The British Eventing National Pony Championships reached an exciting finale at Belsay International Horse Trials in Northumberland today (Saturday 4 June), with Erin Jennings from Warwickshire taking this year’s title.
Competitors from across the UK headed to the North East to contest this prestigious title for young riders over the last three days. The Championship is a CCI-S 2* for ponies run as a long format; providing key experience for riders aged 16 years and under riding ponies (14.0hh – 14.2hh), especially those who would be hoping to be potential GB Pony Team members at the European Pony Championships later in the season.
Erin and Night Fury produced a lovely dressage test on Thursday to give them a score of 26.2 and leave them in second place after dressage. From then on, they put in superb jumping performances to keep a clean sheet and move up to the top spot – taking the honour of being crowned this year’s National Pony Champion.
“It had always been a dream on mine to win the National Pony Championships but to actually do it was incredible,” said Erin. “The conditions were perfect at Belsay, so it was just a matter of me doing my best and it was so rewarding to get the results I wanted.”
The top three in this year’s National Pony Championship:
1st – Erin Jennings and Night Fury
2nd – Lucy Baguley and Glencarrig Dolphin
3rd – Charlotte Cooke and Liscannor Tulira
Full results are available here.
A number of special trophies were also awarded:
The Martin Whitely Trophy, awarded to the highest climber after dressage – Pippa Royal
The Whitely Trophy, awarded to the best placed rider 14YO and under – Ella Howard
The Jane Whitely Trophy, awarded to the competitor with the best dressage score – Annabel Finston
The Project Pony Trophy for best newcomer – Ella Howard
Well done to everyone who took part in this year’s prestigious Championship.
