George Crate 2010

After a successful season of point to point pony racing some of the South East children went on to compete in the National Racecourse series. George Crate who was the South East 148cm Champion this season and joint 138cm Champion, with his great friend Charlie Marshall, went on to again win the National Leading Rider Award in the 138cm class for the second year running.
 It is a wonderful opportunity for the youngsters to ride at the top tracks and George was fortunate to ride winners at Ascot, Goodwood, Towcester and Great Yarmouth. He was also placed at grade one courses such as York, Newbury and Doncaster.
 In the overall points George earned 75 points other successful South East children included Frankie Penford 19 points , Charlie Marshall who secured 18 points from less opportunities and Elliott Pickering 5 points. In the 148cm class Freddie Mitchell and Sally Hedges Flew the South East flag. Freddie has now secured his licence and will undoubtedly be seen to good effect this coming season in point to points.
In the 138 cm Final at Cheltenham on the 16th October the flag start for 15 excitable Racing ponies resulted in the south east children not getting the greatest of starts even though it was a very exciting race with George just failing to get to the winner (who has now won the race three times) and Frankie was a fast finishing third and Charlie eighth.
 Charlie’s pony the wonderful mare Goldsborough Moonlight Mist did amazingly well having only just got to the races on time as her horsebox broke down on the M4 . The motorway was closed to enable her to be transferred to another Box!
The South East Pony Racing season starts in February and we hope lots of new children wish to give it a go. Our established youngsters are either moving onto horses or the larger class ponies and we hope to encourage a new age group to continue the successes that the South East children have achieved in recent years.