BYRDS Home International: Central reigns victorious!

It was a dramatic race to the finish at this year’s BYRDS Home International (29 – 30 July); after two days of fierce competition at Mount Ballan in Wales, two teams were sat in first place, forcing the dropped scores to decide the title.

Team rankings were calculated from the combined point scores of the three best placed competitors within a team. 1st place = 1 point, 2nd place = 2 points etc.; the lower the overall score, the higher the team ranking. With both Central Red Rose and NW Samba on a score of 32, the dropped scores from each team were calculated to find a winner. As NW Samba scored 52, it was the Central region who reigned victorious with their mark of 30.

Made up of 18-year-old Paddy Cush riding Jo Swain and Elaine Wallace’s 15-year-old gelding, Lord of the Rings V; 17-year-old Anne-Sophie Gilson and her own eight year old KWPN gelding, Basantos; 17-year-old Lydia Graham and her own nine year old British bred gelding, Pepperland Phoenix and 15-year-old Alice Beauchamp and her own 13hh mare, Rayid Heartbreaker the quartet worked solidly as a team to achieve their victory.

“I can’t believe we won! It was a real team effort,” declared Paddy Cush after lifting the coveted trophy. “From day one, there’s been a great team atmosphere – everybody has really been supportive of one another.”

Speaking about his own success – Paddy and Bilbo (Lord of the Rings V’s stable name) won three out of their four classes entered – Paddy gushed, “Bilbo has been amazing, he was a little tired on the second day, especially because of the heat, but I couldn’t have asked for more.

I’ve been a part of BYRDS for the last two years and have learnt so much. Jo [Swain] and Elaine [Wallace] have been great giving me the chance to ride such a talented horse, thanks to them I can’t wait to do more as a Young Rider!”  

BYRDS is the British Young Riders Dressage scheme, and is open to every young person under the age of 25 who would like to be involved in Regional training, competitions and camps. It is also a great way to meet new friends learn more about the sport.

To find out more visit http://www.britishdressage.co.uk/under_25s

Photo courtesy of Central Red Rose rider, Anne-Sophie Gilson.

For full results, click here.

Team results

1^st– Central Red Rose, 32 (30)

Alice Beauchamp with Rayid Heartbreaker

Lydia Graham with Pepperland Phoenix

Anne-Sophie Gilson with Basantos

Paddy Cush with Lord of the Rings

2^nd– NW Samba, 32 (52)

Maddy Whelan with Ode to Shannon

William Blackshaw with An Absolute Snip

Jess Viney with Sheepcote Well To Do

Emily Watts with Rascalini

3^rd– South West Sunshine, 34

Angus Corrie Deane with Grayswood Orlando

Immie Jones with Newton Venus

Danielle Balsdon with Reset Sir Lancelot

Individual results

Fledglings

1^st Olivia Whitelaw with Holyoake River Phoenix, Northern

2^nd Felicity Coles with Woodsman, Eastern

Novice Ponies

1^st India Sheriden with DHI Smart Move, Eastern

2^nd Danielle Balsdon with Reset Sir Lancelot, South West

3^rd Olivia Hoyland with Crystal, South West

Novice Juniors

1^st Leanne Kerry with Royal Rival, Eastern

2^nd Jack Wainwright with Dark Bacardi, Northern

3^rd Anne-Sophie Gilson with Basantos, Central

Novice Young Riders

1^st Zoe Haigh with Ceejay, Northern

2^nd Annie Cobbold with Carneddau Maddog, South West

3^rd Emily Watts with Rascalini, North West

Elementary Ponies

1^st Lara Radzki with Tremorelan, Northern

2^nd Alice Beauchamp with Rayid Heartbreaker, Central

3^rd Thalia Turner with Kastanienhofs Vitus, South West

Elementary Juniors

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

2^nd Newton Venus with Immie Jones, South West

3^rd Zoe Golding with Ballingowan Stoneyman, Southern

Elementary Young Riders

1^st Hannah Grummett with Quivantos, North West

2^nd Holly Lucas with Abby, North West

3^rd Beth Miller with Hawtins Sirica, South West

Medium Ponies

1^st Angus Corrie Deane with Grayswood Orlando, South West

2^nd Sophie Taylor with Carlsson, Northern

3^rd Vicky Povey with Machno Rembrant, Central

Medium Juniors

1^st Rose Hugh Smith with Florentino, Central

2^nd Abbie Newbury with Comet, South West

3^rd Joanne Hampton with Prisco, Northern

Medium Young Riders

1^st Paddy Cush with Lord of the Ring, Central

2^nd Daisy Powell with C No Limit, Northern

3^rd Jess Viney with Sheepcote Well To Do, North West