‘A massive moment for the club’
Riding clubs from all over the country descend on Lincolnshire for two days of hard-fought competition
Riding club National
Championships
OUTSTANDING performances for three Northern Dressage Group members ensured the team could not be beaten in the senior open dressage competition at the sun-drenched BRC National Championships. Clare Walmsley (O Fon Pererin), Emma McDonald (Ballymashen Maeve) and Susan Grimes (Amigo) each won their sections.
“It’s a massive moment for the club; we’ve been close before but never managed to win so we’ll be opening the champagne to celebrate,” said Clare, who was a last-minute substitution into the team with her 12-year-old Welsh section D.
Isabella Stagg and Quite A Compliment, a 10-year-old Hanoverian mare, topped 140 entries to retain the individual senior open dressage title they won in 2016.
“To have won this once was amazing but to win twice is incredible,” said the Finn Valley RC member.
It was a repeat result of the same class at the intermediate winter championships in the
open 110 showjumping when Crown RC’s Lauren Shelley and Falconlake Mercedes took individual victory and Solihull RC claimed the team spoils.
Lauren and her 13-year-old warmblood/Welsh section D were first to go in the jump-off and decided not to take risky turns but to go wide and take strides out, a tactic which saw them finish 8sec ahead of Jo Brett and North Astor Rossco from Area 6.
“She puts all her energy into jumping,” said Lauren.
Another pair to win by a considerable margin were
Megan Conner and Megan from Penistone & District RC. Their speedy jump-off clear secured the junior 70 class by 9sec from Lily Amero and Jumping Dale Cleo.
“I’ve had her for four years and we know each other really well. I don’t even need reins, I can just lean and she knows to turn,” said 12-year-old Megan.
Lily and Jumping Dale Cleo combined with Annabelle Tavener (Mockbeggar Bronwen), Sydney Aldred (Jimmy) and Callie Rickwood (Flashman) to win the team event for Elstead RC.
Elstead RC also achieved success in the senior 80 showjumping after Clara Jollands and Lily X finished at the head of affairs in the 76-strong class. Houghton & Huntingdon RC claimed glory in the team competition.
RISK TAKING
THREE COUNTIES RC also boasted multiple winners across the two days of competition.
Suzie Vickery was crowned individual champion in the senior 70 showjumping aboard the 19-year-old Fortland Blaze, Roselly Hamlett and the former trotter Ballysheil Larry emerged victorious in the junior 90 showjumping, while their junior style team also couldn’t be beaten.
“I thought the others weren’t taking enough risky turns in the jump-off so I decided to take some,” explained Suzie. “You needed to be on a pony to make some of those turns and I’m on a 14.1hh, so I had an advantage.”
Laura Scawthon and Lisdoogan Cruise were crowned overall junior style jumping individual champions for Tickhill RC while Laura Von Der Fecht and R V Ollie won the senior equivalent for East Clwyd RC. The senior team competition went to Rugby RC.
Cambridge & District RC confessed to being surprised to have triumphed in the senior 90 showjumping after an inauspicious start.
“When our first rider went into the ring and fell off and then the second rider had four faults, we didn’t expect to be winning the competition,” said Ella Crook, 10th individually with Loughnatousa Kimberley. They were joined in the team by Sarah Logan (L-Jewel’s Dream Girl R), Claire Elbrow (Castleplunkett Blaze) and Rachel Dyke (Dun & Dusted).
Kylie Jay Holt and the 11-yearold Irish Sport Horse Doris made an impressive debut at the event, finishing 4sec faster than anyone else to claim the senior 90 individual showjumping title.
“I know she’s quick if she keeps listening and I can keep hold of her,” explained the Howden & District RC member. “She’s extremely strong but was on form today, so I’m over the moon.”
ON-FORM COMBINATIONS
MAISIE ARNOLD and Libertina Two Tone were in imperious form in the junior dressage, occupying first in both their elementary and novice sections and being crowned overall champions.
“She’s comfortable at novice
but she’s not properly formed for elementary yet, so we just came here to see what she could do and she was amazing,” said the Bath RC member of the seven-year-old Irish Sport Horse.
Fellow Bath RC member Amanda Taylor partnered Hindoctro into first place in the senior 100 showjumping, while the winning team in this event was Saffron Walden & District RC.
Alicia Newing and KS Jazz went home with a lorry-load of prizes after they secured individual victory in the junior 80 showjumping and helped Lakes RC to the team title.
“It means the world,” said the 14-year-old. “She’s not a particularly speedy pony so I was aiming for a forward clear and then I had an anxious wait.”
North Ayrshire Riding & Trec Club made their six-hour journey down from Scotland worthwhile when they triumphed in the junior team dressage. The team was made up of brother-and-sister duo Timo-Justin and Lena-Joyce Dobson, who both finished second in their arenas, Hannah Ullrich, fifth individually, and last-minute replacement Morven Ritchie.
There were also team wins for Three Valleys RC in the junior 90 showjumping, Bishops RC in senior 70 showjumping and Chiltern RC in the senior prelim dressage.