Dressage league gathering pace (From Gazette & Herald)

Dressage league gathering pace

9:00am Wednesday 25th January 2012 in Equestrian By Lisa Evans

THE competitive action continues to gather momentum as riders battle it out to accumulate points in the winter dressage league at Friars Hill Stables.

The latest round in the series took place on Wednesday, heralding a well-deserved victory in the Intro A for 10-year-old Fiona Hardman, from Aislaby, on board the school pony, George, an 11.2 hh grey gelding.

The veteran gelding Comet demonstrated his versatility when taking the top honours in the senior section under Pickering-based rider Emily Newman. The 20-year-old gelding has notched up countless victories in the showjumping ring and is probably best known for his adrenaline-fuelled rounds when competing against the clock.

Fourteen-year-old Rebecca Champion, from Wrelton, continued her run of success at the venue by delivering a very stylish performance to head the leaderboard in the junior prelim riding Molly. The combination also finished among the ribbons when taking sixth place in the novice test.

Jonathan Gill never fails to impress, so it came as no surprise when he notched up another notable double here. Riding his former racehorse, Thorn, Jonathan set a high standard that took the top honours in both the senior prelim and novice level tests.

He also picked up rosettes with his other ride, Boots, when finishing fourth in the prelim and third in the novice.

The results were:

Intro A – Juniors: 1 Fiona Hardman & George, 2 Grace Wood & Jack, 3 Polly Richardson & Charlie, 4 Rebecca Grace & Henderson, 5 Charlotte Richardson & Charlie

Intro A – Seniors: 1 Emily Newman & Comet, 2 Jeanette Hambidge & Lottie, 3 Tricia Alston & Nicky, 4 Linda Hearn & Henderson, 5 Jeanette Dyde & Jimmy, 6 Lauren Bollons & Blaze

Prelim 10 – Juniors: 1 Rebecca Champion & Molly, 2 Jody Salton & Marmaduke, 3 Lucinda Sanderson & Nicky, 4 Sophie Milestone & Sarriago Spirit

Prelim 10 – Seniors: 1 Jonathan Gill & Thorn, 2 Sandra Thurlow & Lulu, 3 Pat Anderson & Starlight, 4 Jonathan Gill & Boots, 5= Jo Bumby & Ruby / Tina Williams & Bajan

Novice – Mixed: 1 Jonathan Gill & Thorn, 2 Charlotte Lawson & Obsidian, 3 Jonathan Gill & Boots, 4 Pat Anderson & Starlight, 5 Jess Thurlow & Max, 6 Rebecca Champion & Molly