THE Warwick Hack and Pony Club returned to home base at the Warwick Showgrounds yesterday for the first time since the floods of the past two months.

The first 2011 rally was sched- uled the weekend after the second flood but was moved to Sue and Rob Bondfield’s property.

Peter Bradfield, who was elected president at the annual general meeting last week, said the club brought back a lot of its equipment yesterday after it was removed before the second flood.

“It was fortunate that the motor was in the middle of the cold room when it floated away so was not damaged,” Bradfield said.

Yesterday, there was no action in the sand section of the main arena at the Warwick Showgrounds due to the flood damage to the surface.

Showjumping was held on the grass area on the eastern side of the arena which is used as a warm-up area at the Warwick Rodeo.

Bradfield said the catering stock in the clubhouse was lost and cupboards, benches, counters and tabletops were wrecked by the flood.

“We are putting in for a Sport and Recreation (flood) grant,” Bradfield said.

There was major damage to the gravelled area around the clubhouse which has prevented Riding for the Disabled using the showgrounds and clubhouse for events so far this year.

Bradfield said the club would really like to put concrete around the outside of the clubhouse for better access.

“A lot of our club records were lost in the flood,” Bradfield said.

Yesterday, all the families brought their own lunch as the clubhouse was still to be restored.

“We usually have lunch and smoko for the children,” Bradfield said.

The recent flood was the last thing on the minds of the children who loved being back in action at the showgrounds with their good friends, the horses.

Bridget Hegerty was riding her nine-year-old gelding Charlie yesterday and said dressage was her favourite event.

“Pony club is great fun,” Bridget said.

Holly Wickham has competed at pony club for the past three years and her sister Summer for four years.

The Wickham sisters, and Abby Grayson who joined at the age of four, all love showjumping.

Abby started with Pee Wee as a four-year-old and is in her second year on Billy.

Yesterday, there were 40 child- ren at Pony Club which pleased the president.

“We had 69 members last year and some weren’t at the rally this weekend due to the Clifton Show,” Bradfield said.