Its been a Busy Summer so Far

Summer Team News Round Up

BRC Festival of the Horse National Championships March 2015

For the first time ever, our juniors qualified for the FOTH combined training national championships held at Aston Le Walls, Northamptionshire.  Our team consisted of Rebecca Hanks, Isabella Saville, Charlotte Hay and Tia Ratty. 

It was tough competition with teams competing from across the country but our juniors tried their hardest and had great fun.  Isabella and Rebecca were the youngest juniors and were on the smallest ponies which at times was quite intimidating but they held their own and completed lovely dressage tests with respectable scores.  Their 70cm jumping didn’t quite go to plan as Rebecca Hanks pony Becky became very excited and decided galloping around the arena was much more fun!  Despite this, both girls done a fantastic job especially considering it was their first time at a championship.

Charlotte and Tia rode in the novice dressage section.  Charlotte completed a much improved dressage test and gained a respectable score.  Tia gained one of the highest scores throughout the day.  Both girls jumped lovely rounds and they all represented the club brilliantly.

We were way out of the team placings but Tia managed to pull an overall individual 2nd place out of the bag!  The club is very proud of this result along with the fact that everyone had a fantastic time which made the long journey worthwhile!

BRC Area 10 Show Jumping and Style Jumping Qualifier July 2015

This qualifier took place at Lodge Farm in June and we took part in the junior novice team jumping, junior style team jumping and the senior open jumping.  It was our first time having a style jumping team and unfortunately not all horses wanted to play ball!  However, it was a great day for Katie Rankine and she qualified for the national championships in Lincoln as an individual. 

The junior team jumping gave it a good go with Olivia and Tbo showing off their stunt riding with no stirrups in the second round!  Tia and Leo had an unlucky stop and Katie and Lola gave their first qualifier a go.  We didn’t gain any placings but as a club, jumping isn’t our strongest discipline and we will continue to get better and improve.

John and Paddy took part in the senior open jumping as an individual and jumped two fantastic rounds leaving him as the clear winner and qualifying for the national championships!

BRC Area 10 Dressage and Riding Test Qualifier July 2015

We sent 5 teams to the dressage and riding test qualifiers which took place in Sevenoaks.  Our senior novice dressage team didn’t have a brilliant day with all scores under 60% bar one which was 66%.  The senior open dressage team done a brilliant job with a team 4th place and Shelley Ratty gaining individual 2nd place qualifying her for the national championships and Alison Osbourn taking part in her first qualifier and gaining individual 4th place.  Our senior pairs riders, Natalie and Nicola came 2nd 

The senior riding test team came away with a 3rd place qualifying them for the London and South East Championships and Shelley Ratty individual 4th and Alison Osbourn individual 6th.  Alice Latta also gained a 3rd place qualifying her for the nationals.

The junior dressage team and riding test team also were in the ribbons with both teams coming 2nd.  The dressage team were beaten to first place by just one point so it was very close!  Tia Ratty gained an individual 1st place qualifying for the national championships, and Chloe French, Isabella Saville and Olivia Choules each gained a 3rd place.  Chloe French gained an individual 3rd while Tia was placed 5th individually, both in the riding test.  Chloe and Isabella have also qualified for the nationals.

BRC Dressage to Music Qualifier July 2015

For the first time in years there was lots of competition at this event which made a nice change!  Marion Herbert and Mak came 3rd in the prelim qualifying for London and South East.  Natalie made lots of rider errors by forgetting the compulsory movements!  Natalie and Nicola both came 2nd in the Pas Seul and the pairs dressage to music qualifying for London and South East in both the classes.


Longines RIHS Hickstead 2015 BRC Teams Jumping

This year was our 2nd year taking part in this event and what a great time we had!  Our team consisted of Stacey Ward, Olivia Choules and John Benning.  Stacey had an unlucky round as Queenie got stage fright and didn’t want to jump anymore.  This left us on a score of 50, and there were many many other teams that were also on this score with very few clear rounds!  Olivia was next to jump in the 95cm section followed by John in the 1.05m section later on in the afternoon.  Both riders jumped beautifully with lovely clear rounds.  Out of 121 teams we came a very respectable 72nd!  It was great to see so many Area 10 clubs in the top 10 placings.  Next year we will be back, looking forward to it already!

I would like to say a huge thank you to all of our members that have helped at these events – Viv Howie, Julie Hanks, Rebecca Hanks, Marion Herbert, Lucy Benning, Sophie Wyles, Alison Osbourn, Julia Chapman and Stacey Ward.  Without you we would not be allowed to compete and gain the fantastic results that we have.

Well done to all FDRC teams and riders, you have been brilliant and we are proud to have you in our club.  What a fantastic year we have had, bring on the National Championships!!!

Natalie

Chef D’Equipe