AREA 2 TETRATHLON, TRIATHLON & BIATHLON

About this event:

Area 2 Team and Individual Qualifier for Junior, Intermediate and Open Tetrathlon Championships 2024, plus non qualifier classes for Tetrathlon, Triathlon and Biathlon.

Saturday 20^th July Swim and Shoot at Willowburn Leisure Centre NE66 2JH followed by the Run at Todburn Equestrian Centre, NE65 8QZ

Sunday 21^st July Ride at Todburn Equestrian Centre, NE65 8QZ

Riding :

• Competitors not aiming to qualify may jump a lower course if they wish, but will incur 500 penalties for each level they drop down. Anyone wishing to jump a lower course must notify the secretary by 1st July.
• The XC will have “L” fence options at the more difficult fences. Please make sure that all competitors understand the concept of “L” fences
• When on the course, spectators/competitors must look out for horses approaching especially from behind them, listen to instructions from Stewards and must take special care in the warm up and collecting ring areas.
• A valid passport and vaccination record must accompany the horse/pony to this event and must be available for inspection if required by event officials. Vaccinations must be in accordance with the Pony Club Tetrathlon Rule Book 2024. NB. 6 monthly boosters are not currently required. No horse or pony may compete on the same day as a relevant injection is given or on any of the 6 days following such an injection.
• For classes 1 – 5 the Cross Country courses will not be timed. On these courses competitors who have 3 refusals may miss out the fence and continue on the course provided the fence judge considers them safe to do so. They must make way for faster competitors.
• Any unsafe behaviour or conduct deemed detrimental to a horse or pony’s welfare (e.g. excessive use of the whip or spurs) may at the organisers’ discretion result in the competitor being asked to leave the course.
• A horse may be shared by two members of the same family but will be subject to a vet check before running the second time in accordance with rule 18c. Please ensure we know you are sharing a horse and liaise with us on the day about timings and vet check.
• Competitors must provide your own number bibs and print your own numbers. Once times are published there will be an option to do this on the ponyclubresults website. Please make sure that the number is sufficiently large to be legible to judges and stewards at a distance.
• Riding hats and body protectors are required and must comply with The Rulebook. All hats must be tagged to show that they are compliant before being brought to the competition. Stirrups with enhanced grip features, stirrups which connect the boot and the stirrup magnetically, or interlocking boot soles and stirrup treads are not allowed. If a whip is carried it must comply with The Rulebook and only be used in accordance with The Rulebook.
• It is the parents’ responsibility to ensure that rider equipment and pony tack are safe and comply with The Rulebook.

Shooting :

• Protective or prescription glasses are recommended at all levels of competition and are COMPULSORY for competitors shooting at 7m.
• Long trousers must be worn.
• Guns must be kept in their cases until the Firing Point Steward gives the order to “unbox” them at the start of a detail, and must be “boxed” again before the competitor leaves the firing point. At all other times guns must be stored in their boxes and locked in a secure place.
• All guns to be fitted with a safety flag at all times except when authorized by the Firing Point Steward.
• No person under 18 years of age may be responsible for, or carry a gun.
• Guns to be charged at home. Competitors are reminded to check that their guns function correctly and have enough charge before arriving at the competition.
• Competitors and their parents must familiarize themselves with the rules around shooting as detailed in The Rulebook.

Running :

• The run will be on grass and competitors will start in groups. This will take place at Todburn on Saturday 20^th July after the shooting and swimming.

Swimming :

• Flotation devices are not allowed except for beanies.
• Beanies will swim in the learner pool, all other competitors will swim in main pool.
• Competitors in all classes except beanies must be capable of swimming 1 length of the pool unaided.
• Only team coaches are permitted at the poolside and outdoor shoes must be removed
• Swimmers diving from starting blocks need to have reached the level of the ASA Competitive Start Award. Dive certificates must be produced when guns are checked and coloured wrist bands will be given out to indicate where you are allowed to start from. If you don’t wear your wrist band then you’ll have to start in the pool.

Diving Certificate Guidance Competitive Starts: From the 1st April 2024, all competitors who wish to dive, either from blocks or from the side of the pool, will need to have the relevant Swim England or Swim Teachers Association certificate as stated in the 2024 rule book. There is, of course, no restriction on competitors starting in the water.

Pony Club accepted Certificates:

Swimming Teachers Association Competitive Starts and Turns Level 1 / Swim England Preliminary Competitive Start Award – Able to dive into pool from poolside

Swimming Teachers Association Competitive Starts and Turns Level 2 / Competitive Start Award – Able to dive into pool from diving blocks

Branch Team Competition

• Teams of 3 or 4 Boys or Girls in the same age-group.

• Individual competitors may be included in Mixed Branch Teams. These teams are not eligible to qualify for Tetrathlon Championships.

• The best 3 scores will be counted.

This event is run in accordance with Pony Club Tetrathlon Rulebook 2024 (hereafter called The Rulebook). Copies can be bought from Amazon or downloaded from https://pcuk.org/pony-club-rule-books/

Competitors are reminded that they may not school over the course in the 2 weeks before the competition.

After the closing date late entry requests must be made by email to the Organiser at DC@morpethhuntpc.co.uk

Late entries may be accepted at the organiser’s discretion (surcharge £5).

To be eligible for qualification competitors must belong to an Area 2 Branch or Centre, jump the correct height for their category and comply with the rules of eligibility in The Rulebook.

Should a Member have a medical condition please notify the Organiser before the day of the competition so that the necessary stewards can be briefed.

Reasonable adjustments can be made following the Pony Club Reasonable Adjustment Policy: https://pcuk.org/reasonable-adjustment/. Applications must be made to the organiser by 1^st July.

Photographic Rights – by entering this competition competitors and their guardians give permission for any photographic and/or film or TV footage taken of persons taking part in this event to be used and published in any media whatsoever for editorial purposes, press information or advertising by or on behalf of the Pony Club and/or Official Sponsors of the Pony Club.

Prizes & prizegiving

Tetrathlon – Rosettes to 6th place in each class and team rosettes to 6th.

Triathlon – Rosettes to 6^th place in each class

Rosettes for best shoot, run and swim in all classes.

The prize giving for the triathlon classes will take place on Saturday 20^th July at Todburn after the running.

Dress code for prize giving is Branch Sweatshirts

Closing date & withdrawal date 6/7/24, 6pm

Full refunds (minus the booking fee) will be given up to the withdrawal date of the competition, after the withdrawal date but before 18th July 50% refund. After this date no refunds will be made without a Doctor’s or Vet’s certificate produced no later than 24hrs after the event. Refunds where due will be minus the booking fee.

In the unfortunate situation of the event having to cancel 80% of the entry fee will be refunded minus the booking fee.

After the closing date please contact the event Secretary DC@morpethhuntpc.co.uk to make any changes

Before the closing date please login to your Horse Events Account and cancel your entry. If a refund is due this will be processed automatically. To withdraw after the closing date please contact the event Secretary DC@morpethhuntpc.co.uk

Refreshments

Refreshments will be available at Todburn on Sunday and there are local shops available for food on Saturday.