It was a busy event for Hopetoun (2) who hosted two open regional championship classes at British Eventing (BE)90 and 100 level, as well as five regional championship national qualifier classes; one at BE80, three at BE90 and one at BE100 level.
The BE80 qualifier saw riders aiming for the Bramham grassroots championship, while the BE90 and 100 riders had Badminton grassroots championships firmly in their sights.
A super double clear saw Caitlin Padfield and Frances Johnstone’s 13-year-old Kroongraaf mare Diamondgraaf Reign Dance crowned BE90 regional champions.
“She is a new ride for me – this was only the third event I’ve done with her and only her third BE90, so she was awesome,” said Caitlin. “The course was definitely a bit tougher and trickier – we’ve been thinking of moving her up to BE100 so it was good to see what she was like over a more technical track and test her a bit. She jumped beautifully both cross country and in the show jumping. Big shout out to Kick On Events who did a brilliant job of running the event.”
Of the regional championships, Caitlin added: “I think they’re a really nice inclusion, and for me, I like the open sections because as a higher level rider, it still means I can give the owners the opportunity to be successful with their grassroots horses, which is really nice. It was good to have a championship at grassroots level that I can take the young horses to and expose them to more technical courses and a longer dressage test.”
It was Eloise Plant who earned the BE100 Regional Championship title. Riding her 21-year-old mare Hearne Lass by Ricardo Z, Eloise kick-started her campaign with a 30.9 dressage followed by just four faults show jumping and a super clear cross country to finish on a winning score of 34.9.
Overall winner of the three BE90 regional national qualifying classes was Jessica Northcott (pictured above) and her own 12-year-old gelding Darcy whose double clear saw them finish on their 27.8 dressage for the win.
“It was a personal best dressage for us which was amazing and a great clear cross country, so I’m delighted,” said Jessica.
RESULTS
BE100 open regional championship – section X
1, Eloise Plant and Hearne Lass (34.90)
2, Caitlin Padfield and Cyenet (37.7)
3, Cara Galt and Spirit of the Wind (41.3)
BE90 open regional championship – section S
1, Caitlin Padfield and Diamondgraaf Reign Dance (31.6)
2, Persia Bhatia and Molly XIII (33.1)
3, Emma Fletcher and Strike It Lucky (33.6)
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 (10% of starters) pick up their qualifying tickets for Bramham BE80 championships and the BE90 and BE100 Badminton championships…
BE80 RCNQ for Bramham Grassroots – section Y
1, Helen White and PS I’m Jack (30.6)
2, Katie Kay and Four Leaf Clover (31.8)
3, Anna Matthews and Lyra (33.7)
BE90 RCNQ for Badminton Grassroots – section P
1, Lauren Oag and Candy Reign (30.7)
2, Lorna Mckechnie and Avoca Cooley (31.9)
3, Lizzie Somerville and Splash and Dash III (32)
BE90 RCNQ for Badminton Grassroots – section Q
1, Jessica Northcott and Darcy (27.8)
2, Maddie Oliver and Cappnahana Rebel (28.7)
3, Pebbles Walker and Tino II (32.9)
BE90 RCNQ for Badminton Grassroots – section R
1, Sharon Christie Thom and Chippendale Vivaldi (30)
2, Rose Reid and Surefly Landarco (30)
3, Katie Aitchison and Glenacolly Atlantic Dungeon (31.1)
BE100 RCNQ for Badminton Grassroots – section W
1, Kate Pattinson and Even Sarco (31.20)
2, Niamh Richardson and Cartown Bonny Bell (35)
3, Louise Doherty and Playing It Cooley (35.3)
British Eventing’s Regional Championships not only provide eligible BE members the opportunity to pick up a prized ticket to ride at the NAF Five Star BE80 Championships at Bramham and the Voltaire Design BE90 and BE100 Championships at Badminton, but they also give BE members, including those competing up to BE100 on horses that aren’t eligible to compete at Bramham and Badminton, the chance to aim for a championship and be crowned regional champion.
Up and coming 2023 Regional Championships dates are as follows:
- Frickley Park, South Yorkshire – 18-20 August
- Chillington Hall, Staffordshire – 9-10 September
- Little Downham, Cambridgeshire – 30 September – 1 October
To find out more, visit https://www.britisheventing.com/compete/championships/regional-champs
Images courtesy of Action Replay Photography
