The 2019 UK National Championships took place from the 23rd to the 25th of August at Onley Grounds Equestrian Centre, near Rugby and saw Highlanders and Kent Target repeat their successes from 2018, with Highlanders winning their fourth straight A grade title and Kent lifting the Nationals trophy for the most sucessful club for the second year in a row and the fifth time overall.

Highlanders beat Kent in the A grade final in a match, which will possibly mainly be remembered for the sending off of Kent’s talisman Jason Webb in the fifth chukka, after he was penalised for the second time for dangerous riding.

Kent built themselves a lead in the early stages of the match but by late chukka five the two teams were pretty much all square. With about a minute left of the fifth chukka, Jason Webb committed his second serious offence, cutting across in front of Max Pedley as he closed in on the goal and causing a collision between their horses. This , combined with a bad ride off in chukka 3 which had already been penalised with a free goal, saw Jason Webb end the chukka in the sin bin and Highlanders took full advantage, building themselves a two goal lead by the end of the chukka. The other Highlanders’ section could then just close out the match for their fourth straight National A grade title, despite Kent’s attempts to comeback.

However, putting aside their disappointment in the A grade final Kent had a very good Nationals. They won the B grade, albeit in a hard fought final against their local rivals Bethersden Bulls, won the C grade final, more comfortably against the same opponents, won the Primary Juniors against Arden and finished second in the Open and Intermediate Juniors behind Celyn. All of this, and a selection of best numbers and best horse prizes, meant they comfortably retained the overall Nationals Trophy that they also won in 2018.

The B grade final looked like it was all going Kent’s way as they outplayed the Bethersden Bulls for four chukkas and took their chances better as Ruaridh Gillanders in particular fired in some great goals for Kent and Matilda Marsh cleaned up out the back of the line up. However, the Bulls fought back in the last two chukkas and came within one goal of tying the scores at the end. However, they fell just short and Kent held on to win the title.

The C grade was a more straight forward win for Kent as they started the stronger against the Bulls and never really looked back. Kent’s mix of youth and experience made them just too strong for the Bulls, who could not win enough ball to even things up and Kent gradually crept away over the six chukkas.

The Bethersden Bulls did win the D grade as they overcame a spirited Celyn side. The Bulls started the stronger and built a lead and though Celyn threatened a comeback in the last couple of chukkas, the Bulls controlled the game through to its end. For the Bulls, a win and two second places represented a pretty good return from Nationals, as they only fielded these three teams and it is only their second season as a club.

However, to make up for the disappointment in the D grade, the E grade did see a win for Celyn, as they overcame Yorkshire Warriors to clinch the title. The two teams split the best numbers, with Emma Muddiman and Fernando Testa of Celyn taking best 1 and best 2 and Amanda Alderson of the Warriors taking best 3. Emma Muddiman’s pony Galaxy took best horse.

The Open Juniors saw another win for Celyn as their strong Junior team comfortably overcame Kent in the final. Celyn also cleaned up the Best numbers and the Best horse, with Kate Tranter, Katie Davies and Keegan Jacobs taking home Best 1, 2 and 3 and Kate’s horse Millie winning best horse.

The Intermediate Juniors saw a near identical result in terms of both placings and best numbers, though Ajay Howitt got best Number 2 for Kent to stop a complete Celyn clean sweep.

The Primary Juniors saw Kent on top again as they overcame Arden in the final. Georgie Wasdell of Kent won best number 1 and her pony Spotty won best pony, while Lottie Wilson-Fitzgerald and Taryn Tinker of Arden won best number 2 and best number 3.

The Nationals this year also saw a Lead Rein grade for the first time to end a series of such grades throughout the season. Riley Duhig and Archie Wasdell won the most committed players awards and Oscar, ridden by Maggie Clark, won best pony.

The repetitive nature of Highlanders’ and Kent’s victories on the two main Nationals trophies does raise the question of when some other club might actually win them again. In 2018 Arden did actually push Kent close for the Nationals Trophy and Celyn won the trophy in 2017, and did also beat Kent in 2013; the first year the trophy was presented. However, this year neither could really challenge Kent closely, with Arden pushing teams up the grades and so ending with few points, and Celyn not challenging enough in the higher grades, though the strength of their junior teams shows great promise for the future.

