LAST weekend saw the RoR (Retraining of Racehorses) championships taking place in Liverpool at the Aintree Grand National course, with hundreds of ex-racehorses competing in 27 different classes on offer.

Many of North Yorkshire’s ex-racehorses made their way down for this supreme showcase along with the North-east region of the musical ride.

Nine riders took part all at once in the arena to music and was well received by the spectators despite a couple of the horses getting stage fright for a while, and a couple of last minute changes to horses and riders.

The team will next be doing another display at Malton Racing open day at Tim Fitzgerald’s yard and then again at Blenheim Horse Trials.

Joanna Mason and Liverpool had a fruitful time at the Aintree site gaining a first in the ridden qualifier to finish third in the championship, a third in show ridden type, fourth in the Concours Delegance, a second in the side saddle after having only ridden side saddle for 20 minutes before entering the ring under Sophie Staveley, and a third in the overall supreme championships.

Sophie Staveley and Misty Gem took top spot in the novice ridden thoroughbred qualifier to finish sixth in the championship. Jolene Midgley and Lampos made a return to the show ring to finish third in the RoR challenge qualifier and then took second in the veteran championships.

Caz Bales and Bright Sun almost didn’t make it down to the championships having had lorry problems ended a run of bad luck with a creditable third in the Tarra in hand qualifier and a fifth in the in hand ex racer.

Sam Dexter and Jimmyling took a third in the Tarra ridden qualifier. Barbara Davy and Thunder Bay took second place to Sophie Staveley in the novice ridden qualifier along with a sixth place in the home produced ex racehorse.