It has been a busy and highly successful season for local siblings, Sophia and Patrick Williams, who are members of Seskinore Harriers Pony Club.

The duo have competed at a high level in Pony Club Tetrathlon since they were 10 years old.

However, this year they both reached the height of their sporting career with Sophia (aged 18) and Patrick (aged 17) winning the Pony Club UK Championships Tetrathlon competition in the Open Girl and Open Boy categories respectively.

Pony Club tetrathlon consists of the four disciplines of swimming, running, air pistol shooting and cross country riding. The Open age group is for anyone up to the age of 25.

Patrick and Sophia qualified to compete at the UK Championships following an Area Competition at Ash Hollow in County Tyrone in early July.

They then travelled to Melton Mowbray to compete at the UK Senior Regional Championships in which they both took second place.

Travelling on from Melton Mowbray down to Warwickshire, they joined other members from NI Pony Clubs who had qualified to compete in their respective age groups at the UK Pony Club Championships in Tetrathlon, including Tori Lilly of Fermanagh Harriers Pony Club who competed in the junior girls competition.

The Championships cross country riding course consists of a challenging 21 fences including the gate and slip rail elements pertinent to Tetrathlon, while the cross country run was a tough course with arduous inclines and a competitive field of runners.

The intense shoot phase had 18 competitors taking aim in each detail. Swimmers received strong support from the sidelines, propelling them to fabulous results.

On a sibling share mount, their much-loved mare Blaugheen, Sophia returned home clear with the quickest cross country time of the Open Girls, 5mins 04 seconds, achieving the top ride score of 1400.

Sophia also swam her personal best, gaining 9L 4M in the three minute swim, ending up on an inspiring final score of 4348 which also awarded her with a Gold Award for competitors scoring 4250 and 1400 ride.

Patrick was vigilant on the cross country, as he needed to return Blaugheen to Sophia in top condition for her cross country ride, picking up one fence penalty and no time penalties, Patrick came home with a ride score of 1340.

Patrick’s aim was on top form, as he scored the top shot of the Open Boys, gaining 940 shoot score, finishing on an impressive final score of 4376.

It has been 18 years since siblings have won the top Open placings at a Pony Club Tetrathlon Championship competition in the same year and the Williams brother and sister tetrathlon sensations are only the second siblings ever to do so.

As winning Open Boy, Patrick brought home the coveted Wilkinson Sword and Sophia, the Hellyer Challenge Cup.

These two inspirational tetrathletes supported their fellow NI competitors including Tori Lilly.

This was Tori’s first year in the junior age group category and her debut outing to the Championships.

Tori had an amazing score, achieving a personal best in her swim gaining 7 lengths in her three minute swim, picking up just one fence penalty and minimal time penalties on the cross country where she was riding a former mount of the William’s family (appropriately named William).

Tori is certainly one to watch for the future.

Pony Club Tetrathlon is going from strength to strength in Northern Ireland with regular competitions across the province attracting over 100 members taking part in this tough multi discipline sport.

It will reach new heights in 2024 as NI has been chosen to host the UK Senior International Tetrathlon Championships where competitors from USA, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and UK will descend to Castle Irvine in County Fermanagh from August 2-4, 2024.

This is an incredibly prestigious event and gives everyone an opportunity to watch athletes from across the world compete against the very best home grown talent.

This is a huge event to host and NI Pony Club Tetrathlon Committee would be very grateful for anyone interested in sponsoring this event as it aims to showcase local businesses as well as bringing the visiting competitors to local tourist attractions.

Anyone who is able to assist in this regard should contact area17tetrathlon@gmail.com.