Festival Focus - Aintree International
Kicking off February was Aintree International (1 – 5 February) where riders rode their way around the spectacular indoor arena to try and win the judges over. With 22 tickets up for grabs for the Petplan Equine Winter Area Festival Championships, see who topped the podium!
Petplan’s picks!
Working their way up from competing in the Saracen Horse Feeds Team Quest competitions, Bethany Lee and her pony Creevagh Hannah blew the judges away with 72.85% in the Novice Bronze, with over 3% between them and second place. The nine year old mare also took home the Prelim Bronze title at the Petplan Equine Winter Area Festival Championships in 2021 with a similar score where Bethany said, “It was a really nice atmosphere everyone was really friendly, the whole day was lovely and it’s was great fun.”
Having brought Zara, as she know at home, five years ago from Andrew Heffernan they pair have also competed at British Eventing, “She had just come in from Ireland as a four year and I’ve produced her for a few years now. I mainly event but a couple of years ago I decided to join BD and I’ve really enjoyed it. We’ll carry on and keep working up, I think she’s quite talented.” The pair will be making their way back to Hartpury to try and add another title to their record.
“I really enjoyed the area festival vibe, very professional and supportive. Aintree is a fabulous venue, and the mounted prizing giving was a real occasion,” Amy Dixson told us about her Petplan Equine Area Festival experience. Training weekly with Melanie Turner to work on Goodluck II’s anxiety, ”I was really pleased with the test, because he is anxious it affects his relaxation but he really tired his best on Saturday.”
Top of the podium with 70.14% out of a split class of over 50 competitors Amy celebrated with Ronnie (Goodluck II) “He knew he’d been a good boy.” Working full time in the family café business in the Lake District, riding horses has been a hobby since she was three years old. Buying Ronnie as an unbroken four year old from Holland Amy knew he was the one, “I loved him as soon as I saw the advert. I remember the day he arrived off the transporter, thinking ‘omg I’ve bought a pony’!”
“He looked about 14.2hh and was so weak, he took a long time to grown and mature in body strength, so he didn’t really do much the first few years of ridden life.” They also get out eventing at grassroots level and have qualified to gallop around the BE90 at Badminton. Having success on a previous horse at BE, which Amy lost last year, it’s been a difficult time for the both of them, “Toga was a great nanny to Ronnie in his early years. He is a very sensitive nervous soul and I think Toga really helped his confidence, especially as a young horse, so it’s not been an easy 6 month for him.” They have a busy spring as Badminton is just two weeks before Hartpury but they’ll both take it in their stride.
Long list Pony rider for the FEI Dressage European Championships later this year, Fleur Pocock and her own Brouwershaven’s Jasper were the winners in the Medium Bronze class. The eleven year old gelding has only been with Fleur for just over six months and this is their first win together. Fleur took to social media to say, “This pony just keeps making my dreams come true everyday. Jasper loves pointing his toes!” Fleur has worked her way up from Saracen Horse Feeds Quest to High Profile shows and is also a Foundation Academy athlete, competing regularly in the North and West region.
It’s Helena Lea and Linfirefly’s first year at British Dressage, after signing up on a Winter Membership. “We wanted something to do between the eventing seasons and to aim for,” Helena told us, “When we qualified, I was very excited to have the chance to ride in a bit of a bigger atmosphere.” They came up with the goal of just remembering the Prelim Bronze test, “I’d never ridden in a 60 x 20 arena before!” However, they topped the leader board with 71.46%, “I never expected to be in the top ten never mind wining.” The pair also came third in the Novice Bronze after they were pipped to the post in the last few riders after leading all day.
“When Sunday came and I was sat in first place, I didn’t want to get my hopes up until the final results were announced. I was very nervous walking round the warm up waiting for the mounted presentation and the results to be announced,” Helena said. Linfirefly, the thirteen year old mare was very excited to be attending her first mounted dressage prize giving, “Fly was quite eager to do her lap of honour - which she definitely deserved.” They both loved the experience and Helena is excited about their partnership, “I am very proud after the months of hard work and no matter the placings over the weekend, I knew I was bringing the best horse home!” They’ll be making the trip to Hartpury but before that they’ll be getting back out on the eventing circuit.
Aintree International Winners
Petplan Equine Winter Preliminary Bronze
Helena Lea and Linfirefly, 71.46 % & Clare Aldridge and Robbie’s Boy, 69.31 %
Petplan Equine Winter Preliminary Silver
Hannah Dickinson and Faraday, 70.41 %
Petplan Equine Winter Novice Bronze
Bethany Lee and Creevagh Hannah, 72.85 %
Petplan Equine Winter Novice Silver
Amy Dixon and Goodluck II, 70.14 % & Laura Gibson and Net De Treve, 69.03 %
Petplan Equine Winter Elementary Bronze
Alison Jane Ball and Jaguar Texel, 69.95 %
Petplan Equine Winter Elementary Silver
Cathy Taylor and Al Pacino Q, 68.92 %
Petplan Equine Winter Medium Bronze
Fleur Pocock and Brouwershaven’s Jasper, 68.87 %
Petplan Equine Winter Medium Silver
Isabelle Maughan and SI Sento, 68.24 %
Petplan Equine Winter Advanced Medium Bronze
Lucy Taylor and Delfino, 67.31 %
Petplan Equine Winter Advanced Medium Silver
Jennifer Harkness and Inouk, 68.08 %
Petplan Equine Winter Prix St Georges Bronze
Fiona Clair Newall and Fendy VCG, 63.87 %