My Quest magic kick starts Kent & Masters Championships

Day one of the Kent & Masters Quest Championships was all about the individual competition, with the 2019 My Quest finalists taking to the arena at Bury Farm on Friday 25 October to battle it out for individual honours.

Despite the emphasis on a more informal environment for the Quest series, this went hand in hand with a high standard of competition, and a lot of talent shone through the weekend. The highest score on My Quest day belonged to the exciting up and coming partnership of Fi Grabham and Bernwode Broadway (pictured above) who won the U21 Novice Championship in emphatic style with a cracking score of 73.21%.

The East Sussex 11 year old also took third with her own Waxwing Pocket Money (69.23%) behind second placed Alice Lamburn and Leona II on 69.29%. Fi and Bernwode Broadway (by Bernwode Brokat), a 13 year old gelding owned by Sarah Steggall of the Bernwode Stud in Somerset, have enjoyed a super first summer together.

Since their competition debut in July, Fi and ‘Brucie’ have achieved consistently good results. Alongside their My Quest campaign, they’ve been contesting the Petplan Equine Area Festival series, achieving a 71%-plus score to pocket the U21 Preliminary at Parwood’s Area Festival Final in Surrey.

Talking about her fantastic Friday at Bury Farm, Fi said, “I’m so pleased with the boys, they were superstars.”

I’m so pleased with the boys, they were superstars.

Welsh duo Bryley Llewelyn and Cwmtyysswg Will continued a great 2019 by taking the U21 Prelim title. Twelve year old Bryley and her skewbald gelding, who she lovingly refers to as will.i.am, as in will.i.am of The Black Eyed Peas, scored 69.94% to take the class, adding to their Prelim title at the BD Bronze Championships at Sheepgate earlier this year.

Anne Marshall from Cheshire and her palomino Welsh part bred Matherion Gethin were unbeatable in the Open Intro – another combination to make the elusive 70%, whilst Norfolk’s Katrina Taylor claimed the Open Novice with her divine, dun Connemara pony Dancing Shadow I on a solid score of 67.95%.

Juliet Dennis of the winning Open team, Southwood Sasses, was the highest scorer of the My Quest Open classes, taking the Prelim accolades on 70.58% with Eileen O’Connor’s Fabula (pictured above). Juliet and Fabula, a nine year old Fidertanz x Sandro Hit mare, made their BD debut together only in April this year and have built up an impressive Quest record since. With their team mates they were second in the Team Quest Regional Final at Chester Hall, winning the My Quest Regional at the same event. This, their Bury Farm double, the icing on the cake.

Another big-scorer in the U21 finals was 10 year old Lily Hales-Barker who travelled from Bristol with her lovely palomino pony, Southwark Bucks Fizz, a ten year old gelding by Rotherwood Statesman. This talented duo won the U21 Intro with a 71.01%.

Congratulations to the prize-winning riders, especially the winners, and well done to everyone who took part. Thanks go to generous sponsor Kent & Masters and to host venue Bury Farm.

Results – top three:

Open
Intro
1. Anne Marshall and Matherion Gethin, 70.43%
2. Anwen Griffiths and Glynceirch Awel Teifi, 69.64%
3. Nicky Dare and King Pablo, 68.91%

Preliminary
1. Juliet Dennis and Fabula, 70.58%
2. Alice Tilley and Skip Away, 69.23%
3. Laura Lodge and RSPCA Charlie Brown, 68.72%

Novice
1. Katrina Taylor and Dancing Shadow I, 67.95%
2. Roese Spicer and Miller Gold, 66.35%
3. Chris Wilcox and Miss Ellie IV, 66.28%

U21
Intro
1. Lily Hales-Barker and Southwark Bucks Fizz, 71.01%
2. Sophia Longworth and Gwithian Percival, 70.29%
3. Paige Waring and Hampton Valley Rainbow Vale, 69.86%

Preliminary
1. Bryley Llewelyn and Cwmtyysswg Will, 69.94%
2. Ciara Mclellan and Ballastra Van De Cumul, 69.36%
3. Imogen Smith and Bochym Royal Casanova, 68.33%

Novice
1. Fi Grabham and Bernwode Broadway, 73.21%
2. Alice Lamburn and Leona II, 69.29%
3. Fi Grabham and Waxwing Pocket Money, 69.23%

Photo © Kevin Sparrow