From the Livingston County News...
Avon’s Brenna Donegan named to international games team
To say that Brenna Donegan has been riding all her life is a statement that encompasses not only the days before she could walk, but her prenatal experiences as well. Coming from a family of avid riders, the 16-year-old Avon Central School sophomore has earned her equestrian stripes in foxhunting, pony races, eventing, and games, competing six times at the U.S. Pony Club (USPC) National Rally representing the Genesee Valley Pony Club, and twice at the NY State Fair with 4-H. It is little surprise, therefore, that Brenna has been selected to be on a team representing the United States in this year’s Pony Club International Games Exchange among the U.S., Canada, Australia, and England. The purpose of the exchange, this year being held in England, is to fulfill the goals and mission of USPC by providing a horse-related fun and educational experience for Pony Club members. To that end, the emphasis of the three-week tour is a cultural exchange among the teams from the participating countries because it offers a variety of educational experiences unique to the host country. In actuality, the competition, which takes place at the end of the tour, is secondary to the main purpose of the exchange: making friends and learning about the people, customs and culture of the host country. Team members are selected based on strong riding ability on a variety of horses, excellent horse management skills, personal qualities that would make them a good ambassador for USPC, support of Pony Club ideals, and demonstrated high standards of behavior. The competition will be comprised of relay race games requiring speed, balance and agility. The actual games are selected from a list of over two dozen possibilities, so riders must know all the various rules and practice the different skills in order to be prepared for whichever ones are chosen. Brenna will join teammates from Georgia, South Carolina, Maryland and Pennsylvania, who are required to cover their own expenses. (Horses are provided by the host country.) Therefore, our young athlete is seeking tax-deductable donations on her behalf in any amount to:
The 2010 International Games Team – Brenna Donegan
c/o Wayne Quarles, Activities Services Director
United States Pony Club, Inc.
4041 Iron Works Parkway
Lexington, KY 40511
