SIXTEEN members from six of the 11 Branches in Area 17 of The Pony Club (Northern Ireland) converged on Campbell College, Belfast for a three-day tetrathlon camp in the lead-up to Easter.

Ranging in age from 10 to 19, the group received expert tuition from top coaches in Northern Ireland and Britain such as shooting consultant John Leighton-Dyson, ex-director of British Shooting, and Charlie Unwin, performance psychologist for the British equestrian squads.

From closer to home, Andrew Han, Northern Ireland performance coach, and runner Gareth Lyons, who are both members of Ballyrain Harriers, went through a variety of training drills with the group, focussing on 1,500 metres over a cross-country course.

Nuala Glynn, Ards ASC coach and masters record-holder, took five very useful pool sessions working on technique and stamina, starts and turns while Cara Chandler, physiotherapist from Comber and an ex-international tetrathlete, held a core stability/stretching session.

FITNESS SUITE

Anton Cuzzco oversaw a very useful session in the college’s fitness suite, where participants learned how to use the equipment correctly, and John Robinson and Terri Kenny, from the Peninsula HeartStart programme, explained what to do if someone had a heart attack.

Area 17’s tetrathlon championships take place in mid-July. They are being hosted this year by the North Down Branch who will stage the swimming and shooting phases at Newtownards Leisure Centre and the running and riding phases at Perrys in Craigantlet.