Indoor driving finals end in flourish

Lynne Harrington finally nailed the title that has twiceeluded her when she became 2002/3 supreme champion at the national finals of the Strongid-P Indoor Driving series at The College EC, Beds.

Driving the 16-year-old Welsh section D, Ace, whom she owns with back-stepper Sam Page, Lynne took anearly lead in precision and paces and cones in the open pony section, increased it through the first two obstacles and maintained it through the final two to win.

“He doesn’t always look as if he’s going flat out, but he really covers the ground,” said Lynne of the 14hh black pony, who has an impressive length of stride.

She went on to pay tribute to co-owner Sam, who competes Ace in ridden dressage at medium level, which has undoubtedly paid off in his driven work.

Lynne’s closest challenge came from one of the youngest of the 70 entrants competing in the finals, 14-year-old Phillipa Howe.

Phillipa, who took the 2001/2 junior and novice pony championships, repeated her junior title this year in this incredibly strong class of 15.

Her 2001/2 novice title promoted her into the open pony section this year and her final score of 162.05, to Lynne’s 158.87, gave her second place plus the reserve championship, the youngest competitor ever to claim it.

Other class winners

• Open horse: Barbara Nadin
• Pairs: Gareth Roberts
• Tandem: Minta Winn
• Novice horse: David Rockall
• Novice pony: Anna Sadler

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