Festival Focus - Northallerton Equestrian  21

A busy weekend for area festivals, Northallerton Equestrian (7 - 10 May) was the second of the three events to run for qualified riders to gain their place at the Petplan Equine Area Winter Championship at the end of the June. 

With some very large classes and high scoring combinations it was all down to the judges final comments on who would win the first place sash.

Petplan’s picks! 

Katherine Heslop had a good weekend on both of her horses, Spudley and Ferdy, achieving a one-two in the Intermediate I Silver with 64.61% and 64.21% retrospectively. The bay mare, who has been with Katherine for nine years, has been working at this level for three years. They are “excited to train hard and show off at the finals,” expresses Katherine. Coming third in last year’s Championships, Katherine is on top form to beat that result.  
 
In a very large Elementary Bronze class, Kate Sanderson won with Hillgarth Rachelian on 69.07%, with just over a one and a half percent. It was a very close call between the top four, with Kate also achieving a third on her other horse, Hillgarth Golden Opportunity. The nine-year-old mare, has been with Kate for only four years but has competed at this level for a number of years, recently stepping up to Medium. Known at home as ‘Elle,’ Katherine showed her pride for her on social media “Elle once again is a total wonder pony and never fails to amaze me. She has now qualified 5/5 Area Festivals over the years and qualified for the Nationals three years running.” Talking about the competition she states, “What a day, these ponies really do try their heart out for me and it’s been such an honor to have produced them both from scratch.” 
 
Someone who is over the moon to be going to Hartpury is Rachel Platt, “Somehow managed to gain 2 Golden Tickets to the Nationals at Hartpury” she states, with her horse Gracia Du Rona in the Elementary Bronze (70.25%) and Medium Bronze (65.78%). Using her social media page to express, “Gobsmacked is the word and utter elation after 5 years of grafting and patience on our journey together,” says Rachel. Starting their career together when Gracie was a four-year-old, Rachel who started back riding at thirty, fulfilled her dream of own her own dressage horse. They are looking forward to the future with aims of Advanced Medium and PSG.  
  
Northallerton Equestrian Winners 

Petplan Equine Preliminary Bronze (Section 1) 
Liz Peel and Churchill BB, 69.03% 
 
Petplan Equine Preliminary Bronze (Section 2)  
Louise Rusby and Upper Limit, 71.46% 
 
Petplan Equine Preliminary Silver  
Katie Hancock and Gralyn’s Grace, 72.57% 
  
Petplan Equine Novice Bronze (Section 1) 
Lucy Bentley and Jim Beam, 68.54% 
 
Petplan Equine Novice Bronze (Section 2) 
Deborah Suzanne Howson and Belle Dame Noir, 69.51% 
 
Petplan Equine Novice Silver 
Olivia Walker and Active Zeitgeist, 72.29% 
  
Petplan Equine Elementary Bronze  
Kate Sanderson and Hillgarth Rachelian, 69.07% 
 
Petplan Equine Elementary Silver   
Rachel Platt and Gracia Du Rona, 70.25%  
 
Petplan Equine Medium Bronze  
Rachel Platt and Gracia Du Rona, 65.78% 
  
Petplan Equine Medium Silver  
Gillian Mary Hinnigan and Donna Carlota, 66.57% 
  
Petplan Equine Advanced Medium Bronze  
Fiona Stryjewski and Devon B, 66.88% 
 
Petplan Equine Advanced Medium Silver  
Natalie Sweeney and Ruban D’Or, 66.50%  
 
Petplan Equine Prix St George Bronze 
Verity Ann Franks and Classical Challenger, 62.24% 
 
Petplan Equine Prix St George Silver 
Emma Bond and Dragos Felix, 65.59% 
 
Petplan Equine Intermediate I Bronze  
Nina Prosser and Zorro IV, 64.01%  
 
Petplan Equine Intermediate I Silver 
Katherine Heslop and Spudley, 64.61%