THERE'S a touch of the true Olympic spirit in this year's annual report of the popular Wyre Forest Pony Club.

Slightly adapting "It's not the winning that counts, but the taking part", district commissioner Amanda Smith says: "We may not always have been in the ribbons, but we were usually there!"

Amanda is being slightly modest, for the Wyre Forest is one of the most active Pony Clubs around and last year enjoyed a frenetic 12 months with more than 20 mounted rallies and countless other events organised.

These have included show jumping, cross-country, dressage, riding and road safety and gymkhana. The branch has organised the area nine quiz, two team show jumping events, a hunter trial, a mini one-day event, an open handy pony, open show and a five-day camp. It has sent a team to the area quiz, area dressage, the polo x finals and show jumping at Gatcombe and Blenheim. Individuals have also taken part in one-day events at area, 14.2 and novice horse level, and junior and senior teams have taken part in the area horse and pony care competitions.

Horse and pony care rallies, shooting and achievement badge evenings have also been well attended.

"All the activities are run by volunteers and we are a very lucky club to have so many people willing to give their time," said Mrs Smith. "I cannot name everyone but Alison Vincent, Karen Waugh, Leslie Moule, Julie Roberts, Linda Styles, Jenny Hopkins and Julie Oaks have all worked wonders on the organising front."

Mrs Smith thanked Neil Bennett and Tim Hines who have spent hours on the branch's cross-country course, building new jumps and repairing old ones and improving the going to ensure it is safe. The course has a growing reputation to compete on and is helping to raise funds to subsidise rallies.

Mrs Smith says that the success of the rallies, competitions and training is due to the generosity of landowners, particularly at Eastbury Manor, Hallow, Rock, Sinton Green, Doddenham, Woodend, Candleford, Shrawley, Little Witley, Witley and Storridge.

At the end of the meeting, Mrs Smith paid a touching tribute to her son, Jeremy, who died tragically at the age of 26.

Jeremy joined Wyre Forest Pony Club at the tender age of five and attended camp every year until he was 16 and another 10 years after that as a helper. He was a member of the area stable management and junior show jumping teams and played in the polo x team. He would be on hand to fence judge, check tack and be a reserve for anyone who did not turn up on the day

"I cannot put into words what the sudden and unexplained loss of such an amazing, kind, considerate, loving son and friend means to me, but I know he would want everything to go on as normal which, with your help, is what I hope to do," added Mrs Smith.

WYRE FOREST PONY CLUB RESULTS

Garcia Trophy junior attendance/tack for the year -

1st Abigael Oakes; 2nd Maisie Roberts; 3rd Holly Kownaski.

Whitehead Trophy senior attendance/tack for the year -

1st Charlotte Moule; 2nd Scott Dew; 3rd Olivia Davies.

Berwick awards for highest number of points gained at open competitions during the year and recorded on the card -

Junior - Zoe Henshaw; Senior - Emily Douglas-Osborn.

Improvement of the year

Seal Trophy (10 years) - Zoe Hopkins.

V-R Trophy (11-12 years) - Jade Atkins.

Walker Goblets (2) (13 and 14 years) - Christine Waugh and Sarah Turner.

Prancing Horse (15 years) - Oliver Greenhalgh.

Wheeler Trophy (16 years) - Scott Dew.

Hunting Horn (handy pony) - Rebecca Hanlon.

Dressage Trophy - Emily Douglas-Osborn.

Hunting Cup - for a child who has hunted regularly with any fox hound pack during the last season - Abigail Hemmings.

Tommy Trickle - for a good all-round member chosen by DC - Imogen Harding and Kirsty Hopkins.

Shooting Trophy - Zoe Hopkins.