Take gritty approach to polo

It would involve an intensive course of tuition followed by a Pro-Am match at the White Rose Polo Club's Summit Cup, which is being held in June.

All you need, say the organisers is "grit, determination and the will to win."

In fact, you do not even need to have ridden a horse before. Previous teams in Yorkshire have included three non-riders.

Those chosen to take part in the event will receive top class coaching. Two teams will be trained and, along with a professional rider, they will compete against each other in front of the spectators at the Summit Cup.

The Pro-Am competition has been run for the past three years at Beverley Polo Club and this year the White Rose Club, near Market Weighton, is taking a turn to host it.

The closing date for applications is February 19 and there are details on the club's website, www.whiterosepolo.co.uk.

THE Badsworth and Bramham Moor hunt welcomed a large number of first timers to their recent newcomers' day at Bramham Park.

It was an opportunity for people who had always wanted to try hunting (now trail hunting since the legislation of 2004) to find out what is involved.

"We had an excellent day," said hunt secretary Jenny Tomlinson Walsh. "People may have been nervous to start with but they all said they had enjoyed it and we did our best to make them feel at ease and welcome."

If you would like to join the hunt as a visitor for a day, contact Jenny on 07977 627128 or email [email protected].

EQUINE vet and dentist Sally Kingsley and her apprentice Samantha Norris are to spend a week in Egypt next month, helping an animal charity.

Sally, who is based in Pateley Bridge, said: "Here at home, I'm lucky to work with some of the most cherished horses in the north, so the contrast could be really distressing."

She and Samantha will be working with the charity Animal Care Egypt, treating rescue horses.

Top of the North event added to county show's agenda

THE already well-supported equestrian classes at the Great Yorkshire Show will get an extra boost this year with the introduction of a new Top of the North Ridden Championship.

The overall champion will win 1,500 and there will be a 250 prize for the reserve champion.

The riders should be sure of a good number of spectators as the competition will be held in the main ring on the Thursday afternoon, just before the prestigious Ripon Select Foods Cock o' the North competition which is the climax to three days of showjumping at the Great Yorkshire Show.

Preliminary judging for the Top of the North Championship, sponsored by North Yorkshire company TopSpec, will take place in the White Rose ring on the Thursday morning of the show.

Champions from the Novice Ridden Hunter, Ridden Hunter, Working Hunter, Ridden Coloured, Ridden Cob, Ridden Mountain & Moorland and winners from the Ladies Side Saddle, Small Hunter, Four-year-old Hunter, Retrained Racehorse and Ridden Irish Draught classes will qualify.

The Great Yorkshire Show runs from July 13 to 15.

IMPROVING the performance of both horse and rider will be the theme of a conference at Askham Bryan College next month. Maximising Equine Performance is aimed at anybody who competes in showing, dressage, eventing or showjumping.

Speakers include Fred Bergendorff, the Swedish showjumper and member of the European eventing team; equine vet Luis Lomas, and Louise Brown, a physiotherapist who works with both horse and rider.

Jon Townson, technical advisor to the animal health company, Alltech, will cover nutrition using natural feed products.

For tickets and for more information call Laura Hamilton on 01904 772272 or email her at [email protected].