Kerry Miller gets off to flying start at dressage event (From Gazette & Herald)

Kerry Miller gets off to flying start at dressage event

3:03pm Wednesday 17th October 2012 in Equestrian

RIDERS flew the flag for Friars Hill Stables at the Dressage Championships of Great Britain which took place across three days of intense competition at the David Broome Event Centre in Wales.

Pickering-based Kerry Miller, an instructor at Friars Hill, got off to a great start by topping the leaderboard in her warm-up class riding the skewbald mare, Maybe Baby.

The combination went on to secure a place in the top ten when finishing eighth overall in the hotly-contested Prelim 4 and 7 championship.

Any pre-competition nerves were soon banished by Sandra Thurlow as she went forward to deliver some well-polished performances to finish 16th in the Prelim 4 and 7 on her first ever competitive attempt away from Friars Hill.

Sandra, from Beadlam, was riding the black cob Blaze.

Jess Thurlow, Sandra’s daughter, delivered some fancy footwork of her own to finish 12th in the Novice 24 and 27 championship, on board the Irish bred gelding, Greystrokes Choice.

Ruth Motley, from Allerston, gave a good account to finish 17th in the Prelim 12 and 18 championship riding her own, Village Legend.

After nine months of preparation, Friars Hill Stables has proudly announced that it has been awarded Clubmark accreditation by Sport England.

Clubmark was introduced in 2002 by Sport England to recognise the commitment made by sports clubs to develop a high quality and welcoming environment for children and young people. Clubmark is a quality accreditation that provides a focus around which organisations involved in sport can unite to support good practice in clubs working with young participants.

“A lot of hard work has gone into attaining the Clubmark accreditation,” said Alison Brown of Friars Hill Stables.

“We have attended numerous training courses, covering topics including equality and diversity, first aid and safeguarding children.

“Our next goal is to try to encourage more boys to take up the sport of riding.”