Wilkinson Sword Hunter Trial

25th September 2013

Traditionally the weather is kind on Wilkinson Sword day, and true to form it was.  The annual Wilkinson Sword Event, founded in 1981, is held at Isleham by the Soham & District Pony Club.

The event originated when one of the committee members at Soham saw an advert from Wilkinson Sword, who were giving away six swords.  To get one of these treasured swords we had to say why we should get one and what we would use it for.  The Soham & District Pony Club were one of the lucky six to be awarded one.  It is believed that one of the others went to a polo club, but where the others are today is a mystery.

The winning team comes from two scores in the intermediate and two scores from the open, with the best scores counting.

Above we see Katie Cameron, Nikki Hart, Nicole Sheldrake (and Sophie Levin) bringing the Wilkinson Sword back to Soham!

In tandem with the Wilkinson Sword is the Gerry Webster event, which has the same principles but concentrates on the junior classes and takes the best four scores from either novice classes.  This cup was donated by the family of the late Gerry Webster who trained the Prince Phillip Cup Team at Soham for many years.
Both events take the scores from Pony Club Members.

The event took a large number of entries and all three courses ran very well in near perfect conditions.  The ditch, following by the skinny, in the higher classes provided a challenge for some riders, as did the palisade and wishing well combination.  With virtually no hold ups on course, a good flow of riders tackled everything it had to offer.

The Wilkinson Sword was won by the Soham and District Pony Club, having been a while since it returned home.  The winning team comprised of Nikki Hart, Nicole Sheldrake, Sophie Levin and Katie Cameron.

The Gerry Webster Cup was awarded to the Newmarket and Thurlow Pony Club, with a second place for the home team of Soham.

The Open class was won by Soham’s own Annabel Molyneux on Wham a Note.

To download the results please click here.

Sue Cameron
Soham & District Pony Club