Highlanders/ Pennine Take the A Grade at Midland While Arden Take the Most Points

A combined Highlanders and Pennine team defeated Kent quite soundly in the A grade but it was Arden who took the most league points at the Midland tournament, held at their home grounds in Henley in Arden, as a win in the Primary Juniors and then second places in the Juniors and the Upper and Lower C grade gave them a total of 65 points.

Highlanders/Pennine won the A grade final by 23-11 and in truth it was only a big final chukka from Kent Target that got it that close. Up until then Pennine had always been in control of that half of the game and Kent could not win enough ball to make a match of it. It was a pretty polished performance from both halves of the Highlanders/ Pennine team and picking the best numbers was never going to be an easy job but in the end Joel Sics got Best Number 1 and also Best Horse for Chispa, while Damien Harris picked up Best Number 2 and then Best Horse and Rider and Best Male Player. Greg Sargeant picked up Best Number 3.

In the B grade Canterbury Colts caused a bit of an upset as they beat the top graded team Cotswold by 1 goal to win it. The B grade was a round robin with five teams in it and the Colts were the only teams to win all their matches and so took the grade. Cotswold took second spot as they won 3 out of 4 games. Oli Harwood was probably the pick of the Canterbury Colts players as he scored freely throughout and might have been disappointed not to grab Best Number 1, which went to Emily Walsh of Cotswold.

In the Upper C Kent Target did get a win, as they defeated Arden into second place. Again it was a round robin competition and Kent needed to win their last game to win the grade. They went into the last chukka down by a few goals but they put Layla Henshaw, who actually won Best Number 2 for the tournament, up to the number 1 spot and she had an excellent chukka, dragging back the lead and giving the win to Kent. However, it was Will Arnold of Arden who picked up Best Number 1 and Best Horse for Vieri.

In the Lower C it was a Kent versus Arden final and again it was Kent who came out on top. It was very close throughout and Kent led by just 1 goal after 4 chukkas but in the final 2 chukkas they built themselves a lead and Arden could not respond and Kent won by five goals in the end. Arden will take some consolation as Tash Mason won Best Number 3 for her performance over the weekend.

In the D grade it was Vale Impi who emerged victorious as they defeated Canterbury Colts into second place. Bruce Christiansen, who shone for Vale Impi in the E grade at Celyn, continued to shine at Midland despite being pushed up a grade. He won Best Number 1 and also Best Horse. However, Vale Impi could not repeat their win in the E grade where they were knocked into second place by Pennine, who had their own inspired number 1 in Ade Dunn up front and he also claimed Best Number 1 and Best Horse for Sunny.

In the Juniors and Primary Juniors it was Arden and Ledbury Lions who fought it out and they ended up with with one win and one second place each. Ledbury Lions took the Juniors with Arden in second spot and these positions were reversed in the Primary Juniors with Arden taking the win and Theo Cornforth taking both Best Number 1 and Best Pony for Gilly.

So the results from Midland means that Arden continue to lead the main league but some good results for Kent have seen them pull clear of Pennine and take second spot. Vale Impi remain in fourth place. In the league related to size the Highlanders continue to dominate, their A grade win means they now have 15.5 points per player. Pennine have pulled clear of Ashfields in second spot and also Ledbury Lions are beginning to climb well, their Junior and Primary Junior placings has seen them move up to fourth.

Full Results