The UKPA’s Early Season Tournament took place at Onley Grounds on the 10th and 11th of May and it was Kent Target who emerged with the most points as they took two grades wins and a second place. Kent carried on where they had left off last year as they won the A grade, with Cotswold ending up in second place. A Highlanders team returned to the field for the first time since 2011 but they couldn’t stop Kent winning all their games to claim the first A grade of the year. Matt Smith of Kent won the best player award for the grade.

In the B grade it was the Welsh Dragons who claimed the grade as Simon Shearing combined with a returning Charlie Wright-Roberts (after he took a break for the 2014 season) and Meg Smith to win all their matches and emerge victorious. Arden grabbed second place on goal difference after them, Kent and the other Welsh Dragons section all ended on one win each.

In the C grade it was again Kent Target who won the grade as they defeated all comers. They were the highest graded team and their team featured their new Australian import Jana Dillon, alongside other experienced players such as Sharon Kennedy and Alice Humphrey, who won the best player for the grade on her new horse Wasabi. The Welsh Dragons team, who were the second highest graded team, took second place as the results duly followed the gradings.

In the D grade it was the Cotswold section who got a win, with Dom White of Cotswold winning best player, while Celyn took second place. In the E grade it was Limemere Sparks who won the day, as they defeated a team consisting of a combination of Chiltern, Ledbury and Limemere Sparks themselves. One of Limemere’s new players, Amanda Wasdell, took the best player honours in her first ever tournament and she also won Best Newcomer for the tournament as a whole.

In the Open Juniors in was another combined team that emerged victorious as Fin Bristow of Rugby combined with James Cook of Chiltern and Emily Goding of Celyn to win the grade. Kent Target’s junior team took second spot to round off a good weekend for the club. Josh Smith of Ledbury picked up best player in the Juniors.