BHS crowns National Cross-Country Champions
Monday, September 29, 2008
The British Horse Society Cross-Country Championships final, generously sponsored for the seventh year by South Essex Insurance Brokers, took place on 28 September at Eland Lodge Equestrian Centre, Derbyshire.
Hundreds of BHS members travelled from all over the country, each rider eager to secure one of the prestigious titles on offer. The three Championship classes, Novice, Pairs (both over 2’ 9” course) and Open (3’ 3”) were the climax to a year of qualifying events.
This year’s Novice Champion was 12-year-old Hanna Bertorelli riding The Jazz Man. Hanna, from Bridgend, South Wales, had a fantastic day adding second place in the pairs Championship with sister Victoria to her individual success. The Championships are a happy hunting ground for the Bertorelli family as mum Tracey, who was Novice Champion in 2004, and Pairs Champion in 2006, also finished seventh in this year’s Pairs Championship with friend Julie Davies.
A win in the Pairs Championship could not have been better timed for Charlie Brittain who was celebrating her sixteenth birthday on the day! Charlie, who rode her piebald gelding, Toby, was partnered by last year’s Novice Champion, 15-year-old Libby Duignan riding Bailey. This is the first year that the girls, who met through competing at riding club and pony club events, have competed together. They saw off competition from more than 45 pairs to take the title.
The Open title was won by Gemma Jackson riding grey mare, Rosie Posie. It has been a busy year for the pair, who also qualified for the Festival of the Hunter and the British Riding Clubs Championships at Lincoln showground.
Hannah Peters put in a gutsy performance to finish third on her second ride Crystal, having suffered a fall at the water on her first horse.
The most inspirational performance of the day, however, came from Karen Bostock who won the trophy for the highest placed Pair from the Yorkshire region with her daughter Emma. Karen suffered serious injuries in a car accident back in 1987 and until last year had not sat on a horse for 20 years. She saw an advert for para-jumping with the BSJA and decided to see if it was possible. Classified Para 2, the second most disabled category, she has gone from strength to strength despite her disability.
Karen said: “When I came over that last fence there were tears in my eyes, I couldn’t believe I’d achieved it. It didn’t matter where we came as long as we got round safe and the horses are fine – the trophy is a bonus!”
