A Kent riding club is enjoying delayed celebrations after being crowned British Riding Clubs open showjumping champions for 2012 — six months after the competition was held.
Maidstone and District Riding Club was declared the winner following the demotion of Downshire Riding Club, after one of its horses tested positive for the prohibited substance bute.
“Although we are sad for the other team, we are thrilled to be promoted [from second place] and it has definitely spurred everyone on for the 2013 season,” Jo Cottee, chairman of Maidstone and District, told H&H.
The substance was found in Laura McCann’s horse Audrey after random drug tests were conducted at the championships (15-16 September 2012), at Lincolnshire Showground.
Downshire Riding Club did not wish to comment.
Trophies were presented to the new winners by their president Peggy Skinner, at a ceremony held on 17 March at Findon Stud near Ashford.
This news story was first published in Horse & Hound magazine (11 April 2013)
