A blustery weekend with periodic showers didn’t dampen a great few days at Vale View EC for this year’s Para Home International. Nine teams travelled to the popular Leicestershire venue; two from Wales and seven English, representing five of the eight regions. As ever, it was a tense affair with the lead changing regularly throughout both days but a good sense of camaraderie along the way!
After day one, it was Wales Snowdonia who held the advantage but by just over 4% from the Northern Stars team. The Welsh team fielded two riders in the Grade III novice and they dominated with Georgia Wilson riding Caraca winning with 68.29% and Julia Horton riding Premier Joyful Moon narrowly in second with 67.27% - two great percentages to add to the tally. Their other riders, Denise Smith (Grade II novice) and Lorna Lee (Grade Ib open) finished second in their grades. The Northern Stars pushed every inch of the way with wins in three classes for Charlotte Cundall (The Chenko Artist) in the Grade IV open and World Class Development duo Natasha Adkinson (Sweet Caledonia) – in the Grade Ib open and Izzy Palmer (Gregonne Coco Chanel) in the Grade III open but it’s percentages that count and after day one, the Wales Snowdonia team held a slim advantage on 201.22 over Northern Stars on 197.094 with the other Welsh team, Cambrian in third on a combined total of 190.287 and Northern Lights just 0.14 adrift on 190.147.
Also on Saturday, there Hickstead Open Qualifiers where winners were: Grade Ia – Emma Sheardown/Claybank Magnet, Grade II Emma Douglas/Apart, Grade III – Emma Kent/Gentle and Grade IV – Julie Payne/Little Lewis. Saturday evening also featured a freestyle to music which was won by Jane Lishman with Lordana TG (Grade II) with 74.75%.
So, with it all to play for on Sunday, the teams resumed battle with each test crucial and team members willing each other on to squeeze every percentage possible in the windy conditions.
The grade IV novice was first up with two riders pivotal for the top placed teams. Maddie Shaw for Wales Cambrian scored 58.51% while Julie Frizzell gave the Northern Lights a good boost with 63.51%. Then it was on to two riders for Northern Stars; Izzy Palmer was again in good form with Gregonne Coco Chanel to score 68.22% which gave her second (and a great score to add to the team tally) in the Grade III open and then Charlotte Cundall and The Chenko Artist who were winners in the Grade IV open with 66.25%. On to the Grade Ia novice where Emma Wells and Samwise picked up a win and a healthy 67.76% for the Northern Lights team.
Fingers were freed from their gloves so the nail biting could begin with the final few classes. The Grade III novice was a great point scoring class for Wales Snowdonia with their two riders, Georgia Wilson and Julia Horton scoring 69.31% and 68.06% for first and third respectively. Then the Grade II novice and Northern Lights rider Vicky Nurcombe riding Fabrication set the nerves jangling with an outstanding 70.71% to boost the team. Denise Smith was hot on her heels with 68.92% for Wales Caledonia while Leonie Saffy and Rowan Crosby for Wales Cambrian kept their hopes alive with two good scores.
It was down to the last two classes to see who would take the top honours with things tight between day one leaders Welsh Snowdonia and Northern Stars. Natasha Adkinson and Sweet Caledonia give the Northern team a massive boost with 71.7% in the Grade Ib open while Lorna Lee couldn’t quite match it with 66.2% just to add to the tension. All eyes were focused on Jane Lisham for the Northern Stars in the Grade II open…a great test with Lordana TG gave them 68.89% - but was it enough?!
The calculators and computers furiously worked it out and the final day went to the Northern Stars with a total of 208.821 however Wales Snowdonia held the ascendancy to win over all; their day two total of 206.315 was just enough to keep them infront. After eight dressage tests apiece, just 1.622% separated the two teams. The battle for third and fourth was also a close one with Northern Lights just stealing a late few points over Wales Cambrian to take third. Finishing first and fourth is a great accomplishment by the two Welsh teams; they had the furthest to travel and with only 19 para riders registered in the region, they may be low in number, but high in talent. And what a strong performance from the Northern region - such a great battle.
A special mention to Fiona Maynard and Cocu (Grade IV novice) and Anna-Mae Cole with Trefeninon Crocus (Grade Ib novice) who both won both their tests over the two days – great results both.
The winning team each received a voucher for ten bales of Bedmax shavings, the second all received a saddle cloth from Buckaroo Equine, Vale View’s on-site saddlery and third all got vouchers from Dressage Anywhere. Congratulations to Natasha Adkinson and Izzy Palmer who both received a saddlecloth from Buckaroo for the highest percentages by a senior (71.7%) and junior (68.22%) respectively. The Wales Snowdonia team also get to keep the Pam Kings Trophy and the Marian Bach trophy for the year.
Full results – click here
Picture cap: Winning team left to right: Jules Horton, Denise Smith, Georgia Wilson and Lorna Lee
↧
Gwneud yn dda Cymru!
↧