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NEWS FROM ELSTEAD RIDING CLUB
Elstead Riding Club members had a very enjoyable and successful
weekend at this year's British Riding Clubs National Championships
held at Lincolnshire Showground on 10th and 11th
September, despite rain all day on the Saturday, with every
team finishing in the top 10. The weekend got off to
a good start on Friday when Penny Jann, Marion Adams, Charlotte
and Caroline Winser, Jenny Bridger, Tish Harwood, Dan Shean
and Nihan Negus formed two Elstead teams to take part in the
early evening quiz competition put on by BRC as part of the
evening entertainment. An hour or so later, having answered
a range of general knowledge questions and identified stars
from their eyes, the Elstead contingent returned to the campsite
for BBQ and drinks armed with their spoils: four bottles
of wine for the winning team and four bags of sweets for the
runners-up!
We had our best result yet in the Rural Riders Dressage Team,
finishing in second place, just one point behind the winning
team. This event requires six horses and riders in the
arena at the same time, with a chef d'equipe commanding the
test. The team comprised Jenny Dutton (Jamambo), Annie
Denton (Malingold Mercury), Nikki Harridge (Ashling), Sarah
Morley-Boxall (Flying Fun Guy), Tracy Curtis (Leybourne Patrick),
Marion Adams (Barrister B) and chef d'equipe Penny Jann.
Carolyn Peers (riding Double Venture) and Alex Ducker (Spring
Break) were 2nd in the Senior Pairs Dressage Championship.
The Senior Open Dressage team of Alex Ducker (Spring Break),
Charlotte Winser (Quest), Miranda Hodges (Barrister B) and
Jenny Dutton (Jamambo) did very well against strong competition
to finish in 9th place. Jenny was also placed
9th in the Medium Dressage Championship, an individual
competition.
Annie Denton (Malingold Mercury), Sarah Morley-Boxall (Flying
Fun Guy), Amy Porter (Cocum Saga) and Carolyn Peers (Double
Venture) finished in 5th place in the Senior Riding
Test Championship.
The last event to finish on the Saturday was the Senior Novice
Show Jumping. Nikki Harridge (Ashling), Amy Porter (Cocum
Saga) and Marion Adams (Barrister B) were placed 8th.
Fortunately Sunday saw better weather, with the ground drying
out considerably towards the end of the day. Lots of
difficulties with lame horses and others unable to travel
resulted in Elstead being represented by just four juniors
in the four competitions for which we had qualified:
Susanna Milton (Pentrepiod Emperor - otherwise known as Dougal),
Christopher Milton (Bickerton Merry Music Man - or 'Billy'),
Emily Gilbert (Lottie) and Harriet Jones (William).
Christopher and Susanna rode as individuals in both the Riding
Test (riding RT7) and Dressage (Prelim 12). Christopher
did very well to finish in individual 5th place
in his arena in the Riding Test.
Susanna and Christopher were joined by Harriet and Emily in
the Junior Equitation Jumping and Novice Show Jumping Championships.
They finished just outside the ribbons in 11th
place in the Equitation Jumping. In the Show Jumping
the Elstead quartet had no faults at the end of the first
round but gained 12 faults in the second round. However,
lots of competitors had problems with the course and the consistent
performance by Susanna, Christopher, Harriet and Emily earned
the Elstead team a well-deserved 6th place in the
show jumping.
Two weeks later and another championship - 16 Elstead members
travelled to Matfield near Tunbridge Wells in Kent on Sunday,
25th September for the London & South East
Championships.
This
was another very successful day for the club, with every team
placed in the top five resulting in Elstead retaining the
Natasha Trophy for the most successful Club at this championships.
The Horse Trials team of Jenny Dutton (Snowman), Duncan Cummins
(Custard), Peter Evans (Poldark) and Faye Noble-Evans (Forth
Marley) all jumped clear cross country and the team were placed
3rd out of the 20 teams taking part.
Elstead had qualified two dressage teams for this championship.
The Elstead 'blue' team of Caroline Waller (Fawnspark Charmer),
Carolyn Peers (Double Venture), Annie Denton (Malingold Mercury)
and Sarah Morley-Boxall (Flying Fun Guy) finished 4th,
just ahead of the Elstead 'red' team of Tracy Curtis (Leybourne
Patrick), Jo Errington (Lucas), Isobel Rooth (Berkeley) and
Emma Doven (Mrs Mac's Boy) in 5th place.
Sarah Morley-Boxall, Annie Denton (Malingold Mercury), Caroline
Waller (Fawnspark Charmer) and Tracy Curtis (Leybourne Patrick)
did extremely well to win the Riding Test Championship, beating
last year's winners.
The show jumping course proved quite tough, with lightweight
plastic jumps and very flat cups leading to lots of fences
down. Elstead's team of Helen Cathie (Mrs Mac's Boy),
Julie Daniels (Hercules), Marion Adams (Barrister B) and Nikki
Harridge (Ashling) did very well to finish after the two rounds
in equal third place with two other clubs. Time taken
in the second round was taken into account in deciding the
places and the Elstead quartet finished 5th.
Nikki jumped a double clear and her very fast second round
earned her individual 1st place in the show jumping.
Penny Jann
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