is assistant principal responsible for the campus and services for learners, is the event director for the championships.

It is the first time the competition has been held in this country for 13 years and it has never been held in the North of England. Quite a coup then for the college, which is near Beverley and for East Yorkshire.

The college has undergone a major, 25m re-development programme over the past few years with a considerable amount of this being spent on the equestrian facilities.

These include a new state-of-the-art indoor arena and a new outdoor arena.

The college already has a well-established cross country course.

"One of the most interesting things has been trying to knit in all the different parts of the competition," says Ann, which must be something of an understatement.

The championships involve dressage, showjumping and dressage and running alongside this is a completely separate event, the European Horseball Pony Championships.

Teams from five countries will compete in this sport, known as "rugby on horseback", over four days.

"We have had a lot of help from the British Equestrian Federation and it will be a fantastic opportunity for people to see the very top young riders from each country competing," said Ann.

All the officials will be able to stay on site in the college's new student accommodation. The riders, all aged between 12 and 16, will all be staying on campus too along with their relatives, plus trainers and other vital back-up staff such as physiotherapists and vets. It will be their village and hopefully this will add to the atmosphere of the occasion," said Ann.

Running such a high profile event should be a good shop window for the college, which has also been approved as a training camp for the 2012 Olympics.

Potential equestrian stars of the future are preparing to represent their countries next week and Bishop Burton College is getting ready for finding itself in the spotlight for a week.

The FEI Pony European Championships run from Tuesday until 2 August.

For more information go to www.bishopburton.ac.uk.

Northern quartet head south in search of Polo Club glory

THE Bedale Pony Club polo team heads south this weekend to compete in the Pony Club Polo Championships.

The team will play in the qualifying tournaments at Cirencester, Gloucestershire; Hurtwood, Sussex and Tidworth in Wiltshire.

Ruby Beardsall, Angus Johnston, Ellie Tempest and D'Arcy Rainford Blackett, all aged 14, have played together for two seasons.

"I think we've a good chance of getting to the finals at Cowdray Park, which is the home of polo," said team manager, Jonnie Beardsall.

"We've been training during the week on our ground at Swinton, which is just between the hotel and the lake. As polo clubs go, it's a bit on the small side but it's the only polo ground between here and Toulston, which is near Tadcaster and we're jolly lucky to have it."

The team has backing from the Swinton Park Hotel and from I'Anson Bros in Masham.

John Whitaker says it's his favourite place to eat and now we hear that the Jersey Pavilion at the Great Yorkshire Show is becoming a favourite haunt for many of the showjumpers. The cream teas are prepared by breeders' wives and go down a treat with the riders as well as Jersey cattle exhibitors. The cafe is near to the collecting ring and the route to the stables.

CW 24/7/10