LAST Sunday saw the British riding clubs area 4 combined training qualifier take place at Bishop Burton College.

The weather started nice and bright before taking a turn for the worse in the afternoon with heavy snow and hail showers making it very difficult for the horse and riders who were doing their dressage phase in the outdoor arenas.

Nearly 50 teams from all over Yorkshire were vying for the top two slots in teams and individuals in order to qualify for the national championships, which takes place on May 31 and June 1 at Aston-le-Walls, near Daventry.

From the 36 senior teams, North Ryedale riding club were the highest-placed team from the Malton area gaining a fifth place. The team comprising of Charlotte Lawson and Obsidian III, Pat Anderson and Starlight Temptress, Sarah Blenkin and Tilly and Jo Rising and Harvest Paladin, Jo and Paladin also managed an individual fifth in her section.

The junior teams faired better with Malton riding club finishing the best of the local teams and with only a team of three riders rather than the usual four. Their team consisted of Tom Midgley and Rapid Rayban, who was having only his second attempt at dressage and managed to finish 11th overall, Jess Johnson and Dolce Vita having only just acquired the horse and their first competition together, and Amy Small riding Triumph VD, who finished second in the novice section individually gaining her a place at the championships.

Next on the scoreboard were North Ryedale with Charlotte Armitage and Essonar Tell Me More, Molly Brown and Blue Owl, Isabella Armitage and Nahlesg Minstrel Melody with their fourth team-mate, Charlotte Fryday and Lou Lou. Charlotte will also qualify for the championships having finished second in the prelim section.

To take the last place on the score board placings were Ebor Vale riding club to take team sixth, comprising of three members again, Eve Hogg, Leah Stott and Cawood Dominic and Helen Rawson riding Golden Handshake.

The next area 4 qualifier to take place will be the show cross at Epworth equestrian centre, near Doncaster, on Saturday where the emphasis will be on showjumping and cross country.