With autumn arriving, the first of the popular BD Associated Championships took place at the end of August with the Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) finalists heading to Aintree International Equestrian Centre, Liverpool for an exciting few days of competition (22 – 24 August 2017).
Winning the Intro C Championship in spectacular fashion was Matthew Mills aboard Venez Horace (pictured). The combination scored an impressive 76.41% to finish as Champions ahead of Kirsty Holder with Ravens Nest and Izzy Harris with Croston completing the podium on great plus-73% scores.
Venez Horace is in only his second year of competition after racing but has managed to notch up an impressive six wins out of nine classes this year culminating in his Aintree Championship win. Rider Matthew is based in Didcot, Oxfordshire where he runs a yard specializing in the retraining of racehorses. Speaking about the Championships on Facebook Matthew said; "I know we keep saying it but it has been an absolutely fabulous week with the RoR Team and Aintree! The show was definitely a huge success and it was great to see so many magnificent racehorses all in one place enjoying their new careers and some of them were certainly enjoying being back on a racecourse!"
The Preliminary Championship was won on another fantastic score with Bethany Slinger and Maigold Rose earning 76.56% from judges Joan Ahern and Jennifer Johnson. Bethany and the 10-year-old Maigold Rose demonstrated great versatility and style at Aintree with their win, continuing a great run of form for the combination who were also victorious in the RoR Castle 3 Phase Challenge Championship in May earlier this year. The pair were also third in the Novice Championship class scoring 71.37% to gain another podium place.
It was Helen Jackson and Leverage who were eventual winners of the Novice Championship scoring 72.34%. Helen and ‘Levi’ are no strangers to success having won the RoR Preliminary Championship in 2015; the now 11-year-old gelding has enjoyed several years of great results across dressage and eventing with Helen in the saddle.
Travelling to Liverpool to contest the Championships, former University of Bath student Rebecca Pembroke and Nice Cote D’Azur made their trip more than worthwhile taking home the spoils in the Elementary 57 final. Judges Sandra Edwards and Andrea Smith awarded the eye-catching chestnut 67.32% for a polished test. To complete a brilliant show Rebecca and Nice Cote D’Azur also won the Elementary Freestyle with a phenomenal 76.35%.
In the final Championship class Amelia Walker added her name to the list of winners after taking top spot in the Medium 73 aboard Director General. The stunning black gelding owned by Albertine Barker showed his talent inside the white boards earning 66.91% to finish in front of Fred Hodges with Leaveittorog who scored 65.51% to take second place. Twenty-year-old Amelia and ‘Bernie’ recently placed eighth in the CCI** at the NAF International Hartpury Horse Trials.
Congratulations to all competitors who attended the RoR Racehorse to Dressage Horse Championships. Thanks go to all organisers, volunteers and stewards at Aintree EC for a highly successful show as well as sponsors ROA and GOFFS UK.
Championship Winners
Intro
Matthew Mills with Venez Horace, 76.41%
Preliminary
Bethany Slinger with Maigold Rose, 76.56%
Novice
Helen Jackson with Leverage, 72.34%
Elementary
Rebecca Pembroke with Nice Cote D’Azur, 67.32%
Medium
Amelia Walker with Director General, 66.91%
For full results click here.
Photo credit: Majestic Photography.