PORT Royal had a busy day last Sunday, with a large number of entries for their unaffiliated dressage competition covering a range of tests from intro to elementary.

The splitting of juniors and seniors seems to suit the younger competitors as they don’t feel as much pressure from having to compete against the perhaps more experienced riders and big horses.

Erin Chan certainly doesn’t need to feel outclassed by the seniors.

Although she was the only junior in the elementary section, which was judged by the same judge as the seniors, she would have still finished second even if the class had not been split.

Erin said: “He was such a good boy today winning both his classes.

I hope this is the start of things to come for this year.”

Katie Brickman is a senior back on winning form after her mount, Moonlight Matilda, having had most of last year off due to a hock injury, which has been treated by Minster Vets where Katie, incidentally, now works as a vet.

Katie said: “It was so good to be back out competing again, I think Tilly loved being back as much as I did.”

The results were:

Intro A senior – 1 Georgina Boulton & Bentley Grange, 2 Li Horner & Renroh Belle, =3 Charlotte Ross & Clawde Greengrass and Helen Wiles & Tip Top Tottie, 5 Sammy Jo Grantham & Ammaretti Surprise, 6 Kim Thorpe & Bracklin Lad.

Intro A junior – 1 Flo Taylor & Magic O Toole.

Intro B senior – 1 Li Horner & Renroh Belle, =2 Nicola Raper & Rocky and Nichola Rhodes & Renegade, 4 Helen Wiles & Tip Top Tottie, 5 Amy Marchant & Harry, 6 Hannah Atkinson & Murphy.

Intro B junior – 1 Georgia Syson & Mist.

Prelim 4 senior – 1 Vicky Martin & Jim, 2 Holly Lemke & Wilmers Gem, 3 Claire Stanley & Max, 4 Stephanie Thompson & Indie, =5 Emma Gill & Bernie and Lucy Grantham & Ammaretti Sergeant.

Prelim 4 junior – 1 Caitlin Brownlee & Polly.

Prelim 12 senior – 1 Christian Allderidge & Millennium Rising, 2 Charlotte Ross & Clawde Greengrass, 3 Rachel Gray & Finnigan, 4 Sarah Simpkins & Alfie, 5 Emma Gill & Bernie, 6 Michelle Watling & Dysart’s Gawain.

Prelim 12 junior – 1 Emma Mounfield & Ey up its Colin, 2 Alice Triffitt & Swell Lad, 3 Lizzie Thirkettle & The Hero Sullivan, 4 Flo Taylor & Magic O Toole.

Novice 24 – 1 Katie Brickman & Moonlight Matilda, 2 Christian Allderidge & Felix, 3 Abigail Doherty & Druids Boy, 4 Suzanne Jackson & Calypso, 5 Ruth Dickens & Ballytrodden Jay Jay, 6 Laura Moran & Arctic Temple.

Novice 28 senior – 1 Christian Allderidge & Felix, 2 Charlotte Milnes & Forinth, 3 Beatrice Stocks & Steel Clover, 4 Ruth Dickens & Ballytrodden Jay Jay, 5 Abigail Doherty & Druids Boy, 6 Katie Brickman & Moonlight Matilda.

Novice 28 junior – 1 Erin Chan & Toppogigious Casper, 2 Emma Mounfield & Ey up its Colin, 3 Neve Clark & Buffy, 4 Lizzie Thirkettle & The Hero Sullivan.

Elementary 44 senior – 1 Charlotte Milnes & Forinth, 2 Amanda Howard & Coco. 3 Jodie Sheriff & Twister, 4 Sue Helmont & BB.

Elementary 44 junior – 1 Erin Chan & Toppogigious Casper.