Recent Knowstone Horse Show & Gymkhana - a huge success!

The Annual Knowstone Horse Show & Gymkhana took place on Sunday 27th June and, once again, proved to be a huge success for the event organisers and everyone involved.

This year there were 8 rings plus a Fun Family Dog Show in operation and over 240 competitors took part. Events included - jumping rings, clear round jumping, three showing rings, an In-Hand ring, plus the gymkhana and a Handy Pony ring. There was a very large turn out, and the competitors, and the spectators, enjoyed the day with beautiful sunshine and stunning views of the glorious Devon countryside. 

The classes included qualifying events for the South West Ponies Association Championship show in September (to be held at the David Broome Centre in Chepstow); also, two jumping qualifiers for the Tarka and Taw & Torridge Trophies coming up soon at the North Devon Show on 4th August.  To qualify, competitors must be resident within the North Devon or Torridge District Council Areas and we are pleased to report that local rider Pip Vos managed to qualify for the Tarka Trophy class, so she is very excited about that! Well done Pip!

Vicky Snell and her family do an amazing job of hosting the event and deserve a special mention for that. In return, the Horse Show & Gymkhana organising committee wish to thank all those people and organisations who donated prizes and funds, who helped with their personal time, equipment and 'know-how, and to all those local people who turned out to help set up the rings and to take them all down at the end - thank you to everyone.

Preliminary estimates of the organising committee accounts suggests that something in the region of £1,000 will be donated to the funds for Saint Peters Church, Knowstone; also, approximately £1,000  to Knowstone Village Hall Funds. A donation of £350 will also be made to the St John Ambulance organisation. The final donations may well exceed these estimates and the exact figures will be published later. This is an incredible achievement for a small community such as Knowstone and everyone involved deserves full credit.

NB If anyone who was there, has a good photograph(s) of riders or events, then please send them to info@knowstone.org.uk and we will post these on site.

For further details on the Knowstone Horse Show & Gymkhana, and/or to check out information about local riding events, clubs and organisers please contact: Victoria Snell on: 0-1884 881433; or click snell236@btinternet.com or, write to: Moortown Cottage, South Molton, Devon, EX36 4RZ 

Other links relating to riders and riding include: Pony Club: click www.pcuk.org to check out local branches. Or, contact The Tiverton Hunt Pony Club click www.tivpc.org.uk  

A Date for your Diary - Knowstone Horse Show & Gymkhana, Sunday 26th June 2011 - see you next year!