competition news
2017 Pony Club Championships showcase talent
Acting as the first championship level event for some riders and the pinnacle of achievement for others, the Berkeley Group Pony Club Championships showcases an incredible array of up and coming talent across five action- packed days. Sports included the Olympic disciplines of Show Jumping, Dressage and NFU Mutual Eventing as well as Just Chaps Mounted Games and Polocrosse. The event, now in its sixth year at the venue, also incorporated the competitions for Howden Centre Equitation, the Crafty Ponies Musical Ride and Blue Cross Horse and Pony Care. Spirits were not dampened by the unseasonal weather, with the electric atmosphere and stunning surroundings being enjoyed by around 2,000 competitors and their army of supporters across the week.
The South Northumberland team of Georgina Clarkson (16, riding Projo), Jack Donaldson (15, riding Mounthopes Angle), Kate Poole (18, riding Tremlett) and Libby Colmer (16, riding Andy Ma) were ‘very happy and relieved’ to have won the PC100 Eventing Championship on a team score of 111.8; with them all going clear cross country and only having one fence down in the Show Jumping. They would like to thank their DC Heather Mc Donald and their ‘amazing and fantastic’ President Commander John Galpin who has supported them every step of the way. They also thanked Coaches Julie Nixon and Charlotte Ridley. In 2nd place were the Bedale & West of Yore Hunt (Lucy Hattersley, Megan Ford, Tara Barker and Isobel Higginbottom) with a score of 115.3. 3rd place went to the Oakley Hunt West (Lucy Care, Jess Falle, Emily Dunning and Emily Falle) with a score of 122.7
There was plenty of skill on show in the Open Dressage Championships, but taking the win for the second consecutive year was Maddi Briggs (18) who scored 72.35% riding Real Dancer for the Garth South Branch. Maddi was ‘over the moon’ to be on top of the podium again, as she felt that the standard was much higher this year than previously. Maddi isn’t sure whether she’ll be back to try for the hat trick as she is going to University, but she thanked her parents for all their help and support as well as Real Dancer’s
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owner Juliet Donald and her Coach Shelley Moores. Always a crowd pleaser, the Freestyle Dressage to Music, supported by the Worshipful Company of Loriners, once again delivered some superb performances. The winning Novice rider was Burghley’s Tabitha Leicester (12) who performed a beautiful test riding Brendon, scoring 71.65%. Tabitha returned to the podium after winning the Pairs competition alongside Cecily Hopkins (13) and Landis Black Pepper.
South Hertfordshire’s Katie Branley (19), took the Elite Dressage win riding Buntino to a score of 70.44%. Katie said her unexpected win felt ‘amazing’ and she was pleased to have increased her mark by 6% on last year, when she finished 10th. Katie said that eight-year-old Buntino, who she has had for four years, felt a lot more relaxed in the Championship atmosphere this time around. Katie was back on top of the podium following her Open Dressage to Music victory with a personal best score of 87.68%. Katie didn’t imagine making it to the podium at all, so to visit twice and in first position both times was a huge surprise. She described Buntino as ‘incredible’ and was ‘thrilled’ to get such good marks. The ride-off saw some strong performances for the Individual Novice Dressage title, but the win went to Emma Scott (16) and Coppenagh Misty Shadow from the Strathblane & District Branch, who finished on 71.11% making the long journey worthwhile.
Tia Holland (Old Surrey & Burstow Hunt) finished 2nd with 71.04% riding Uphill Sunshine and Eloise Van Praagh (Old Surrey & Burstow Hunt)was 3rd with 70.83% riding Munro Highlander Novice team honours went to Pendle Forest & Craven Hunt team of Abigail Kershaw (17), Olivia Wright (14), Lucy Robinson (13) and Beth Stockdale (21); with Olivia and Beth also coming first in their arenas. Old Surrey and Burstow Hunt (Eloise Van Praagh, Tia Holland, Rosanna Wrigglesworth and Bella Wilkinson) were second and Staff College & Sandhurst (Polly Connell, Hayley Philips-Hart, Jessie Sheffield and Elenor Hart) finished third.
Naburn Grange Riding Centre’s team won the Howden Centre Equitation Competition
In the Show jumping Arena, the Elite Show Jumping win went to Grace Wallace (16, Cheshire Hunt South) who resisted the pressure as the fences went up to finish on 0 faults. Grace said: “I had the last fence down last year, so I’m really pleased to have won this time around.” Grace, who trains with Geoff Billington, has worked really hard on her flat work which has improved Ilena VD Bischop’s jumping.
Safia Woodward (16, South & West Wilts Hunt) finished 2nd riding Moonbeg Boy and Sasha Hargreaves (16, Old Berkshire Hunt) was 3rd riding Playtime NZPH The Open level Individual win went to Elspeth Jamieson (19) from the Eglinton Hunt Branch who rode six-year-old VIP Cooley to victory after a clear jump off. Elspeth was delighted with the win, especially as this is VIP Cooley’s first time competing at Open level, and one of very few times on grass. Katie Thomas (Polden Hills) was 2nd riding LLF Marbella and Diana Bevan (Burghley) finshed 3rd riding Roberto. A delighted Charlotte Blenkin (14, Sinnington Hunt) took the win with Hillside Monet in the Intermediate Individual Show Jumping, with a clear, fast jump off.
Amie Beacock (Berwyn & Dee) was 2nd with Razzle Dazzle and Hannah Brisbane (West Perthshire) 3rd with Barana Moy Boy.
The Novice Individual Show Jumping saw Tamsin Griffin (16) take the top spot riding Briar for the Chipping Branch after two clear rounds and a clear jump off. A delighted Tamsin said the win felt ‘really good’ especially as it is her first Championships riding Briar, who belongs to her friend Leanne Briar. Tamsin said a huge thank you to her friends who helped transport Briar to Cholmondeley Castle, and her DC Sarah Gibb, who Tamsin described as ‘everyone’s mum.’ Sophie Pretorius (York & Ainsty North) finished 2nd and Georgia Day (Ledbury Hunt) was 3rd.
The Polocrosse pitch saw action-packed play and some spectacular displays of skill on show. The North Warwickshire Branch were notably strong, winning The Malden Championships Trophy (for the team that finishes highest in both the Open Seniors and Open Juniors), the Charles Mason Open Seniors and the Stoneleigh Open Juniors.
The Just Chaps Senior Mounted Games Championships saw a closely fought final, with teams working hard to take one of two highly coveted spots available in the Prince Philip Cup competition at Horse of the Year Show. Heading to the NEC,
Birmingham, this October will be Banwen & District and North Herefordshire who pulled out all the stops to finish on 40 and 41 respectively. Banwen & District: Izzy Lynch
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