The final British Eventing (BE) Regional Championships of the season was held at Childeric Saddles Little Downham last weekend, seeing the last remaining open regional championship titles and qualifying tickets awarded.
In the National Qualifiers, the BE80 qualifier saw riders aiming for the Bramham grassroots championship, while the BE90 and 100 riders were aiming for the Badminton grassroot championships.
The Little Downham team now had a quick turnaround from Tuesday’s international fixture to the final Regional Championship fixture of the year last weekend.
The event welcomed competitors from all corners of the country, with some travelling for several days to compete. One competitor had travelled from the Isle of Man on Tuesday and had stayed in several locations on-route to the event. Others had travelled from the Isle of Wight, north of Glasgow, Cornwall and Wales. A true testament to the event and the determination of riders to achieve their Badminton and Bramham dreams.
Lucy Jowett was one such competitor travelling across the country to compete. Leaving home in Pembrokeshire two days prior, their journey took them via Solihull, and finally being the first competitors to arrive at the Ely venue on Friday morning.
“We turned up so early, having travelled from Pembrokeshire and stopped overnight in Solihull to attend the BE80 regional final. Tina Ure was more than accommodating and showed us the best place to park, put up our tent and rest our horse’s legs – we don’t do things easily! The course was amazing – usually walked twice but needed three times!”
The eight hour return journey was made worth is as Lucy and ‘Lily’ topped Section Q the BE80 RCNQ, confirming their place at the BE80 Championships held at Bramham next June.
Praise from the competitors flooded in across social media, with one rider claiming the beautifully dressed course was “more like a mini-Burghley than any other Regional Championship” they had visited.
Despite being the smallest venue on the British Eventing calendar, Little Downham’s Tina Ure had designed no less than seven separate courses for the weekend, with each Championship class having a separate track to their standard equivalent. This came in addition to the three courses that featured in the international event three days prior.
“We wanted to create a true Championship event”, said organiser Tina Ure, “one that prepared the competitors for Badminton and Bramham and made them feel like they had achieved something. We’re certainly not known for being a dressage competition!”
BE90 Regional Champion, Jo Mair, took to social media to share her delight in her win, exclaiming, “our toughest cross-country round to date”.
Congratulations to all our winners and qualifiers…
RESULTS
BE80 U18 open – section N
1, Edith Dornan and Little Black Shadow (31.2)
2, Harry Woodfield and Brookshill Roany (41.7)
3, Imogen Tooley and Prince Diamond (47.2)
BE90 U18 open – section I
1, Amelia Hughes and My Noble Valentine (32.1)
2, Sophia Waterer and Coolvaun AB Fab (34.3)
3, Harry Orr and Zuperlative (34.4)
BE100 U18 open – section R
1, George Howard and Hawksworth (27.4)
2, Poppy Mcdonald and Don John (28)
3, Charlotte Uden and Fourfields Arctic Cruise (31)
BE80 open regional championship – section L
1, Beth Wood and Shankill Jessie (35.5)
BE90 open regional championship – section E
1, Jo Mair and Kilbrien Chris (36.2)
2, Alice Norman and Akindofmagik II (38)
3, Helen Bell and Rathnageera Casino Royal (59.4)
BE100 open regional championship – section U
1, Lucy Shrimpton and RCA Romeo (29.7)
2, Paula Dewsbury and Cavatina Rose (32)
3, Olivia Fox-Pitt and Violetta II (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 J
1, Lucy Jowett and Lilly (28)
2, Sarah Watkins and Teeveeny Flagmount (32)
3, Georgia Henderson and Massachusetts (32.5)
BE80 RCNQ for Bramham Grassroots – section K
1, Clare Chappelhow and IBN Sushi (29.5)
2, Sophie Palmer and Moylaw Alawhatsit (30.6)
3, Michelle Seward and Tiger Blue (34.6)
BE90 RCNQ for Badminton Grassroots – section A
1, Caroline Davies and Happy H (28.3)
2, Sue Parkes and Spink Buster (29)
3, Sophie Isaacs and Shanbally Duffy (29.8)
BE90 RCNQ for Badminton Grassroots – section B
1, Nicole Sheldrake and Princess Oonzigh (29.3)
2, Tanya Viol Kennystown Master (29.8)
3, Holly Bradshaw and Watermill Diamond (31.3)
BE90 RCNQ for Badminton Grassroots – section C
1, Mary Goodridge and Quickstep III (30.8)
2, Abigail Kerridge and Chelsea Showcase (31.4)
3, Sophie Sadler and Joe’s High Flyer (31.4)
BE90 RCNQ for Badminton Grassroots – section D
1, Martin Wright and Mednight Lane (27)
2, Daniel Baker and Blackwoodland Jester (30)
3, Meg Adams and Forth Mountain (32.2)
BE100 RCNQ for Badminton Grassroots – section S
1, Margo Sly and Gorsehill Alamo (25.6)
2, Donna Mcgettigan and Easy Tiger V (29.4)
3, Emma Pine and Baile Na Croise (30.3)
BE100 RCNQ for Badminton Grassroots – section T
1, Beth Hobden and Kavanagh (32.6)
2, Sonia Wiles and Harrijen Murphy (34.4)
3, Kelsey Love and Ballyengland Midsummer (36.3)
We look forward to welcoming you to the regional championships in 2024. Watch this space for next year’s dates and venues.
To find out more, visit https://www.britisheventing.com/compete/championships/regional-champs
