Competitors revealed their talents at the Trailblazers dressage finals
Sally Fisher and Talland Camilla were fitting winners of the senior preliminary championship at the Trailblazersdressage finals at the NAC, Stoneleigh. A full-time management consultant, Sally began riding lessons just three years ago and bought Camilla a year later. The mare is by the former grand prix stallion Crown Marcasite.
Seventeen-year-old KimberleyMayes from Canterbury was convinced it had all gone wrong when she forgot the first halt. But she and the former advanced event horse Valhalla IV impressed the judges enough to win their section and then headed the ride-off to win the senior novice championship.
Two proficient tests gained more than 72% in the senior elementary championship, with Pauline Rich and Sue Muirhead’s good-looking Hanoverian Dream Dancer taking the title ahead of Lakes RC member Gill Harrison and the attractive grey Jack Frost, who is by Welton Crackerjack.
Native ponies of all sizes and breeds contested the junior classes, providing a colourful prize-winning line-up. The junior novice championship was headed by Jenny Brown and the 18-year-old Chiddock Wordsworth, who also finished second in the junior elementary.
Thirteen-year-old Mary Liversidge from Deal, Kent, second in the junior novice, went one better to take the preliminary championship with the Thoroughbred Tablets Of Stone. The 15.2hh gelding by the American sire Contract Law was originally bred for flat racing.
Three riders contested the junior elementary, all gained high percentages but Emily Duck, 13, from Newbury took the honours.
The win was a fitting tribute to her former ride Captain Pugwash who had qualified but died just before the semi-finals, leaving the family devastated. An advertisement in Horse & Hound led them to find Pancho, whom she rode to victory here. The nine-year-old Dutch-bred pony will be shared next season with Emily’s sister Zoe.
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For full report see this week’s Horse & Hound (27 September) or click here to subscribe.
