Sunshine and Success at the 2014 Pony Club Dengie Winter League Championships
The Pony Club Winter League Show Jumping and Dressage Championships 2014, generously sponsored by Dengie Horse Feeds Ltd the UK’s leading manufacturer of fibre-based horse feeds, took place at Warwickshire College, Moreton Morrell, during April 12-13th. The hotly contested Championships acted as the pinnacle of the Dengie Winter League for Pony Club competitors who have taken part in qualifiers, at Novice and Open level, during the winter months.
Starting with the Show Jumping on Saturday, the warm up classes ahead of the Championships in the afternoon saw double success for the Pembrokeshire Hunt Branch, with Lucianna Rabaiotti and B Brief 11 winning the Winter League warm up in a time of 49.87 seconds, and Amy Tucker, with Raindance Rebel, taking the Open Grand Prix warm up top slot in 54.78.
The Winter League Championship enjoyed an entry of near 90 competitors, with just 16 going forward to the jump off including Isabel Lindsay, with Bailey XII, who went on to make the long trip down from the Fife Hunt Branch worthwhile, taking the top spot in a time of 35.03 seconds. “I am so excited and happy to have won the Dengie Winter League Championships” commented Isabel. “I really wanted to improve on my 4th place from 2013, I had such a fun time meeting all the Irish team and jumping mini-jumps until very late with them; the whole weekend was unforgettable and winning was the icing on the cake!”
With the course height raised the Open Grand Prix, which had a sound entry of near 50, got underway. Following the first round around two thirds of the field went forward to jump in the second round, and a consistent eight reached the jump off; with India Bussey, from the South Norfolk Branch, riding Westside Menlough taking the top spot in a time of 34.84 seconds, fault free throughout. “I felt a bit nervous in the collecting ring being on the smallest pony in the jump off, but when we jumped Hugo filled me with confidence because he’s such a trier” commented India. “It’s been a great experience to compete nationally, and thanks to Dengie and The Pony Club for making it happen!”
Sunday saw yet more sunshine and 80 riders taking part across the Novice and Open level Dressage. The first and second placed riders going through to the Novice ride off had all cleared 70% scores and it was tight at the top, but it was Isabelle Beeston from the Atherstone Hunt, riding VIP, who kept it consistent to emerge with a top score of 72.6%. “Coming into the championships I was aiming to finish with a rosette, so I was thrilled to come second in my arena and qualify for the ride off!” commented Isabelle. “When I was told that I had actually won I was so shocked, the standard of the other riders in the ride off was so high, I was absolutely over the moon to come away as the novice champion!”
Yet more impressive scores in the Open section produced a clear four to go forward to the ride off. Charlotte McDowall and Felinmor Buddy, from the Ledbury Hunt, dominated as a combination, who also placed 2nd in the Dengie Novice Championships in 2013, and excelled to produce a score of 73.38% to take the top slot. “Going to the Championships was utterly amazing” trilled Charlotte “I would like to thank Dengie for sponsoring the event, and the Ledbury Hunt Branch of The Pony Club for all their help and training in getting me this far”.
“Dengie is delighted to support the Pony Club Winter League Championships” comments Lisa Wilson, Marketing Manager for Dengie Horse Feeds. “As always, it was great to have the opportunity to chat to so many young riders and their families about the benefits of feeding a fibre-based diet and to hear all about their horses and ponies”.
“The jump-off for the Winter League and the Open Grand Prix were fantastically exciting, with the riders really going for it, while the dressage ride-offs were so polished and elegant that I really didn’t envy the judges their difficult task. Standards of riding were extremely high in both disciplines and we send our congratulations to those who were crowned champions and all those who took part.”
Click for show jumping results or dressage results.
