This month saw the inaugural Forces Equine Championships take place at Moreton Morrell, Warwickshire on the 8-9 October.
The exciting new Championship for riders in HM Forces, Government Services or Public Services and their dependents had participants qualify after achieving two scores of 60% and above at their chosen level over a period of nine months before contesting the Finals in the Autumn.
Travelling from Bristol, the highest score of the Championships went to Special Constable Polly Tucker (25) and Chaceley Bobby in the Prelim Bronze section where they won by a clear margin with an impressive 78.08%. Polly, who works with a patrol team in South Gloucestershire, also took the win in the Intro C with another high score of 77.17%. Polly and her own eight-year-old piebald gelding have achieved great results throughout the qualifying period with many plus-70% scores to date including a fantastic 74.13% at West Wilts in June showing their form.
The win in the largest contested class, Novice Silver, went to Oxfordshire rider Stacey Henderson (29) with her own 14-year-old bay gelding Rising Style who scored a well-deserved 77.38%. This pair also finished as winners of the Elementary Bronze with 63.39% respectively. Stacey took to social media to say that ‘the boy was on fire, I knew I could have ridden a few bits better, but nearly hit the floor when I saw my score, 77.38%’, she continued, ‘I'm delighted to say that we took that title’. This partnership also took part in the 80cm Show Jumping with her Riding Club team, following a clear in the first round her team finished second.
Contesting two disciplines proved to be a theme for the weekend as many combinations proved their talent and versatility by placing in both the Dressage and Show Jumping Championship classes.
The Championship was judged by Jonquil Solt and hosted by the ever-diligent team at Warwickshire College. With the series growing in popularity, the 2017 Championships will be looked forward to with great anticipation.
Pictured is Flintshire rider Colonel Michael Mullis (62) with Mrs. Hilary Mullis’s 21-year-old gelding Derby Park Chat. Colonel Mullis, Commandant of the Clwyd and Gwynedd Army Cadet Force, finished a creditable second in the Elementary Bronze Championship.
2016 Winners
Intro C
Bronze - Polly Tucker with Chaceley Bobby, 77.17%
Prelim 14
Bronze - Polly Tucker with Chaceley Bobby, 78.08%
Silver - Emma Lee Smith with Barneys Diamond Smuggle, 77.50%
Novice 34
Bronze – Joanne Wilson with Leo, 70.48%
Silver – Stacey Henderson with Rising Style, 77.38%
Elementary 50
Bronze – Stacey Henderson with Rising Style, 63.39%
Silver – Kathryn Hannam with Lionheart Xanthius of Phtia, 73.39%
For full results click here
Photo courtesy of Will Baxter