Sun shines on British Riding Clubs Festival of the Hunter
Thursday, June 04, 2009
British Riding Clubs’ (BRC) Festival of the Hunter ran over two days on the weekend of 30-31 May and was blessed with blue skies and beautiful sunshine. The Senior Challenge and Showing Classes took place on Saturday and the Junior Challenge and Combined Competitions on Sunday.
The Festival was held at Washbrook Farm, Aston-le-Walls near Daventry, Northamptonshire and was sponsored by Kbis British Equestrian Insurance. BRC are grateful for their continued support. Christopher Hodgson, Director of Kbis, said: “Kbis really enjoys its association with British Riding Clubs and the Festival of the Hunter. The evident pleasure of the competitors is shared by Kbis”.
The new format for the Festival, which included a new Show Jumping phase, was met with some trepidation by competitors, but on the whole proved a resounding success, with BRC receiving excellent feedback. The Pairs Class in particular provided high drama as riders cheered each other around the Show Jumping course before setting off across country.
The Senior Novice Challenge Team title went to Meon RC. They were represented by Fiona Rogers on Dollar, Rachel Walker (Brown Bear), Barbara Wood (Simply Seamus) and Helen Vernon (Kreischim). Meon also took the All Four Scores to Count trophy. Individual honours went to Rachel Mackie, riding Charlie Farasi, representing Aspley Guise RC.
The Senior Open Challenge proved a popular class and Huntingdon and District RC led the way with a team win and the All Four Scores to Count Trophy. Representing Huntingdon were Jenna Stone (Claypotts), Alexandra Brookman (Lady B), Kelly Murdoch (Bay Storm) and Amelia Newman (Skip Along). Joanna Eeley, riding Richmond Leasable, was the Overall Individual Champion. Joanna is a member of Buckingham RC.
The Senior Pairs was an exciting competition for spectators and competitors alike, but Longton RC showed everyone how to do it by becoming 2009 Champions. Longton’s riders were Samantha Rippon on Basil Fox and Helene Chorley with Lightburn Sonny Boy.
The Showing classes provided a high standard of competition and judges commented on the quality of the horses shown. The Working Hunter Horse was won by Nikki Williams on Kings Fiddler (New Forest RC) and the Working Hunter Pony title went to Amelia Sanderson riding Brookshill Morning Glory (Bay RC).
Nikki Reeder on Collier (Aspley Guise RC) put in a good performance in the Ridden Cob Class, taking the Championship crown home. The Working Cob class was headed by Christine Watts on My Fair Lady VII for Deben RC.
The Hunter classes, judged by David Ingle, saw tough competition; however, Victoria Littlewood and Mosstown Marz took the title home with them for High Fen RC.
Sweeping the board in the Middleweight Hunter and Novice Hunter was Stephanie Woolley on King’s Cruise from Malvern Hills RC. Despite only being a four-year-old, King’s Cruise took everything in his stride and wowed the judges in the Supreme Championship. Victoria Littlewood and Mosstown Marz were Reserve Champions.
Sunday dawned for the Junior competitors, commencing with the Junior Open Challenge. Selby secured a win riding with a team of three consisting of Alice Walker (Monklands Boy), Jessica Hardwick (State Supreme) and Christian Alderidge (Hidden Extra). The All Four Scores to Count title went to second placed Saffron Walden. Riding for Saffron Walden were Robert Barker (Iceford Spotty), Bethany Brown (Magic Roundabout), Tessa Olley (Bertie Bassett) and Laura Birch (Furioso). Aimee Beare and Pittoresque travelled from the Isle of Wight to secure the Individual title.
The Novice Challenge class had a large number of entries but coming out on top were Radnorshire RC with Edward Jones (Oaksey), Megan Powell (Suduko), Freddie Powell (Peanut Butter) and Eleanor Owens (Squiggles Pride). Radnorshire also claimed the All Four Scores to Count title, while West Oxfordshire RC’s Jenna McKay on Houdini’s Odyssey were Junior Novice Champions.
The Pairs Class was won by Elstead RC, represented by Scarlett Flourenzou and It’s B’cos and Freya Lawes with Bunowen Jewel. Elstead RC has had riders at BRC Championships since 1998 and always bring an army of supporters to cheer home their riders.
The newly introduced Combined competition, consisting of a Riding Test and Style Jumping, was won for the Juniors by a surprised Jodie Stokes and Tinkerman (Rugby RC). In the Senior competition Helen Forster and Naphtalia De Layne took the title home for Stoneleigh RC.
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