HISTORY OF ESSEX HUNT NORTH PONY CLUB There many photos in existance of past members and their ponies and we hope to reproduce as many of these as we can on this page and to record the memories of past members. All recollections, stories and of course photographs would be very gratefully received!
THE ESSEX HUNT NORTH PC TIE
The more observant among you might have noticed that our tie isn't the same as that worn by members of other pony club branches in the UK. There are various theories behind this ranging from ours being runner up in a competition to choose the national tie back in the 1930's, to it being the old school tie of someone important in the area. On the main PC website, it states that in 1932, "an official Pony Club tie was created. In a competition the winning design was from the joint Essex Union and Essex Hunt Branch - and entered by the District Commissioner, Mrs. H R Pelly". This indicates that the Essex Union and Essex Hunt were one branch at that time, because there is only one DC mentioned, but if they were two branches, then maybe ours WAS runner up because the Essex Union certainly wear the standard tie today. When the Essex Hunt split into North and South, the Essex Hunt (South) branch also retained this design tie until it closed in the mid-1990's.
It seems we have special dispensation to keep this design and we would like to find out what the history of our tie is. We don't want to lose it, and if you know any OLD members or anyone associated with the Essex Hunt Pony Club who might know then please could you contact us?
ADRIAN DODD-NOBLE has contacted us with some wonderful photographs from the 1960's of early EHNPC camps held at his then home, Rands, in High Roding and of early Gosling Cup teams. Mr Dodd-Noble has kindly given permission for these to be reproduced:
Photographs of 1947 Gosling Cup Team kindly provided by Victoria Padfield's mother!
SOME MEMORIES FROM LYN WESTBY - EX FOUNDER AND COMMITTEE MEMBER
Lyn Westby who was associated with our branch from the 1950's-1970's remembers that one of the first residential camps was held on Mr Martin's field adjacent to Harlow Common. There were tents on one side of the field and a long rope on the other to which the ponies were tied. Lyn remembers the ponies escaping during the night and everyone rounding them up back to their rope. Here are two pictures of camp 50's style!
Most of the branch activities in the early years were held on a large field behind the Bell Inn in Epping, and on Boxing Day members would meet there and hack to St Margarets Hospital where they would ride past and wave to the TB patients who would be outside in the grounds of the hospital and enjoy seeing the ponies.
This photograph (above) shows an early rally which took place in Epping Forest.
Above shows a visit to the Hunt Kennels in Harlow. The Huntsman, Tom Watchorn is in the foreground
Lyn Westby's daughter Sharon was a member of Essex North in the 60's and 70s. Above she is sat at the far right (x marks the spot) at a Triathlon competition at Great Easton in 1966. Other people in the photo are: 3rd from the left in plaits, Emma Williams; 4th and 5th Susan and Jane Matthews, sitting 3rd in from the left, Stephen Cooper, 2nd from the right Belinda Taylor and 3rd from the right, Alex Hough. If you know any other names please contact me (alyson.parker@ehnpc.org) and I will add them!
Sharon went on to compete in all disciplines with her wonderful connemara pony, Macdermott, and represented the branch in many teams. Below she is riding Mac in the Gosling Cup 1972.
Gosling Cup 1972 at East Hanningfield, hosted by Essex Union. Above Tack and Turnout, below Team Ride. The team were (In no particular order ...) Sally Dalton-White on Cheyenne, Elaine Forsyth or Jo Taylor (??) Sharon Westby on Macdermott and Emma Williams on Campari (We think)
Above is the Essex Hunt North team at Burghley show jumping in 1973: L-R Sharon Wesby, ??, Stephen Cooper and Sue Dyson.
Sharon and Mac went on to compete in the National Horse Trials Championships at Stoneleigh in 1973 (above). In those days there was only one level ... open - no novice or intermediate.
Above ... The winning Essex Hunt North Area Horse Trials Team in 1973 (Diane Mathies, Emma Williams, Sharon Westby and Sue Dyson)
Below - Sharon Westy and Chiquita compete in the Senior ODE at Buildings Farm, Dunmow in 1975.
MEMORIES FROM GILL RANSON (nee FEACEY) WHO WAS A MEMBER FROM 1960s - 1970s
Above: Gill Feacey on Colleen Above: Camp 1966: Denise Taylor, Gill Feacey and Maureen Rogers
We are delighted to hear from Gill and she writes:-
I was a member of the Pony Club from the ages of 11 through to 17, I am now 54. I attended five pony club camps, mainly at Moor Hall, Little Bardfield and Pauls Farm, Little Bardfield. This was where Naomi and Austin Gardiner lived and farmed. My mother, Hazel Feacey, cooked the meals for the children and instructors at pony club camp when it was held at Pauls Farm. I represented the club in the "Gosling Cup" one day event on three occasions and won the Progress cup on two occasions. Elizabeth Curtis then Jan Gowlett were the District Commissioners during my years at the club. Elizabeth Curtis lent me "Princess" a beautiful bay mare that belonged to her son Martin - I was awarded the progress cup during my year riding her. I remember Joan Rum teaching at rallies and camp, also Linda Stone, who married and became Linda Matthews.
Some of my friends and team mates were William Gardiner, Paul Jackson, Jackie Dalton-White, Sue Dyson, Tom Dodd-Noble. Lady Elizabeth Dodd-Noble very kindly loaned me `Colleen` a very bad tempered grey irish mare, who had huge character and courage. I rode her in the "Gosling Cup" held at Battiles, Great Easton, Essex. The team won the cross country and came 3rd or 4th overall.
Gosling 1969: Gill Feacey, Sally Dalton-White, Emma Williams, Stephen Cooper. Gosling 1968: Denise Taylor, William Gardner, Gill Feacey, Tom Dodd-Noble
I use to hunt in the winter, meeting at Clogghans Green, High Easter, Good Easter, Hatfield Broad Oak.
Above: Gill on Merrylegs at the ODE at Battiles, Great Easton in 1967.
Click HERE to see Gill's dressage test from Gosling Cup in 1969 - a bit different to today's tests.
NEWSPAPER ARTICLE FROM 1974
This copy of a newspaper article shows an Essex North Camp at Lightfoots, Roxwell. How many people do you recognise?
Do you have any memories or know anyone who might have information or photographs which would be of interest on our website? Please let me know: alysonparker@btinternet.com
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