Ultimately Kent’s strength in depth makes them very hard to beat, they are the only club who can field teams in every grade. Not only can they field teams but they field strong teams, with each team probably having at least one or two players who would have hoped to have been in the grade above.

However, the one grade Kent craves to win again is the A grade and yet that one remains out of their grasp for another year. Highlanders are a very strong team, they featured four World Cup players from two different countries and then also have Max Pedley, who many feel should have been in the UK’s world cup team. So there is no shame in losing to them but Kent will still be annoyed; they had hoped that this year they could finally reclaim the A grade.

If Kent are annoyed as to their lack of success in A grade the other clubs will be very disappointed that, for yet another year, the A Grade final has remain unchanged. Cotswold and Warwick in particular would have hoped they might have got into the final but neither club could ultimately beat one of the big two to make it through. Celyn and Arden will be less disappointed; their current teams are both reasonably recent additions to the A grade, with Arden in particular having only just returned after a long absence and they will feel that simply being back in the A grade is a sign of good progress.

With the UK grass season now drawing to a close, the UK clubs will spend the winter working on plans for next year, to see if they can upset what has become the status quo of Highlanders and Kent victories at the Nationals in 2020. Undoubtedly there will be changes made in various clubs before next year; unhappy players will be looking to move, head coaches will be drawing up their lists of possible targets, the idea of importing foreign players will be on a number of clubs’ AGM agendas (editor’s note: Brexit permitting…) and new playing ponies will be purchased to increase the essential horse power element of each team. We are looking forwards to it already!

2019 UKPA Nationals Results

LEAD REIN – Sponsored Cathy’s Chocolates and Cakes

2019 Most Committed Lead Reiners
Archie Wasdell and Riley Duhig
Sponsored by The Pure Feed Company

Best Pony – Oscar (Maggie Clark)
Sponsored by AKT Design

PRIMARY JUNIORS – Sponsored by Worshipful Company of Saddlers
2nd  ARDEN
1st KENT TARGET

Best #1 Georgie Wasdell
Best #2 Lottie Wilson Fitzgerald
Best #3 Taryn Tinker
Sponsored by Comfort Gut

Best Pony – Spotty (Georgie Wasdell)
Sponsored by AKT Design and Worshipful Company of Saddlers

INTERMEDIATE JUNIORS
2nd  KENT TARGET
Sponsored by Kevin Bacon’s Equine Products UK

1st CELYN
Sponsored by TK Polo and Polocrosse Extreme

Best #1 Rob Ferguson
Best #2 Ajay Howitt
Best #3 Luca Testa
Sponsored by Comfort Gut

Best Pony – Milla (Rob Ferguson)
Sponsored by The Pure Feed Company

OPEN JUNIORS
2nd KENT TARGET
Sponsored by Kevin Bacon’s Equine Products UK

1st CELYN
Sponsored by TK Polo and Rodo

Best #1 Kate Tranter
Best #2 Katie Davis
Best #3 Keegan Jacobs
Sponsored by Comfort Gut

Best Pony – Millie (Kate Tranter)
Sponsored by Spillers

E DIVISION
2nd YORKSHIRE WARRIORS
Sponsored by Kevin Bacon’s Equine Products UK

1st CELYN
Sponsored by TK Polo, Comfort Gut and Heygates Country Feed Ltd

Best #1 Emma Muddiman
Best #2 Fernando Testa
Best #3 Amanda Alderson
Sponsored by Comfort Gut

Best Pony – Galaxy (Emma Muddiman)
Sponsored by The Pure Feed Company

D DIVISION
2nd CELYN
Sponsored by Kevin Bacon’s Equine Products UK

1st BETHERSDEN BULLS
Sponsored by TK Polo and Rosemount Polocrosse Equipment

Best #1 Henry Burrows
Best #2 Neville Ingley
Best #3 Abi Phillips
Sponsored by Comfort Gut

