New faces crowned BE80(T) champions
British Eventing crowned 3 new BE80(T) champions in Leicestershire last weekend (28 September 2013).
For a 3rd consecutive year the EquestrianClearance.com British Riding Clubs Championships were held at Brooksby Melton College Horse Trials.
The series, which is aimed at riders and horses at the foundation level of the sport, has become so popular that this year an extra section had to be added.
Section A
Birthday girl Julia Woods, 52, from Newmarket won Section A riding her own and Kate Simmons’ St Flannans Aodhan.
Julia, who is a St Edmunds Riding Club member, had to fight off some young competition as 12-year-old Bizzy Loffat finished just one penalty behind her.
“He went fantastically well and did a really nice dressage test. We often struggle with the time in the cross-country phase, but he flew round today,” Julia said.
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“It is also a great way to celebrate my birthday; we will definitely be partying this evening!”
Section B
Natasha Dayment, a member of Holworthy and District Riding Club, piloted her own coloured mare Hatheru Cappuccino to victory in this section of the championships.
The pair jumped double clear and completed on their dressage mark of 35 — with just 2.5 penalties separating them from the 2nd placed combination.
The 30 year old Devon-based rider said: “I’ve had Coco since she was a 2-year-old.
“We had a very long journey to get here all the way from Devon. We even considered giving it a miss, but we are definitely glad we came and the journey home will not seem so long!”
Section C
The final section was won by podiatrist Natasha Miller from the Holmfirth Riding Club, on the grey Irish-bred gelding Villa Billy.
“He [Villa Billy] has done working hunter classes before and loves his jumping whilst I love dressage so we seem to work well together,” Natasha said.
“I am now inspired to step up a level to BE90 next year now.”
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Sophia Heath joined Horse & Hound in July 2013 having previously worked for the Daily Telegraph's Olympics website, CNN International and Omnisport. A Durham graduate with a Masters in journalism from City University, Sophia has evented, showjumped and hunted. Sophia left Horse & Hound in early 2015 to join an international boating website.