The UK season got underway at Pennine on the 2nd and 3rd of June and it was Celyn who reigned supreme as they claimed the opening A grade of the season, despite the best efforts of the home team. Pennine did win both the C grade and the Juniors though with a combined Arden/ Limemere Sparks team winning the D grade.

Around 100 players gathered at the Northern Racing College for a fun and relaxed weekend to kick of the season. The weather was kind on Saturday but the rain, which delayed the start of the season for a couple of weeks, returned on the Sunday. However, it was not enough to damper Celyn’s spirits and, as the Queen sailed down the Thames to celebrate 60 years on the throne, it was Tom Simkin who sailed around the pitch and led Celyn to an opening victory. Pennine’s new South African imports of Garrett Fitton and Josh Halle showed that they were by no means here to make up numbers and early on in their first match against Celyn they made an impact with fast, direct, running polocrosse and pushed Pennine into the lead but then the green, red and white machine got rolling and pulled back the deficit and then built a comfortable lead.

However, Pennine were missing their captain Joel Sics and his return will strengthen their team in the coming weeks and they could well be a threat later in the season. Garrett though in particular announced his arrival in style when, in the match, versus Kent he deliverd a face hit to Debbie Harris that drew blood from the UK star’s top lip and lead to her taking ten minutes to recover her senses. When she returned to the field she promptly gave him a friendly hit back but luckily his faceguard stopped the result being as spectacular.

In the C grade final Pennine overcame a very strong young Arden team to claim the division much to the delight of the home fans, with Alex Riley claiming best number 1 and Alastair Broadbent claiming best number 2. In the D grade Arden combined with Limemere Sparks to defeat Rugby in a hard fought match.

In the Juniors it was once again the home team who got the win and Sam Chrisp and Nathan Sharp both picked up best numbers, though Celyn will draw comfort from Alexa Holland winning best number 1.

Full Results
A Grade
C grade
 D grade
Juniors
Sponsors
 Hawksworth Hogs Hey Farm Saddlery    
1st
 Celyn Pennine Arden/ Lightmere Sparks Pennine
2nd
 Pennine Arden Rugby Celyn
Overall Horse and Rider Combination (Sponsored by Mr Chris Illingsworth)
   Tenera and Alex Riley (Pennine)    
Sponsors
Lambert Smith Hampton Property Solutions
Best Horse
 Billy – Tom Simkin (Celyn)  Socks – Layla Henshaw (Arden) Twiggy – Jade Dunn (Pennine) Fizz -Nathaniel Sharp (Pennine)
Best Numbers
        
Sponsors
Mrs Elizabeth Smith of Southview Riding School
Mr and Mrs John and Karen Rowley
1
 Dean Chappell (Celyn) Alex Riley (Pennine) Katie Loutsiou (Arden) Alexa Holland (Celyn)
2
 Jonathan Swift (Pennine) Alastair Broadbent (Pennine) Coral Henshaw (Rugby) Nathaniel Sharp (Pennine)
3
 Tom Simkin (Celyn) Sammy Connors (Arden) Seymour Smith (Arden) Sam Chrisp (Pennine)