Team Manager Gill Benwell's full report on how our dressage riders did at Keysoe on 16th February
It wasn’t quite the sunny, spring like weather we’d had the previous two days but the forecast was definitely on our side – dry! Can’t ask for much more than that on a competition day – in fact it was just right!
The Club had entered two teams in the senior sections; a Novice Team (4 people doing 2 Prelim and 2 Novice tests) made up of Danni Rutter, Tina Kavanagh, Candice Pottage and Sally-Anne Hicks. The second, Intermediate Team (4 people riding 1 Prelim, 2 Novice and 1 Elementary test) was made up of Vince Julier, Liz Julier, Sarah Shackleton and Sue Willis.
The Novice Team were awesome: Sally-Anne and Tina were just out of the ribbons but Danni and her very young horse, Evie, came 6th in her class (Prelim 2) scoring 65%, whilst Candice and Steward (aka Susan) came a brilliant 2nd in the Novice 24, scoring 73.14%.
Overall the Novice Team came a brilliant equal 7th (out of 26 teams) just missing qualification to the Championships by one place. However, confirmation has now been received that Candice and Steward have qualified as an individual in the Novice 24 – so it’s off to Arena UK in March.
Huge congratulations!
The Intermediate Team put in some awesome performances too;
Vince on the very impressive Skippy came 12th with 64.81%, Sue Willis just missed the ribbons with an immaculate Elementary 42, coming 7th with 65.65%. And the 2 ponies put in the neatest tests ever –Toby ridden by Liz getting 67.51% coming 9th and William ridden by Sarah getting 61.43%.
Collectively the Intermediate Team came equal 10th out of a field of 23 teams – now that’s impressive!
And it didn’t end there!
Sally-Anne Hicks entered as an individual and did her first ever Medium 71 and was over the moon! Mary Cloake also entered as an individual on the wonderful Donald doing Novice 27, and having apologised profusely for doing such a bad test, only went and picked up 6th place with an amazing 70.54% - don’t we wish we could all do bad tests like that!!
And the ribbons didn’t stop there either. Vince Julier with his lovely Yogi picked up a blue ribbon for coming 2nd in the Advanced Medium with a score of 65.33%.
Mention must also go to the 3 volunteers who gave up time to help steward and tack check – MARYSIA QUINN, PIPPA RIKARD and KATE BOUCHIER. Every Riding Club who enters teams to any of these BRC Events is required to put up helpers without whom these events simply won’t happen. Our thanks to them for their time.
Thanks also to TOM GRAHAM – team coach – for all the great training sessions, the advice and tips given beforehand – everyone benefitted.
A brilliant day for all our riders, helpers and the many, many friends and family who came along to support – thank you.