Wales Team for World Championship 2008
Rachel Norton

Age 25

Nationality: Welsh

Occupation: Full Time Mother

I started riding at the age of 2yrs I had my very own pony at the age of 3yrs,and don’t remember a time when I didn’t have a pony/horse to ride.

I was a member of the Banwen & District Pony Club and had a lot of success riding for the club; I was a member of the Pony Club Welsh Team that won at Windsor Castle home of “Her Majesty the Queen” annual show.

I started riding after Pony Club for West Glamorgan MGA team and I went on to have a lot of successes with West Glam MGA; I was selected to ride for my Country WALES for five consecutive years:

I have ridden on several different county teams in Great Britain I’m currently a member of Hampshire MGA.

I feel I’m a very lucky woman to have made so many friends over the years both in this country and around the world.

I was on the Welsh Team that won the Worlds in Fontwell England in 2002 I have been lucky over the years to be on winning teams for home international. I feel it an honour to represent my country.

I’m now a full time mother too my 2yr old daughter Mackenzie and she has already started riding in Minis in West Glamorgan MGA along with my Nephew Corey its great going to MGA competitions, we all take part but watching the children makes me feel so proud.

If I had my time all over again I would not change any part of my riding years.

 **Alun Whitney** trained me when I was 5yrs old and he is again my trainer here in Australia, and he is also training my Nephew and I hope my daughter soon at Banwen Pony Club.

I’m also a very active member of the local Senny Bridge Hunt and its quite a family affair My Dad is the Hunt Master and myself my sister Helen our mother Mariana all ride out in the winter months, also we will be taking my Daughter & Nephew:

I can’t wait to come to Australia we are all looking forward to meeting up with you all.

Huw Whitney
I am 26 and work in the family business as a Farrier carrying on a family tradition trade for the last 4 generations. I have recently qualified as an ATF this now enables me to take on an apprentice to train as a Farrier:

I have been riding in Mounted games ever since I can remember I started in Banwen Pony club where my Grandfather used to train me until he retired, and then my dad took over. I went on to ride in MGA joining the County Team of West Glamorgan. I have ridden for Wales on numerous occasions I was on the Team in Canada 2001 on the Winning team in Kentucky USA 2003 at Bridgend Wales 2005 & this year 2009 in Australia:  

I was in Australia for 2 month in 2004 I had a great time; I can’t wait to come back to meet up with all my many friends I have made over the years, and to catch up with them all.

I’m retiring from Mounted Games this year; the World Team Championships will be my last competition so I’m hoping to go out on a high!!!!!

Gareth Whitney

I am 24 currently work as a quantity surveyor for a major Housing company and around my career my main interests are Music I play guitar and write a little and sing a lot. I have had a keen interest in horse riding from a very young age, I have been quite successful & lucky to have ridden on so many good teams.

I started riding at the age of 5 for the local Banwen & District Pony Club up until the age of 15; I continued my riding by joining an MGA County Team West Glamorgan.

I have been a member of both junior & open international Welsh teams, I was reserve rider at the Worlds in Canada 2001 & on the Welsh team that won the World Team Championships in Forntwell England In 2002, I was on last years Welsh Team 2007 at the World Team Championships in Belguim, where we finished second.

I’m very proud to have been selected once again to ride for Wales at this year World Team Championships in Australia and I’m really looking forward to the competition and who knows maybe with a bit of luck I will continue with my success.

Keri Hopkins

My name is Keri Hopkins, I am 21 and live South Wales, or should that be ‘Old South Wales’ to you ozzies….?

During my time in Mounted Games, I have ridden in many successful local, county and national teams.

Alongside games, I now enjoy playing golf, shooting with my dog and my most recent

venture, building my own home which is my current pride and joy.

Until recently, I played rugby as my main sport/hobby but after a horse riding collision left me with two snapped ligaments and my cartilage in pieces that was the sorry end to that….!

