Senior Inter Regional: The South steals the spotlight

The Senior Inter Regional Squad competition returned to the College Equestrian Centre, Keysoe, for this year’s battle of the regions.

Spread over the course of the weekend (14-15 June) and led by their Regional Development Officers, 32 teams of four horse/rider combinations fought across levels ranging from prelim to medium to be crowned champion region and take home the coveted senior inter regional cup.

Selection panels from each region had chosen the teams to attend the competition based on specific qualification criteria. The teams comprised of combinations, both able bodied and para, competing at prelim, novice, elementary and medium with each rider competing individually at their level on the Saturday and Sunday. Total individual points were then calculated by adding together the two scores.

The winning team was decided from the combined placings for all competitors within a team. First place scored one point, second place scored two points and so on; lowest score wins.

This year, the sound of victory rang from the south as Southern Madras (pictured) scored an impressively low 26.308. After lifting the trophy winning team member, Emma Butler, spoke about her journey to the top of the podium, “My first experience of joining Team Southern was at the Home International last year and this was my first Inter Regionals. It's hard to believe that just two years ago, I was on the verge of giving up riding all together. My confidence was in tatters and heartbroken over the loss of a homebred at four I honestly thought my dream was over.”

“I decided to give it one last chance and found Ballingowan Lilly at a dealer’s. A hairy, chubby little coloured mare, she seemed an unlikely dressage horse but she was safe, kind and has exceeded all of my hopes and dreams,” Emma continued. “I will be forever indebted to her for restoring my confidence and giving me the opportunity to do such amazing things as part of team Southern.

I'm so proud and grateful to Team Southern for being part of a fabulous and supportive group of people. I think I'm going to retire while I'm at the top, not sure I can top this ever again!”

Beaming with pride, Southern RDO, Sharon Walker, commented on the overall atmosphere at Keysoe, “I’m so proud of every last person that went to Keysoe – of course that means the riders but also includes the parents, friends and family that go along and contribute towards the amazing team spirit. One rider said that it was amazing to come up the centre line and see a row of her teammates willing her on to do well!”

Referring to her team, Southern Madras’ win, Sharon continued; “winning the Senior Inter Regionals is amazing feeling – we’ve been trying for more than five years to take the top spot and have lost out on more than one occasion – and once by as little as one point! This year Team Southern are no longer the bridesmaids and to have a first, third, fifth and tenth in a field of 32 teams was just absolutely amazing!”

But why the name ‘Southern Madras’? “A few years ago we were debating what to call our teams and someone came up with the idea of cocktails” answered Sharon. “This served a secondary purpose as we decided that the senior rider in each team would be responsible for choosing their cocktail and bringing the ingredients to our team get together for a tasting! The other senior teams were Southern Gin Fizz, Southern Four Horsemen, Southern Jelly Beans and Southern Martini Royal.”

Individually-speaking, there were some cracking tests and scores over the weekend. South West rider, Louise Berry and her own 12-year-old mare, Lowenneck Smartie Pants, topped Saturday’s prelim rankings and also claimed the accolade of highest percentage of the competition with a whopping 77.30%. Her good run also continued through to the Sunday where she took first place in the prelim with her impressive mark of 72.27%.

Nina Boex and her own 15-year-old chestnut gelding, Limbo Venture, did Wales proud as they were only combination to break the 70% barrier in Saturday’s elementary test, claiming the top spot with a solid score of 71.61%. Whilst Cockshot organiser, Nikki Leyton, and her 16-year-old Landino mare, Rose, represented the North West as an individual and won both Saturday and Sunday’s advanced medium/PSG tests with two scores of 67.50%.

For the full list of results, click here.

Team rankings:

1^st

Southern Madras – 26.308

Trina Stewart, Amy Eastwood, Charlotte Blain, Emma Butler.

2^nd

South West Lulworth – 27.592

Laura Summers, Tina Burrows, Louise Berry, Lisa Hoskins.

3^rd

Southern Four Horsemen – 32.588

Katie Roberts, Kirsty Campbell, Debora Helmig-Schar, Michelle Sault.

Individual competition:

Prelim 17

1^st Louise Berry and Lowenneck Smartie Pants, South West, 77.30%

2^nd Kim Hawley and Lough Owel, South West, 76.34%

3^rd Emma Hunt and Freddy Bear, Eastern, 76.34%

Prelim 19

1^st Louise Berry and Lowenneck Smartie Pants, South West, 72.27%

2^nd Kim Hawley and Lough Owel, South West, 71.81%

3^rd Shelby Dowding and Peasedown Agatha, South West, 69.54%

Novice 37

1^st Debora Helmig-Schar and Game Boy VI CH, Southern, 70.35%

= 2^nd Charlotte Blain and Donatella IV, Southern, 70.00%

= 2^nd Pam Sellers and Fonz, Northern, 70.00%

Novice 39

1^st Charlotte Blain and Donatella IV, Southern, 74.82%

2^nd Susan Kiernan and Wrekin Jack, North West, 70.86%

3^rd Louise Eagles and Active Lilliana, Southern, 70.00%

Elementary 53

1^st Nina Boex and Limbo Venture, Wales, 71.61%

2^nd Laura Summers and Tullyreavy Prince Jones, South West, 68.82%

3^rd Katie Roberts and Rock On III, Southern, 67.79%

Elementary 57

1^st Katie Roberts and Rock On III, Southern, 71.60%

2^nd Nina Boex and Limbo Venture, Wales, 71.60%

=3^rd Laura Summers and Tullyreavy Prince Jones, South West, 69.28%

=3^rd Amanda Kirtland-Page and Dryford Django, South West, 69.28%

Medium 69

1^st Laura Kennedy and Harry Potter IV, Central, 69.24%

2^nd Amy Eastwood and Haysden Woodstock, Southern, 68.93%

3^rd Tracy Liddle and Ballyboe Integrity, Northern, 68.63%

Medium 73

1^st Tracy Liddle and Ballyboe Integrity, Northern, 72.35%

2^nd Amy Eastwood and Haysden Woodstock, Southern, 70.29%

3^rd Natalie Westgarth and In Abundance, Eastern, 68.67%

Advanced Medium/Prix St Georges

1^st Nikki Leyton and Rose, North West, 67.50%

2^nd Heather Lonsdale and Onassis, Eastern, 64.21%

3^rd Rebecca Tilton and Valliant, Central, 63.94%