Kite Tea and Pony Contest

Post date: Oct 20, 2022 1:28:20 PM

By Aerinbard Fallohide

Blotmath comes

And Blotmath goes,

With the last red berries

And the first white snows.

With night coming early,

And dawn coming late,

And ice in the bucket

And frost by the gate.

The fires burn

And the kettles sing,

And earth sinks to rest

Until next spring.

Blotmath

by Elizabeth Coatsworth (adapted)

The harvests are in. The fields are bare and the ghosts have crept back from whence they came (probably). Ice knifes in the wind. But that is nothing to stalwart kite flying hobbits!

Come one, come all (and bring your coat and scarf!) to the first annual (hopefully!) Kite Flyer's Tea and Pony Contest Event! Bring your favourite kite and your favourite equine companion to the fields of Elderglen, Shire Homesteads!

We will gather first at Number 6 Harrow Road and then proceed to the field below to fly our kites. Back to the bonfire to warm up and have something to eat, then to the field for the Pony Contest!

Or should I say Contests?

Categories include:

Best pony name

Best short poem/rhyme about a pony as if written by your pony

(entries posted to me beforehand would be appreciated). (Winners will be invited to perform their work at the event).

Best “silly moment riding a pony” story in ten lines or less (again, pre-posting appreciated)

One or two hidden categories...

and

A Pony Race around Elderglen!

Contestants will warm up their ponies in a nice gentle trot round the empty field and then line up, tails to the fence for judging.

Once the judges have made their decisions, those who wish to race will exit the field at the signal at the given gate and follow Harrow Road to the right until it joins Chalk Road. From there down Wending Way, along the creek on the right and back to Number 6 Harrow Road gate as the finish line.

So, in detail:

Fallow Field

Right on Harrow

Continue on Chalk

Pass Brookbank

Down the hill to Wending Way

Pass Pleasant

Pass the Bridge

Keep the river on your right

Pass the other end of Pleasant

Over the Creek

Back to #6 Harrow

Riders please stick to the roads! We want no hoof prints in anyone's garden or shortcuts across anyone's lawn! Ponies must be of local fare (no war steeds please!) and no feeding any athelas potions to your mounts to make them run faster! We want a nice clean race! Skill against skill alone! After the race we will meet back by the bonfire for prizes and tea! Please feel free to bring fizzers for casual launching after tea!

Please join us November 5th at 7:30pm (UK Time) at Number 6 Harrow Road, Elderglen, Shire Homesteads. (Please note this event takes place during the Clock Fiddling week, so be sure to note the time carefully).

(As this is the first event of its kind, ideas for improvements will be gratefully received!)