A 32.3 dressage score, and just 2 cross-country time penalties, saw 13-year-old Harry Watkinson and the 13-year-old Project Pony-owned Mick’s Boy, land the final British Eventing Project Pony Observation Trial of the 2024 season at Norton Disney (2) at Speetley.
Mick’s Boy, aka Mikey, is a 14.2hh Connemara gelding who was bought as a three-year-old and competed in France before Project Pony bought him in December 2023. Harry was lucky enough to be given him to ride in February this year.
Harry’s mother Gill said of his win: “Harry has worked hard to build a partnership with Mikey whilst getting their MERS through from 90. They have had an incredible end to the season, winning the Amateur Section of the 1* at Osberton, and then the PTN at Norton Disney which was Harry’s first run at this level. We had no expectations when we entered both events; the plan was to just gain experience for next year. Harry hopes to compete at PT2* next season.”
Harry added: “I feel extremely lucky to be given the opportunity to ride Mikey by Project Pony. He is an absolute machine cross-country and he loves to go fast and looks for the flags. The course rode really well with some technical questions which I really enjoy. My favourite combination was the triple of angled brushes.
“I can’t believe how far we have come in our first season together. I didn’t expect to win my first run at this level.”
Darrell Scaife, Head of Youth at British Eventing said: “Congratulations to Harry on his win, and thank you to Norton Disney at Speetley for holding such a super event. I’d like to take this opportunity also to thank Project Pony for supporting the Pony Trials this season, and look forward to working alongside them again in 2025.”
The British Eventing Pony Observation Trials, supported by Project Pony, form part of the Youth Eventing framework which offers access to age-specific training, education and competition opportunities across all ages and levels of experience. Further information on the British Eventing Youth Offer can be found here.
Further information on Project Pony and the support that they provide to young talented event riders can be found by visiting www.projectpony.co.uk