Best Pony – Mahara (Phil Henshaw – Arden)
Sponsored by The Pure Feed Company

C DIVISION
2nd BETHERSDEN BULLS
Sponsored by Kevin Bacon’s Equine Products UK

1st KENT TARGET
Sponsored by TK Polo and Polocrosse Extreme

Best #1 Sharon Kennedy – Kent Target
Best #2 Laura Scott – Cotswold
Best #3 Elizabeth Walker – Kent Target
Sponsored by Comfort Gut

Best Pony  Sabre (Boy Wilson Fitzgerald – Arden)
Sponsored by The Pure Feed Company

B DIVISION
2nd BETHERSDEN BULLS
Sponsored by Kevin Bacon’s Equine Products UK

1st KENT TARGET
Sponsored by TK Polo and Pegaso Saddlery & Leatherwork

Best #1 Ru Gillanders – Kent Target
Best #2 Grant Hayes – Bethersden Bulls
Best #3 Rhi Lee Jones – Cotswold
Sponsored by Comfort Gut

Best Pony – Spooky (Rhi Lee Jones – Cotswold)
Sponsored by The Pure Feed Company

A DIVISION
2nd KENT TARGET
Sponsored by Kevin Bacon’s Equine Products UK

1st HIGHLANDERS
Sponsored by TK Polo and Pegaso Saddlery & Leatherwork

Best #1 Pip Rowland – Warwick
Best #2 Beth Scott – Celyn
Best #3 Rachael Duhig – Cotswold
Sponsored by Comfort Gut

Best Pony – Nellie (Chris Milburn – Arden)
Sponsored by The Pure Feed Company

NATIONALS ROTATING AWARDS

BEST MALE VETERAN PLAYER
Tim James (Limemere)
Sponsored by Simon Kaye Art

BEST FEMALE VETERAN PLAYER
Amanda Wasdell (Kent Target)
Sponsored by Kelly Herd Jewelry

BEST UNDER 14 PLAYER
Alice Power (Kent Target)
Sponsored by Heygates Country Feed Ltd and GWF Nutrition

BEST UNDER 16 HORSE AND RIDER
Keegan Jacobs and Tornado (Celyn)
Sponsored by Heygates Country Feed Ltd and Empire Equestrian

BEST UNDER 21
Sophia Harpin (Cotswold)
Sponsored by Heygates Country Feed Ltd, Premier Performance CZ and BL Sculptures

BEST TOURNAMENT (voted on by UKPA membership)
Limemere
Sponsored by Rodo

BEST TURNED OUT PLAYER OF 2019
Emily Roberts (Celyn)
Sponsored by Masterclip Clippers UK

NON PLAYER MOST CONTRIBUTED
Sharon Winder (Kent Target)
Sponsored by Kelly Herd Jewelry

GOAL JUDGE OF THE YEAR
Pete Wilson (Kent Target)
Sponsored by Onley Grounds Farm Shop and Butchery

TONY SHEARING AWARD
Jack Page (Arden)
Sponsored by Tony Shearing Memorial

BEST NEWCOMER
Graham Ward (Yorkshire Warriors)
Sponsored by Heygates Country Feed Ltd, Empire Equestrian and Comfort Gut

MOST IMPROVED PLAYER
Jack Smith (Cotswold)
Sponsored by Heygates Country Feed Ltd and Empire Equestrian

KIRSCH CUP ( Best Pony and Rider Combination)
Pepper and Bruno Ingley (Arden)
Sponsored by Dodson & Horrell and Premier Performance CZ

BEST VETERAN HORSE
Petra (Jeanette Mitchell, Annie and Graham Ward)
Sponsored by Spillers, Comfort Gut and Heygates Country Feed Ltd

LITTLE MISS MUFFET (Best Overall Horse)
Sea Breeze (Jason Webb – Kent Target)
Sponsored by Heygates Country Feed Ltd, Comfort Gut and Kevin Bacon’s Equine Products UK

NATIONALS TROPHY – KENT TARGET