I feel there could be no better way possible to end my riding career than to win here in Australia this week. It would be a great self achievement and a tribute to the many fans (family ;-) who have travelled here to watch me struggle in this heat.

Riding achievements to date-

Everything possible in PPC ;-)

Runner up in everything at MGA

U 17 World Pairs Champion 2003

Age: 23

Nationality: Welsh

Occupation:  Account Manager

I currently work as the Account Manager for Wales for British Telecom; I have been working for the company for over a year now and thoroughly enjoy my work.  When managing to find the time I enjoy playing squash with my partner and socialising with my friends.  Similar to my other team mates I have been a keen horse rider for several years, first sitting on a horse at the age of 8.  I began my mounted games experience when joining Clydach Pony club, fortunately we were extremely successful, qualifying for horse of the year show three times, where we won the prince Phillip cup in 1998.  I was also selected to ride for Wales in 2000 where we won at Royal Windsor.  Moving on to ride in MGAGB, I have also represented Wales at international standard on numerous occasions at both Junior and open level, where on a couple of occasions we were successful and took 1st prize.  In addition to this, my brother and I (who is also in this years welsh team) came reserve champions at the world pairs competition.  I feel very honoured to be given the privilege yet again to represent Wales in such a fantastic country, where we will compete with teams all over the world in this year’s world team championship in Australia.  After much thought, this will now be my last competition due to work commitments; therefore I would be delighted to be successful this one last time, to conclude all the success that I have had previously.

Reserve: Cerys Whitney

I love the arts acting singing and dance but my favourite is acting, I have taken part in many collage productions but don’t have the nerve to continue in this as a career. I hope to get lost of swimming time in Australia as I love swimming, but my spare time is mostly spent at home riding on the West Glamorgan County MGA Team most weekends we are away at competitions all over Great Britain.

I, like my brothers Huw & Gareth, have been riding ever since I could get on the back of a pony. Our grandfather John Whitney was so involved with Pony Club Games we didn’t have much option but to ride, my grandfather was a big friend of our founder Norman Patrick you could say it’s in our family blood to ride and especially in Mounted Games. I rode for Banwen & District Pony Club where I was made a member along with my brothers at the grand age of 1 yrs old. I started competing on leading rein at 3yrs old!! I have continued riding ever since and have been lucky to have been chosen to represent Wales on junior international teams & open teams. I have been selected the last two years as reserve rider, for the World teams and I’m very proud of that achievement, in Wales the competition to get on a team is tough.

I’m looking so forward to coming to Australia I’m getting so excited, I would like to thank all my team mates for making me so much part of the team travelling to Australia. And I can’t wait to meet up with all my old, and I hope lots of new friends.

Trainer: Alun Whitney

Nationality: Welsh
Farrier by trade
Married to Kayrene / we have 3 children Huw, Gareth & Cerys

Welsh MGA Executive officer & Member of the international rules committee:District Commissioner of BANWEN PPC

 I have been an active Pony Club trainer since 1982 – I have trained many a successful PPC games & jumping team, taking our games team to the Horse of the year show which is the highest we can go with PPC games teams in this country:

 I went on to form and train the County of West Glamorgan Mounted Games team in 1986. They are now the longest established and one of the most successful County team in Wales.

Having much success over the years, including winning the junior championships for four consecutive seasons also qualifying for most Open A finals at the Inter Counties championships. I have trained 9 riders who have gone on to become World Champions in individuals/pairs/ & teams. I have trained both Junior & Senior Welsh teams at home internationals and winning both sections on numerous occasions. I have also had the privilege of training the Southern Ireland team I was the first Welsh team trainer to train at World Championships at the Worlds in Canada 2001 Where we finished as reserve World Champions and also in 2005.

I am delighted to be training the Welsh Team at this year World Team Championships in Australia. I have a very strong team with Gareth Keri Huw Rachel Natasha & Cerys and I know they will give me 100% we are all looking forward to the challenge ahead of us.

 I would also like to wish all the Teams going to Australia every success in the coming World Team Championships.