The Pony Club is celebrating its 75th anniversary (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

The Pony Club is celebrating its 75th anniversary

THE Pony Club, the fourth biggest youth organisation in the UK, is celebrating its 75th birthday as this year's official charity at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials which begins today (Thursday) and runs until Sunday, May 2.

"You would have to go back to the 1960s to find a British winner of Badminton who has not been a member of the Pony Club," said Badminton director Hugh Thomas.

"This, coupled with our long association with the Beaufort Branch and the fact that it is the Pony Club's 75th anniversary, give us an excellent opportunity to help commemorate this significant event."

Most children who have been to Badminton harbour ambitions to ride round the course when they are older and they look with envy at the members of the Beaufort Branch who fulfil the vital role of collecting the scoring information from the fence judges out on the cross-country course.

This year, as a one off, two lucky members from other branches in the UK will be joining the Beaufort to be score collectors on the Saturday.

In addition, four other children have been chosen to lead in the parade of competitors on Sunday to symbolise the link between the grass roots of the Pony Club and the pinnacle of sporting achievement.

The organisation's involvement will be further endorsed by the Pony Club Sunken Road, the televised 15th fence on the cross country course, along with two tradestands.

The Pony Club will be promoting the varied opportunities offered by membership, from competition to education, and highlighting the wide variety of disciplines, including pony racing, which are open to members.

For further information, visit the website on www.pcuk.org or ring Pony Club Headquarters on 024 7669 8300.