NON-riders are being invited to join the Zetland Hunt Pony Club under a new scheme launched this month.
Those who enjoy swimming, running and target shooting can take out a non-riding membership and take part in triathlons which are run across the country throughout the year.
There are four age categories – tadpoles (U8); minimus, (8-11), junior (12-14) and senior (15-21).
Boys and girls compete together and there is no minimum qualification standard to compete. At the end of the games, rosettes are awarded to the top scores in each discipline, for the highest overall scores, and for the best team performances in each of the age and sex categories.
The youngest children taking part in triathlons would be expected to be able to run 500m, swim for two minutes and throw beanbags at a target as a form of “shooting”.
From the age of eight competitors are required to shoot at stationary targets using .177 calibre air pistols from a range of seven or ten metres depending on their age.
Eight to 11-year-olds are allowed to use two hands while older competitors must use only one. Ten shots are fired under timed conditions with a maximum of four seconds allowed per shot.
Competitors are required to swim freestyle a distance appropriate for their age and the level at which they are competing. They have to swim for two or three minutes depending on their age.
Cross-country runs are timed. Distances are 500 metres, 1,000 metres, 1,500 metres and 3,000 metres depending on age category. The start is staggered at one-minute intervals.
The Zetland Hunt Pony Club will be holding an Area 2 triathlon competition sponsored and held at Barnard Castle School on Sunday, January 26. Starting at 9am, it will be a qualifier for the Winter Triathlon Championships final at Stoke Mandeville Stadium on March 22. Competitors will predominantly be from the Borders to Yorkshire and Lancashire
Entry forms and schedules are available from the Zetland Pony Club website branches. pcuk.org/zetland/. Entries close January 18.
Anyone interested in joining the Zetland Pony Club should contact secretary Jeanette Crompton, at lawrence.crompton@btinter net.com.
