MORE than 65 children from pony clubs across the region made extensive use of the beautiful grounds at St Richard's School, Bredenbury.

Taking part in a combined St Richard’s and North Hereford Pony Club triathlon, children aged from three to 12 were divided into three classes, according to ability : Tiddlers, Tadpoles and Minimus.

The day began with target pistol shooting in the school’s Hirons Hall for the older ones (bean bags on the Rose Lawn for the younger ones), followed by a 500m or 1km run through the woods and around the Games Pitch.

In the afternoon, lower classes battled it out in the show jumping arena while minimus entrants took on the school's first class and permanent cross country course, which undulates around the school grounds and includes fences (jumps) in the lower woods and around the lake.

Prizes were handed out by Fred de Falbe, the incoming headteacher, who formally takes up his position in January. With only the odd fall and no serious injuries, favourable weather and plenty of happy children and parents, the day was judged to be a great success, and likely to be repeated next year.

* Prizewinners: Tiddlers: Guy McMullen, N Hereford; Laura Hayton-Lee, Ludlow. Team win: Combined from N Hereford and Llangeinor. Tadpoles: Sam Jones, Radnor and West; Georgia Robertson, Cotswold.

Team win: Combined from Ledbury, Heythrop and Cotswold Pony Clubs.

Minimus: Matthew Baker, Ledbury; Arianna Davison, N Hereford. Team win: Ledbury.