Contests

Each year we run a number of contests for attendees to enter.

Many of these require attendees to prepare their entry before the event and bring it with them to be entered and judged at UK PonyCon.

  • General Custom

    General customised pony figure

    Awards: Winner and Runner-Up

  • Children's Custom

    Children’s customised pony figure by someone aged 13 or under.

    Awards: Winner and Runner-Up

  • Newcomer Custom

    Customised pony figure by anyone who has not won a prize for any custom pony at UK PonyCon before.

    Awards: Winner only

  • Destroy a Fakie

    With fakies everywhere, we challenge you to creatively "destroy" a fakie pony in any the most creative manner possible. Please note that this is a custom competition, so we are looking for creative custom ponies and scenes with a macabre sense of humour. Comic violence is acceptable but remember that this is a family friendly convention so nothing too extreme.

    What's a fakie? A fakie is a "fake" or "copy cat" version of a real My Little Pony figure. Good places to find them are pound shops and toy stores.

    Awards: Winner only

  • Adult's Artwork

    A pony-inspired artistic piece by someone aged 14 or over.

    No bigger than A3 in size, typically A4 size. Any medium accepted, however digital art must be printed (we can’t print it for you).

    Awards: Winner and Runner-Up, awarded on both Saturday and Sunday

  • Children's Artwork

    A pony-inspired artistic piece by someone aged 13 or under.

    No bigger than A3 in size, typically A4 size. Any medium accepted, however digital art must be printed (we can’t print it for you).

    Awards: Winner and Runner-Up, awarded on both Saturday and Sunday

  • Pony Crafts

    Pony crafts (including pony scenes) is an open category for creative entries that aren't either classified in the art or custom competitions. What to make something crafty and special different to show off? This is the contest for you.

    We also include pony scenes in this category. Whats a pony scene? Well, it's a small diorama with either custom or regular ponies being shown off in a homemade or customised scene.

    Entries should be no bigger than around 30cm in all dimensions – if you're thinking about making something bigger, please contact us first to discuss whether it is appropriate for the competition.

    Awards: Winner and Runner-Up

  • Adult's Cosplay

    Costume, dress-up, cosplay - best outfits win, for those aged 14 or over.

    Awards: First, Second and Third, awarded on both Saturday and Sunday

  • Children's Cosplay

    Costume, dress-up, cosplay - best outfits win, by someone aged 13 or under.

    Awards: First, Second and Third, awarded on both Saturday and Sunday

  • Group Cosplay

    Awarded for the best group cosplay. Group members of any age.

    Awards: Winner and Runner-Up, awarded on both Saturday and Sunday

  • Themed Cosplay

    For the best cosplay fitting our theme of “We’re making History”.

    Awards: Winner only, awarded on both Saturday and Sunday

  • Fursuit

    Awarded for the best fursuit or similar cosplay, of any age.

    Awards: Winner and Runner-Up, awarded on both Saturday and Sunday

  • Best Traditional Stall

    Best stall selling traditional, vintage or collectible items.

    Award: Best Traditional Stall and Runner-Up Best Traditional Stall

  • Best Contemporary Stall

    Best stall selling new, unusual or quirky items.

    Award: Best Contemporary Stall and Runner-Up Best Contemporary Stall

How to enter and how are winners announced

How to enter depends on the competition:

For Customs, Artwork, Destroy a Fakie and Pony Crafts contests, you must bring your entry to the event, take it to the competitions desk and complete a submission form. Winners are announced at the closing ceremony on Sunday.

For Cosplay and Fursuit contests, you must enter during the cosplay competition registration session on the day you wish to be considered, and present your cosplay during the cosplay competition. Winners are announced after a short deliberation period during the cosplay competition time slot.

All Stalls are automatically entered into the contests. Winners are announced at the closing ceremony on Sunday.

Prizes

It’s all a bit of fun! Winners receive recognition for their efforts, a special UK PonyCon rosette and a certificate, kindly sponsored by members of our community.

Important information

All contests are meant to be fun and are not professional competitions. UK PonyCon's decision on the judging, including the appointment of judges, the choice of criteria and the number of prizes awarded for each category, is final.

