Local stories


Cheshire’s Grace takes centre stage


the TheraPlate UK Liverpool International Horse Show. Amateur classes took centre- stage and Grace came up trumps with Eau Claire V in the 1.25m two-phase.


C


Their time in the jump-off section of 30.58 seconds proved just nine hundredths of a second quicker than runner-up Melissa


heshire rider Grace Wallace enjoyed success on day two of


Garry, riding Hotesse. Third place went to Tony Pearson and Captain Morgan, while Lila Bremner – daughter of impressionist Rory Bremner – took fourth spot aboard Memphis V/D Vaart.


Sunday's action began with the 1.15m two-phase, and it was won by a familiar and successful combination. Tony Pearson and Berlin are prolific winners on the amateur circuit, with Liverpool proving a happy hunting ground for them in the past. And so it proved once again as he delivered a Sunday morning sizzler to take a class of 26 starters.


Grace Wallace and Eau Claire V


Drawn early, Tony and his tried and tested partner made short work of the jump-off section, clocking 27.68 seconds for a time that only Irish challenger Carol Gee threatened. Carol, riding Fernhill Splash, ended on 28.73 seconds, with Grace Wallace and Ecarentina finishing third.


Miracle pony and Olympian team up to raise money for Australia


event to raise money to help victims of the Australian fires, and the horses in particular.


O


Mairead Martin from Alderley Edge spotted the Hope for Horses Dressage competition and wanted to help. Her story has so far raised over £1000 but she is hoping to raise more.


Blue, Mairead’s miracle cob


Last year, her cob, Blue, had annular ligament surgery. Said Mairied: “The surgery went well but he got a stomach impaction and peritonitis.” Blue was moved to ICU in Leahurst Equine Hospital for 31 days.


The vets couldn’t keep Blue stable and they decided to go ahead with further surgery, so all his medical support was stopped to get a full picture of his situation. Two days later, Blue miraculously stabilised and his surgery was cancelled. The vets


have no idea why he survived, calling him a ‘miracle’.


Blue is now fit to ride, so Mairied asked international event rider and Dutch team coach, Andrew Heffernan, who is also based at Somerford, if he’d ride Blue in the intro A test at the dressage in top hat and tails. Andrew agreed.


You can support this cause by visiting www.facebook.com/ mairead.martin.37 and clicking on her JustGiving link.


Millie (right) with Anthony (left) and Lea Popely (middle) at Olympia For advertising telephone 01380 734373 | EQUESTRIAN PLUS FEBRUARY 2020 7


n 26th January at Somerford Park, volunteers ran a dressage


The 2020 Ella Popely award goes to Millie Allen


M


illie Allen, aged 22 from Stockton-on- Tees, Cleveland, has


been announced as the third recipient of the 2020 Ella Popely mentorship award. The mentorship was awarded and presented to Millie at Olympia, the London Horse Show on Friday 20th December. The mentorships, which was set up in 2017 in memory of one of Great Britain’s up-and-coming youth riders, is awarded to a talented individual aged between 18-25 years who is competing at 1.40m and above, as well as having shown a great resilience and dedication to the sport.


The selection felt that Millie was the ideal candidate and will now be mentored for the next 12 months by UK-based Irish rider Anthony Condon, who brings with him a wealth of knowledge and top level international experience.


Millie is no stranger to success as she has delivered more youth European medals than any other rider for Great Britain having


had podium success in all four youth categories; pony, children, junior and young riders. The past two years, however, have seen Millie suffer with post- concussion syndrome which has resulted in a huge set-back in her riding career. Having made some recovery recently, Millie is now very much focused on progressing her competitive riding career forward again and it is hoped that the mentorship will help her do just that.


The selection panel and British Showjumping are extremely grateful to Anthony for being so supportive of the mentorship and we look forward to seeing Millie flourish from the fantastic opportunity that Anthony is providing.


British Showjumping would once again like to thank Lauren Hough and Lea Popely, who are the founders of the award, along with all the other people who support the mentorship for allowing our promising young riders the opportunity to benefit so richly.


© 1st Class Images


© Lewis Harding Photography


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32