North West Salineros scoop second success at Keysoe

33 teams from all over the UK gathered together at The College Equestrian Centre, Keysoe at the weekend (28 – 29 June) for the annual BYRDS Inter-Regional competition.

Selected at their relevant squad level (A, B, C or Fledgling), riders are tested on their position, effectiveness, influence and accuracy.

The young riders rode one test each day in their relevant section. Total individual points were then calculated by adding together the two scores. Team rankings were then calculated from the combined point scores of the three best placed competitors within a team. 1^st place = 1 point, 2^nd place = 2 points etc.; the lower the overall score, the higher the team ranking.

North West’s ‘Salinero’ team (pictured with the Deirdre Scrimgeour Team Challenge trophy) made it two wins in two years as they scooped the title with an impressively low score of 22. Compiled of four combinations; 17-year-old Will Blackshaw with his own Irish gelding An Absolute Snip, 20-year-old Emily Blount with her sister’s 15-year-old gelding Gkar, 12-year-old Emma Neil with her own 14.1hh gelding Sheepcote Romeo and ten year old Emily Pugh and her own 17-year-old gelding Mockbeggar William II.

Nine points away, with a score of 31, were Central’s Redstarts, closely followed by third place’s South West Fowey on 33 points.

“It was fab! My byrdies were brilliant”, exclaimed North West RDO, Lou Jones regarding their win. “I can’t believe we’ve managed to win the title for the second year in a row, I’m so proud of the whole NW squad!”

“It wasn’t all competing, either; we had a pizza party with all regions on the Saturday night, with team games and space hoppers – which went down a storm because it allowed everyone to let off steam, have fun and make new friends”

“The NW BYRDS are a close team and all very supportive of each other, as well as the other regional teams. Over the weekend, there was a real sense of team ethic – which was amazing” Lou continued.

“I’d also like to give a special thanks to Moira Lafferty, Janet Horswill, the BYRDS parents and the NW support team for all of their help over the course of weekend.”

Nine riders with the highest scores from the A squad competition have also been invited to compete at the prestigious Hartpury Festival of Dressage event next week (9 – 13 July). The top three riders from the Saturday class will then go on to compete in an exciting ride-off during the gala evening celebrations to determine the winner.

Those riders will be; Paddy Cush, Holly Colgate-Hardaway, Samantha Gualtier, Will Blackshaw, Emma Barnes, Josh Hill, Abbi Udden, Emily Watts, Daisy Powell.

If you’re aged between 6-25 years and would like to get involved with BYRDS, please take a look at our BYRDS page to discover more, or visit your regional pages for details of BYRDS training events.

For full results, click here.

BYRDS Inter-Regional results:

Team

1^st– North West Salinero

Will Blackshaw, Emily Blount, Emma Neil, Emily Pugh

2^nd– Central Redstart

Paddy Cush, Annabel Coppen, Tyler Russell, Jessie Kirby

3^rd– South West Fowey

Abbie Newbury, Destiny Billings, Danielle Balsdon, Daisy Down

A Squad

1^st Will Blackshaw with An Absolute Snip, North West

2^nd Samantha Gualtier with Shiraz II, Eastern

3^rd Josh Hill with Bewunder, Southern.

B Squad

1^st Abbie Newbury with Comet II, South West

2^nd Emily Blount with Gkar, North West

3^rd Alice Beauchamp with Rayid Heart Breaker, Central

C Squad

1^st Emily Atkins with Braeglen Symphony, Southern

2^nd Victoria Ogden-Pickering with Fourways Ella, Northern

3^rd Emma Neil with Sheepcote Romeo, North West

Fledgling

1^st Olivia Whitelaw with Twylands Tiffin, Northern

2^nd Giorgio Catleugh with Oliver, Northern

3^rd Jessie Kirby with Mojo’s Magic, Central