Success worth the wait for Yorkshire riders
THE DELAYED NAF Five Star Winter Dressage Championships came to a close with Yorkshire riders having taken top spot in three sections.
All levels were represented at the seven-day championships, held behind closed doors at Hartpury College in Gloucestershire, which were delayed from April due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Young rider Rebecca Bybutt, based at Tracy and Amy Woodhead’s yard in Grimsby, were the final combination into the arena for the Petplan Equine Intermediate I Silver Area Festival Championship. Partnered with Michelle Swire’s 18-year-old, Hey Mambo, they finished first on 68.64 per cent.
“I was really pleased with him,” Miss Bybutt said.
“He was a bit spooky and fresh but at 18 he knows his job. Through lockdown we worked on keeping things fun for him to maintain his interest with plenty of hacking but bringing him on for the next level.”
North Yorkshire-based rider, Lauren Noble, took the Petplan Equine Prix St Georges Bronze class with her horse Heartbreak, on a day where the weather was less kind.
“She was so well-behaved,” Miss Noble said.
“The rain didn’t faze her at all, and she just got on with it. Having to ride outdoors, she’s used to it, so she just carried on and it went really well. She really listened to me and I am so pleased with her.”
South Yorkshire eventer and young horse producer Samantha Jimmison won the Petplan Equine Novice Silver Area Festival Championship riding Sally Iggulden’s six-year-old, Daria-I-Noor with a score of 71.52 per cent.
“It went really, really well,” she said.
“I was really pleased with him, he stayed with me the whole way. He was a little bit scared of the banner but he got over himself and I couldn’t have asked him to go any better.
“Every time I go in the ring I feel lucky to ride him.”