British Riding Clubs NAF Festival of the Horse
The 2011 Festival of the Horse kicked off with blue skies and beautiful sunshine early on Saturday 4 June. The event ran over two days with the Senior Challenge and Showing Classes on Saturday and then the Junior Challenge and Combined Competitions on Sunday.
The Festival, sponsored by NAF, took place at Washbrook Farm, Aston-le-Walls near Daventry, Northamptonshire. For the first time the cross-country course ran in the opposite direction to previous years and included a selection of inventive new fences to challenge our horse and rider combinations.
The Senior Intermediate class was won by a delighted Longton RC fromLancashire. The team comprised two pairs of sisters, Sam and Laura Rippon and Laura and Hannah Walkden. The Individual title went to Fiona Moore riding Realms of Glory fromCheltenhamand District RC.
East Cheshire Training Group in their matching blue cross-country colours were victorious in the Senior Novice Challenge. The team comprised Tory Rigby, Hannah Mulliner, Hannah Leech and Christine Guildford. They described the competition as a fabulous kick on course that was both enjoyable and challenging. Individual honours went to Penny Gingell on Plymswood Spintime riding for Ingatestone and Blackmore RC, Essex.
The final Challenge class of the day was the Senior Pairs. This class always provides spectators with fantastic viewing as the pairs complete the changeover and then race off onto the cross-country course together. Warwickshire-based Stoneleigh RC stole the show with Phillipa Gibbs riding Easy Breeze and Anne Grindal on Bertie.
The showing classes were busy all day with plenty of competition in both the working and ridden classes. After winning the Working Mountain and Moorland and the Working Championship, Julia Woods riding Elaphine Murphy from St Edmunds RC in Suffolk was crowned Supreme Champion. She was delighted as Murphy had also completed the Senior Intermediate Challenge earlier that morning. Stacie Harrison and Hillam My Dudley from West Devon RC won theRiddenMountainand Moorland and then the Ridden Championship.
Sunday saw the start of the Combined Competition for both the seniors and juniors. The atmosphere was fuelled with excitement as this competition offers a first prize of a £1,000 training bursary for both junior and senior winners kindly donated by NAF. Elizabeth McCready and Spirit from Sevenoaks RC,Kentwere crowned Senior Champions and are excited to start their training with NAF. Bethany Shipley riding Breffne Brou from North Ryedale RC inNorth Yorkshiretook the junior title.Bethanywas no stranger to this competition after winning the Style Jumping at the National Championships last year.
South Warwickshirerider Thomas Falkingham riding Hot Chocolate stormed round the Challenge course to take top individual spot in the Junior Novice. Team honours went to North Lincs RC, represented by Victoria Colebrook, Milly Petchell, Zoe East and Ella Frow.
It was another victory for the boys in the Junior Intermediate. Jack Bagley riding Berry Patrick from Northallerton RC,North Yorkshirebecame the new Champion. The team championship went to Abinger Forest RC fromSurrey. The team comprised of Lucyanna Westaway, Charlotte White, Henrietta Walker-Duncalf andTom Lane.
The final class of the day was the Junior Pairs. A smartly matched pair of coloureds from Cropthorne and Evesham RC in Worcestershire were in the top spot. The pair of Chloe Pinchin (Marble Mixture) and Richard Hance (Edward) did a superb lap of honour, stride for stride proving why they are worthy winners.
For a full list of results please see www.britishridingclubs.org.uk Photographs available from e.baldwin@bhs.org.uk
For further press information and pictures, please contact our Press Officer: Alison Coleman, The British Horse Society, 02476 840463 or a.coleman@bhs.org.uk
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