One of the only eventing competitions of its kind in west Wales is appealing for help to keep giving young riders opportunities to compete at the highest level.

Area 18 of The Pony Club, which covers the whole of west Wales from Aberystwyth to Margam, is hosting its own ‘mini Badminton’ eventing competition at Trecoed, Letterston on July 3rd, with the winners going on to the national finals held near Nottingham in August.

Traditionally, branches within the area would organise the competition each year, but after costs shot up to around £3,000, it is now too expensive for a branch to run the event.

Area 18 sponsorship co-ordinator Kathy Elliott said: “Unfortunately with health and safety implications and insurances the cost is too great for a branch to run the event. First aid alone costs £1,000.

“Apart from that there is also the venue to consider, again a major problem these days. In fact there isn’t another event like this held in the area so we open it up to the public - our own mini Badminton!”

In order to keep offering the opportunity for riders to experience eventing, area 18 has now set up a committee to raise money to stage the competition.

Mrs Elliott added: “This event is the biggest of its kind in the area, giving not only members, but also other able and disabled horse riders an opportunity to experience eventing. As South Wales is very limited in this, the area has set up a committee to run the event and hopefully eventually, become self-financing.”

Several local companies have already been very generous in sponsorship and providing gifts and Davies, Mitsubishi sponsor all the rosettes.

Anyone interested in sponsoring the event can contact Kathy Elliott on 01834 891253.

Schedules for the competition on July 3rd are available via Pony club branches, tack shops or by contacting area secretary Gill Evans on 01994 230886. Entries closed on June 27th.