Where there is a choice between children's and adult's classes for a competition, children (people aged 17 and under on Saturday 5th October 2024) are allowed to choose which class they wish to be considered for. However, if a child enters multiple competitions, all entries must be in the same class. For example, if they enter the cosplay competition as a child and also the artwork competition, the artwork must be judged in the children's class. Adults (people aged 18 and over on Saturday 5th October) must enter the adult classes.

Please also note that all entries are left with UK PonyCon at the owner's risk. We aim to return the entries should you wish to have them however UK PonyCon take no responsibility for any items left for competitions. Additionally, any entries not picked up at the end of the convention may be disposed of, or if kept will only be returned to owner upon payment of postage costs.

Sponsor a contest

Do you remember winning an award at school? What about beating a personal best in a sport? Recognition for hard work can be incredibly rewarding, and it’s exactly the same for entrants in our contests. By sponsoring a contest, you make that win extra special by helping us provide rosettes and certificates.

A name or organisation of your choice will be printed on the certificate and mentioned during the award giving ceremonies.

All contests and awards were available to sponsor. We accept one sponsorship per award and you can sponsor multiple awards.

We’d like the thank this year’s contest sponsors:

  • Adult's Artwork Saturday - Runner-Up: Zap Apple Camp

  • Adult's Artwork Saturday - Winner: FaolanCortez

  • Adult's Cosplay Saturday - 1st: SockJems

  • Adult's Cosplay Saturday - 2nd: Festival of Friendship

  • Adult's Cosplay Saturday - 3rd: FIZZLE POP

  • Adult's Cosplay Sunday - 1st: SockJems

  • Adult's Cosplay Sunday - 2nd: Festival of Friendship

  • Adult's Cosplay Sunday - 3rd: Bridlewood Crystal Tea Room

  • Adults Artwork Sunday - Runner-Up: Severn Bronies

  • Adults Artwork Sunday - Winner: Brit Bronies

  • Best Contemporary Stall: Sabrina Wade

  • Best Traditional Stall: FaolanCortez

  • Children's Artwork Saturday - Winner: Izzy Moonbow

  • Children's Artwork Saturday - Runner-Up: UK PonyCon

  • Children's Artwork Sunday - Winner: Izzy Moonbow

  • Children's Artwork Sunday - Runner-Up: UK PonyCon

  • Children's Cosplay Saturday - 1st: G3 Toys

  • Children's Cosplay Saturday - 2nd: Festival of Friendship

  • Children's Cosplay Saturday - 3rd: Blossomstar & shineyhooves

  • Children's Cosplay Sunday - 1st: Bridlewood Crystal Tea Room

  • Children's Cosplay Sunday - 2nd: UK PonyCon

  • Children's Cosplay Sunday - 3rd: Sparky Sparkeroni

  • Children’s Custom – Runner-Up: Shineyhooves & Blossomstar

  • Children’s Custom – Winner: Shineyhooves & Blossomstar

  • Destroy a Fakie - Winner: Hector (the cat) Wade

  • Fursuit Saturday - Runner-Up: Light The Unicorn

  • Fursuit Saturday - Winner: PB & Jazz

  • Fursuit Sunday - Runner-Up: Festival of Friendship

  • Fursuit Sunday - Winner: Maz

  • General Custom - Runner-Up: Liverpool Ponies Meet

  • General Custom - Winner: pinkkittywinks

  • Group Cosplay Saturday - Runner-Up: Festival of Friendship

  • Group Cosplay Saturday - Winner: NovaDawn

  • Group Cosplay Sunday - Runner-Up: Festival of Friendship

  • Group Cosplay Sunday - Winner: Yorkicorns

  • Newcomer Custom – Winner: Tanabata Toys

  • Pony Crafts - Runner-Up: Brit Bronies

  • Pony Crafts - Winner: Leon K Fox

  • Runner-Up Best Contemporary Stall: Cambridge Bronies

  • Runner-Up Best Traditional Stall: Clearheart Apple

  • Themed Cosplay Saturday - Winner: Festival of Friendship

  • Themed Cosplay Sunday - Winner: Festival of Friendship