Plenty of dressage variety

The EADG championship show proved that horses do not have to be bred for the job to win dressage titles. Some of the top prizes went to a Highland pony, an ex-racehorse, a show hunter and others born for roles other than dressage.

“It certainly made it an interesting day and, in fact, it is typical of our events. We encourage everyone to have a go at dressage, whatever their level,” said the show organiser Judy Bates.

Competitors had qualified for the championships at qualifying rounds organised at various venues, clubs and organisations during the previous year.

Heather Cripps with Maesmynach Darcy, a six-year-old part bred Welsh gelding that she bought as a yearling, won the preliminary championship with 66.67pc. Runner-up was Sarah Jane Cooper, from near King's Lynn, with Fun and Games, a seven-year-old thoroughbred mare, bred for eventing.

Top junior of the day was also in this class with 12-year-old Milly Rose Starke from Redgrave, near Diss, and her Welsh Section D Diamond Comet.

The novice restricted championship went to Claire Kinsley, from Holt, with her 12-year-old Highland pony Rignell Auchentoshan on a score of 68.97.

Claire has owned Tosh since he was a just-backed four-year-old and, although he has turned into a dressage star, he still lives out all of the time, unrugged and unshod. Heather Cripps and Darcy were runners-up on 64.83pc.

Open novice champion was Abi Jacobs on the 12-year-old Drake, who did his first dressage test only five months earlier, and reserve was Christina Ross, from Wisbech, with her home-bred mare Imperial Catch.

Katherine Moore and her Dutch warmblood Just Pablo took the elementary championship and the trophy for the highest score of the day with 70.34 per cent. Reserve was Claire Kinsley and Tosh. Liz Harcombe and her ex-racehorse, the 15-year-old King's Piper won the open section.

In the medium classes, Liz was again open champion with Christina Ross as reserve and the restricted section went to Abbi Stiff with the 15-year-old ID/TB Bluebridge Bertolluchi, with Katherine Moore in reserve.

Any organisers who would like to run qualifiers for the next EADG championships should contact Judy Bates on 01553 828049 or email judy.bates@lynnnews.co.uk or Matthew Flowers on MAF7569@aol.com.

t Mia Korenika, BSJA accredited coach and one of the trainers from the Only Fools on Horses celebrity showjumping TV show, will be teaching at Woodhouse Farm in Norfolk on Wednesday, October 24.

She will be holding a series of sessions, catering for all levels of ability, over a full set of showjumps on an all weather surface. For details contact Louise Bussey on 01508 571093 or e-mail to louise@woodhousefarm.com or go to Mia's website: www.miakorenika.co.uk/

t The Suffolk-based equine distance learning college, TOCES, are hosting their second Equine Science Conference this weekend following the great success of the first. Staged at Boxted Hall, near Bury, it will be of great interest to private horse owners and yard and stud managers, as well as equine science students.

The conference timetable can be downloaded from www.equinestudies.co.uk. For further information go to www.equinestudies.co.uk.

You can contact TOCES on 01787 282123 or by email to admin@equinestudies.co.uk.

t Harriet Johnson has marked her first competitive season by riding Synod Rosser, a nine-year Section C Welsh pony, to win Ridden Supreme at the RDA Show.

Harriet, 12, from Braisworth, near Eye has only had Thomas (stable name) since the spring. He was bought for her by her grandad, John Orford.

t Georgina Wales continued her fantastic year on her pony Smoking Gun by winning at both Newmarket and Kempton Park. She has qualified for the National Final of the Charles Owen Pony Racing Series at Aintree on October 27.

t Sara Campbell and Keystone Havana had a double success at Orwell Arena on Sunday, winning both the Elementary classes with scores of 65.2 and 64.64pc to qualify for the Winter Regionals to be held in March next year.