The Alberta North Region hosted the 2007 edition of the Canadian Pony Club National Quiz at the Greenwood Inn in Edmonton on Thanksgiving weekend.
Quiz is different from other Pony Club competitions in that it does not require horses or ponies – just a great deal of equestrian knowledge. And since “all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy” fun activities are planned as well.
This year, competitors – from Nova Scotia to BC, plus the USA – tackled a corn maze, had a “harness-the-mini” race and a competition in which they had to “dress a dressage rider” using white and green plastic bags, twine and a roll of duct tape to create the dressage uniform. Here are the winners:
A/B Individual
Clara Sellers of Kingston and Region Branch, St. Lawrence/ Ottawa Valley Region led the top Division, winning the Billie Mann trophy as the top A/B competitor.
Brittany Froc of Orion Branch, BC Lower Mainland Region was second and Maya Kenedy of Maple Branch in Central Ontario Region was third. Less than a point separated first from third indicating how close a race this was.
A/B Team
The first place team was comprised of Clara Sellers, Anne Marie Duarte of Rideau Branch in St. Lawrence/Ottawa Valley Region, Charlotte Harman of Land O’ Lakes Branch in St. Lawrence/Ottawa Valley Region and Kristen Bueckert of Saskatoon Branch in Saskatchewan Region.
In second was the BC Lower Mainland team comprised of Michelle Christopherson of Campbell Valley Branch, Brittany Froc, Jinnell Gunn of Grove Branch and Molly Henry of Vancouver Branch.
Third place went to a mixed Central Ontario/Saskatchewan team made up of Maya Kenedy, Alicia Cantin, and Christy Chamney all of Maple Branch in Central Ontario and Zoe Macdougall of Heartland Branch in Saskatchewan Region.
C Individual
Character, Loyalty, Sportsmanship
At National Quiz, two written papers came in with the same number. In spite of all our efforts – along with the chaperones – to determine which paper belonged to the correct contestant, we were wrong.
At the conclusion of the quiz – after all the awards were presented – the two competitors realized the problem. The C individual champion had received too high a mark. She insisted on receiving her correct, but lower mark. In so doing she gave up her championship and was placed second.
Not all champions receive a first place ribbon. This year, Quiz has two champions at the C level.
Caitlin Fountain of the Thompson Valley Branch in BC Interior and Northern Region placed first, therefore winning the Adele Rockwell trophy for the top C competitor.
A member from Saskatchewan (who prefers to remain anonymous) placed second, and Gillian Dobson of the Meadow Lake Branch in Saskatchewan placed third. Again, less than a point separated first from third place.
C Team
In first place was Saskatchewan Team 1 comprised of Gillian Dobson, anonymous, Andreea Badea of Saskatoon Branch and Devon Stead of Heartland Branch.
In second was the BC Islands Team made up of Kaitlin Fraser of Salt Spring Island Branch, Sierra Boudreau also of Salt Spring Island, Emma Woodland of Cowichan Valley Branch and Sonja Kornelsen of Salt Spring Island.
Third place went to Saskatchewan Team 2 made up of Elinorah and Caleb Ripley of the Willow Ridge Branch, Alyssa Cruikshank of Saskatoon Branch and Kylie Garachinski of the Queen City Trailblazers Branch.
Affiliates Individual
This year, for the first time, there was a division for affiliate members. This is a relatively new category of membership for those between 21 and 25 years of age who wish to remain members in order to complete their Pony Club testing levels.
Winner was Kyla Jensen of Quesnel Branch in BC Interior and Northern Region, followed by Theresa Kerr of High County Branch in Western Ontario Region. Third was Katie Stephenson of Maple Branch in Central Ontario Region.
