RESULTS 2011

Festival of the Horse 2011 – A Wonderful Weekend for the Club

SWRC had a tremendous weekend of equestrian competition at the British Riding Clubs (BRC) NAF National Festival of the Horse, 4-5 June, held at Washbrook Farm, Aston-le-Walls, Northants, one of the UK’s leading eventing centres. This annual event staged by BRC and sponsored by Natural Animal Feeds (NAF) included competitors from all over the UK, riding in various equestrian disciplines, from showing, dressage and show jumping through to cross-country. 

The highlight of the event is the Festival Challenge, where riders and their horses, having qualified at BRC Area competitions across the country as teams and individuals set out to tackle a course of coloured show jump fences followed immediately by an exciting cross-country course of over 16 rustic jumps, all attempting to complete clear and closest to the optimum time. This year South Warwickshire was represented in the Senior Intermediate Challenge by Sandra Miller riding Wood Farm Dunwoody who completed the Challenge on just 4 faults from her show jumping round and finished in 29th place from over 60 initial starters.  

But it was the junior members taking part on the Sunday who really stole the day. Tom Falkingham riding Hot Chocolate, had qualified earlier in the year and rode with real enthusiasm, cutting some keys corners on his show jumping round and set out in a tremendous rhythm across country, he came home with a double clear round, finishing on just 0.4 time penalties. With 3 competitors also tying on the same 0.4 time penalties, the time taken around the show jump course was then used to decide the individual placings. When the scores were finally posted it became clear that Tom had won the junior novice title from over 75 original starters, with the quickest show jumping round. He received his prizes, a silver salver, NAF rug, vouchers and a sash from the NAF Marketing Manager Tracey Lloyd. 

Tom then took part in the following Junior Novice Pairs Challenge again riding Hot Chocolate and partnered by Ellie Bagshaw riding Hilltop Eden Rose. The pair was determined from the start and raced home again both with double clear rounds, but unfortunately picked up 5 penalties at the final ‘dressing’ fence, which they were required to jump exactly together, up to and over the fence. This left them in second place, but they were thrilled. 

On the Saturday South Warwickshire riders also took part in a number of showing classes. Ellie again riding Hilltop Eden Rose, was placed 3^rd in both the Working Hunter Pony classes, Wendy Bleloch riding her Connemara pony Midnight Island Prince had 3 placings, 2^nd in the ridden M&M, 6^th in the Working M&M and 9^th in a huge Riding Club Horse/Pony class. Sarah Reeve and Direct Action Dino also took part in the Novice Working Hunter. 

This is a tremendous success for such a small club, with all the results being recorded in Horse & Hound (9 June 2011), including a picture!

And below are the Youtube links to all the videos.

Eventer Challenge
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNH6VRzNdFo

Showing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtsdAj9kdn4

This is the video of Tom from Total Recall
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=th4u9ELKL_Q&feature=channel_video_title

AREA 5 EVENTER CHALLENGE, ATHERSTONE RC, 10TH APRIL 2011

   Sandra Miller on her way to victory in the Intermediate at Radcliffe Cluley.

The Novice Team, hugely relieved at having completed their round!

Senior Eventer challenges

 Pimms , Prawns and Palpitations were the order of the day at Warwickshire’s most Northern XC course where Atherstone hosted the Eventer challenge qualifier.  

The sun shone all day which was just as well as competitors needed to strip off (shoes and socks) to walk the course.   

Beckie Askew played the damsel in distress for most of the day but was eventually rescued by a Knight in shinning armour who arrived not on horseback but in an AA van.

Sandra Miller shared  1^st place with Charlotte Dronfield from Rugby RC  in the Intermediate section and will go through to the Championships at Aston Le Walls in June - Congratulations!! 

Wendy Bleloch, riding Annette’s horse Ollie, came 9^th individually in the Novice section. 

Sandra and Wendy also came 2^nd in the pairs. Sarah Reeve and myself were 5^th.     

I would especially like to thank Annette, Pam and little Ellie for all their help and support on the day.

 Shan Richards,  SWRC Horse Trials Manager.

AREA 5 QUALIFIER, BUCKINGHAM RC, MILTON KEYNES

FESTIVAL OF THE HUNTER – 18^th APRIL 2010 

   Congratulations to Sandra Miller and Sarah Reeve who after coming 2^nd in the pairs have also qualified for the Championships!!!!!! Well done to both of them as they were a last minute put together after Karen Arnold’s horse became lame (sorry for Karen)

Congratulations to Sandra Miller for coming 2^nd in the Open qualifier and to Shirley Wright who got 6^th place, both as individuals.

Well done to my novice team consisting of Rita Bagshaw, Shan Richards, Sarah Reeve and Amanda Taylor who all did their very best in the qualifier but unfortunately were not placed.

Congratulations also to Shirley Wright and my darling Morris who came 4^th in the Novice Pairs class.

It was a fabulous day when the sun shone all day and as always Buckingham RC put on a fabulous, well organised event so thank you to all of you who turned up and supported the teams as always it is very much appreciated and SWRC would not survive without you.

Many Thanks

Harri

Team Manager