Success for local riders

The ‘Championships of Great Britain’ are the flag ship shows for the David Broome Event Centre and fully represent the Cricklands’ maxim, “The Gateway of Opportunity”. They run them for Dressage, Jumping and Eventing. The recent unaffiliated dressage championships were well attended with 1,042 tests being ridden over three days. Some of the sections within the Albion Saddlery-sponsored Dressage Championships had to be split into two sections and organisers awarded rosettes and medals for each in recognition of the riders’ achievements.

Chantelle Symonds from Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire, took home the Prelim 4 and 7 (Section A) and the Prelim 15 and 19 Dressage Championships held at Cricklands recently. Riding Stadmorslows Coffee ‘n’ Cream she top-scored in both heats of each Championship to win comfortably.

Erin Cullimore

Leominster’s Erin Cullimore (see more below) also top-scored in both her heats of the Prelim 4 and 7 (Section B) to take the Championship on board Tally Ho Toby while in the Under 16 Prelim 4 and 7, Shannon Roberts-Steel’s journey up from Bournemouth made it worthwhile by taking the coveted title on Darcy II; she had the tightest finish of all, winning with an overall lead of just 0.32.

Riding Monty, an equal second place and a first in her two heats gave Kathryn Orford from Bromsgrove the advantage in the Prelim 12 and 18 (Section A) while in Section B,  third and first place was enough for Kim Parker (Barnstaple, North Devon) to win on AC Muffalump.

Ffion Evans had a short trip up from Whitland in Cardiff for her Novice 24 and 27 Championship on Glyn Coch Red Rascal; she recovered from a sixth place in the first heat to win the second well ahead of her rivals.

Emma Hall’s win in the Novice 35 and 37 was much closer. Riding Dark Destroyer, Emma, from Kent, was just ahead in the first heat and then tied for first place in the second, giving her an overall advantage of 0.71.

Georgia Herbert, riding the aptly-named Megastar took the Elementary 42 and 44 Championship back home to Llanelli after top-scoring in both heats.

Full results are available on: www.cricklands.com

Herefordshire’s Kingsland based rider, Erin Cullimore, and her pony, Tally Ho Toby, had qualified for the Championships on only their second attempt at dressage.

“As the time approached we realised we didn’t have any of the correct gear as we normally show jump,” said Erin.

Help was at hand, however, in the form of Sarah Leyton from Ivington, who lent the pair a dressage saddle. Erin’s trainer, Sarah French from Kingsland Equestrian Services, lent her a dressage coat and boots, as well as training her in the run up to the weekend.

Hereford based Equitak, who sponsor Erin, supplied some extra ‘bling’ and essential items, and family friends looked after the other horses left at home.

“I couldn’t believe how good Toby was,” said Erin. “We came third in the first warm up and won the second one. The heats for the Championship were held in the main arena. It felt like being at the Olympics! Toby performed like a true professional and we won both heats meaning we took gold for our class.”

“I’d like to thank everyone who helped me,” said Erin “ I really couldn’t have done it without them. It was a real team effort.”