TEMPERATURES soared and riders and their mounts basked in the glorious sunshine as Thornthorpe Equestrian got its 2012 season of events off to a great start with an unaffiliated dressage competition on Sunday.

A high number of entries and good standard of riding led to some hot competition on the day.

Twenty-three riders went forward for the introductory test which heralded a good win for Laura Eddery, from Malton, who was making her first competitive attempt of the year.

Laura was riding her former racehorse, List of Life, a seven-year-old bay gelding formerly trained by Tim Walford.

The preliminary test attracted the biggest field of the day so event organiser Tracey Clarkson made the decision to divide the class to accommodate numbers. Section one went the way of Laura Echarri riding Thomas Town Grey, while Anthea Thompson topped the leaderboard in section two after performing a very smooth and consistent test on board her lovely chestnut gelding, Hedley.

The combination went on to gather more rosettes when taking third place in the novice test.

Norton-based rider, Nicola Clayton, was the deserving winner of the novice section riding her talented young mare Baronette. The combination delivered a sparkling performance that was a pleasure to watch and certainly caught the eye of the judge, Lesley Catling.

The results were:

Intro B: 1 Laura Eddery & List of Life, 2 Fiona Barwick & Irish Sun, 3 Tessa Nelson & Harry, 4 Thomas Robertson & Duncan II, 5 Rachel Swales & Creevagh Diamond Pride, 6 Fiona Witty & Frenchie

Prelim 7 (sec 1): 1 Laura Echarri & Thomas Town Grey, 2 Fiona Barwick & Irish Sun, 3 Tessa Nelson & Harry, 4 Thomas Robertson & Duncan II, 5 Joanne Milestone & Foxglove Fudge, 6 Rachel Swales & Creevagh Diamond Pride

Prelim 7 (sec 2): 1 Anthea Thompson & Hedley, 2 Sophie Burkin & Alfa Romeo, 3 Katherine Rayment & Chapelhill Zak, 4 Elaine Tranter & Ultrasmart, 5= Rania Shamel & Murphy, 5= Joan Cattley & Millie, 6 Kelly Brown & Misty

Novice 27: 1 Nicola Clayton & Baronette, 2 Alison Dalby & Mr Nutmeg, 3= Anthea Thompson & Hedley, 3= Joan Cattley & Millie, 5= Charlotte Lawson & Obsidian, 5= Elaine Tranter & Ultrasmart