Festival Focus - Prestige Equestrian 21

The sixth fixture in a flurry of Festivals in May saw the latest group of qualified riders gain their tickets to contest the Petplan Equine Winter Area Festival Championships next month, with the competition at Prestige Equestrian (13 – 15 May) producing some standout results, familiar faces and fabulous winners.  

Petplan’s picks! 
 
Wales’ Sam Whyley made a winning return to the Area Festival arena on board his 2020 Petplan Equine Elementary Bronze champion ride Tremadoc. Having told our team at last year’s Championships that he would be aiming to step ‘Morris’ up to Advanced Medium and beyond this year, Sam proved his goals worthy with a secure test in the Advanced Medium Bronze to take the title and his qualification ticket on a score of 70.22%.

Prestige proved to be a fixture for eye-catching breeds and British natives; Lucy Turner’s Cleveland Bay Theo VIII triumphed with 70% in one of two large Preliminary Bronze classes, the successful Connemara Cnoc An Noinin Clover notched up another great result for rider Anya Hitt and the Prix St Georges Silver title belonged to Katy Applin’s part-bred Welsh Penstrumbly Abergwaun. 

Special recognition and well wishes go to Inter winners Gemma Moss and Don Dino who scored a personal best on route to their win in challenging British weather conditions. The Cheshire based rider took to social media to praise her chestnut superstar, a former ride of Abi Lyle and Charlie Hutton, saying ‘I actually patted him 15 times in this test, I was just amazed, he was so with me, every step’. The team at HQ were saddened to learn of Dino’s retirement from competition this week after sustaining a field injury; “He took me from Advanced Medium to competing Inter I and training Grand Prix, two National Championships, numerous Premier Leagues and much more,” Gemma shared, “he taught me to feel, be consistent and to ride serious power! He finished his career with a sash and on a high. Every day he gave, he’s the most beautiful soul.” 
 
Prestige Equestrian Winners 
 
Petplan Equine Preliminary Bronze (section 1) 
Lucy Turner and Theo VII, 70.63%

Petplan Equine Preliminary Bronze (section 2) 
Kerrie Fleming and Igor KR, 69.44% 

Petplan Equine Preliminary Silver 
Glen Stuart and Greenvale Cordet, 72.29% 

Petplan Equine Novice Bronze (section 1) 
Eilish Smith and Sheepcoate Jamboree, 71.25% 

Petplan Equine Novice Bronze (section 2) 
Anya Hitt and Cnoc An Noinin Clover, 69.51% 

Petplan Equine Novice Silver (section 1) 
Pauline Anne Martin and Desiree, 70.49% 

Petplan Equine Novice Silver (section 2) 
Sonja Martin and Cloherview Eddie, 69.93% 

Petplan Equine Elementary Bronze 
Victoria Gregg and Langson Governer, 69.85% 

Petplan Equine Elementary Silver 
Sasha Bird and Gladstone B, 70.39% 

Petplan Equine Medium Bronze 
Emily Dove and Epetry, 69.12% 

Petplan Equine Medium Silver 
Katherine Kneen and The Last Cavalier, 70.20%

Petplan Equine Advanced Medium Bronze 
Sam Whyley and Tremadoc, 70.13% 

Petplan Equine Advanced Medium Silver 
Lucy Goodman and Freya V, 67.99% 

Petplan Equine Prix St Georges Bronze 
Sophie Bennett and Vallon Du Rock, 65.20% 

Petplan Equine Prix St Georges Silver 
Katy Applin and Penstrumbly Abergwaun, 63.68% 

Petplan Equine Intermediate I Bronze 
Helena Charlesworth and Jukebox-Jury, 63.82% 

Petplan Equine Intermediate I Silver 
Gemma Moss and Don Dino, 67.11%