Glorious weather and grassroots competitors galore marked the final regional championship of the 2024 season, held at Little Downham, with competitors travelling far and wide in search of their golden ticket to Badminton and Bramham Championships.

Four sections of BE90 Regional Championships competitors took to the Cambridgeshire track on Saturday, with some travelling from as far as Devon and Scotland in search of the elusive championship qualification. Tina Ure’s true championship track once again ensured this wasn’t a dressage competition with a 63% cross-country jumping clear rate.

In section A it was Faith Penn and her own Erwlas Jump For Gold who took the podium top spot completing on their 28.5 dressage. Amelia Maycock and Party Popper were hot on their heels completing on 29.1 to take second.

In section B Georgina Marks was on fire to deliver the only sub 30 finishing score, completing on 27.3 with her own I’m On Fire.

Of the win Georgina commented: “I won on my homebred 6-year-old mare, I’m On Fire, in our first season eventing. I had an outside thought that maybe we’d have a go this year, so to qualify is absolutely amazing.”

Making their seven-hour journey from Devon worthwhile and securing their ticket to the Badminton Grassroots Championships was Harvey Crocker and The Night Traveller.  The pair led the dressage on a 25.5 score, to add 2.4 time faults across the country to finish second.

Section C of the Equine Products UK sponsored Regional Championships went to Emily Proud and her own HSF Lobo Royale, who completed on 30.1. It was a very close fought section with not even a time fault separating the podium placings with Rachel Fisher and Sidney Rebel taking second on 30.4, and Ivana Murphy and Nero Sunset rounding out the podium on 30.5 in third.

Emily Proud commented: “This is actually only his third ever event, so I’m really pleased to have won and qualified for Badminton, and I’m really excited to go next year. It’s been a lovely event here at Little Downham and the ground have been amazing. The course here is definitely a championship test, so I was quite nervous but it obviously paid off.”

The showjumping proved influential in Section D, seeing dressage leaders slip down the leaderboard. It was Samantha Holland that rose to the top with Petra Doolan’s Platinum Cavalier, who were one of a few to complete on their dressage score. The pair completed on a score of 30, just 0.9 ahead of Rachel Littlewood and Fiancee in second.

Samantha commented: “Winning is absolutely amazing, at the first event this year it was my aim to try and qualify for a Regional [Championship], so the fact that I’ve won it is the crème de la crème. It really is a dream come true to go to Badminton.”

With two sections of BE80 competitors all aiming to secure a ticket to Bramham, there was some fierce competition on Saturday afternoon. Rossdales sponsored Section G went to long time Little Downham supporter and volunteer Michelle Seward and Tiger Blue, who completed on their 30.9 dressage. Michelle can often be found volunteering in the information point during the event, assisting with competitor queries and ensuring visitors enjoy their day.

Organiser Tina Ure commented: “It is always good to see members of our volunteer family having success here. They all give so much of their time to help the events run, it is nice to see them compete and achieve their dreams of heading off to Championships.  We’ll all be wishing Michelle, and other qualified riders, the very best of luck for their trip to Bramham.”

Fellow volunteer and regular visitor Caroline Bridge claimed Section H, with a commanding win with her own Trinity O Really. The pair led from start to finish completing on their 26.5 dressage score.

Sunday saw two sections compete in the Childeric Saddles sponsored BE100 Regional Championships, over what competitors described as a “true championship track”.  Caroline Dyer took top honours in section K completing on the only sub-30 score as they finish on a 29.8 dressage.

In the tightly contested section L just 0.5 penalties split the podium placings, where even 1 second across the country would prove costly. In the end it was Margo Sly and Gorsehill Alamo who finished out in front on their 31.3 dressage score, just ahead of Hope Mussell and OSH Phoenix on 31.5. Rounding out the top three was Emilia Eggar and her own Wayfairer Who Dun It Again, on a score of 31.8.

RESULTS
Congratulations to all our U18 winners…

BE80 U18 open – section I
1, Archie Tunstill and Oliver Twist (42.4)
2, Noah Delicata and BMJ Chofi (77.6)

BE90 U18 open – section S
1, Frey Button and Morrigan Lewena (30.5)
2, Phoebe Horwood-Mead and Tourmakeady Jack (31.7)
3, Amber Hollingworth and xxx (32.5)

 BE100 U18 open – section O
1, Imogen Pugh and Buzz Lightyear (32.3)
2, Eve Marson and Opposition Vogue (32.5)
3, Willow Docker and Diarado’s Hit W (32.7)

Congratulations to the following riders who finished in the top three of their Regional Championship National Qualifier (RCNQ) class. These classes saw top placed riders pick up their qualifying tickets for Bramham BE80 championships and the BE90 and BE100 Badminton championships…

 BE80 RCNQ for Bramham Grassroots – section G

1, Michelle Seward and Tiger Blue (30.9)

2, Iris Burton and Honeyhill Impulse (31.9)

3, Emma Vergette and William (32.4)

BE80 RCNQ for Bramham Grassroots – section H

1, Caroline Bridge and Trinity O Really (27.3)

2, Jolie Wilkinson and Ultimate De La Houssais (33.1)

3, Jenna Harris and Boher Lass (33.1)

 BE90 RCNQ for Badminton Grassroots – section A

1, Faith Penn and Erwlas Jump For Gold (28.5)

2, Amelia Maycock and Party Popper (29.1)

3, Anna Dunford and My Spirit (30.6)

 BE90 RCNQ for Badminton Grassroots – section B

1, Georgina Marks and Im On Fire (27.3)

2, Harvey Crocker and The Night Traveller (31.9)

3, Helena Youmans and Cape Horn (32.4)

 BE90 RCNQ for Badminton Grassroots – section C

1, Emily Proud and HSF Lobo Royale (30.1)

2, Rachel Fisher and Sidney Rebel (30.4)

3, Ivana Murphy and Nero Sunset (30.5)

BE90 RCNQ for Badminton Grassroots – section D

1, Samantha Holland and Platinum Cavalier (30)

2, Rachel Littlewood and Fiancee (30.9)

3, Heidi Chilvers and Theodore Sunset (33.5)

 BE100 RCNQ for Badminton Grassroots – section K

1, Caroline Dyer and Curraghgraigue Quebec (29.8)

2, Naomi Watkins and Second General (31.9)

3, Anna Bradley and Burnlea Sea Trader (33)

BE100 RCNQ for Badminton Grassroots – section L

1, Margo Sly and Goreshill Alamo (31.3)

2, Hope Mussell and OSH Phoenix (31.5)

3, Emilia Eggar and Wayfairer Who Dun It (31.8)

To find out more, visit https://www.britisheventing.com/compete/championships/regional-champs