Festival Focus - Parwood Equestrian
We were down south for our next Winter Area Festival at Parwood Equestrian (26 – 29 January), where riders rode down the centre line in front of the judges to get top marks. See who'll be heading to the Petplan Equine Winter Area Festival Championships!
Petplan’s picks!
A brand new combination to British Dressage, Kimberley Watts and Exit Visa only started affiliated dressage in November but they quickly gained their scores in the Prelim Bronze after the first two outings. It was in the Parwood sunshine that judges Mrs Patricia Green (C), Mrs Sue Coombe-Tennant (E), Mrs Beryl Wright awarded them 70.42%, one of their best scores so far to be on top of the podium. Kimberley tells us all about her fourteen year old gelding known as Max, “He’s a thoroughbred who was too slow in training, so he had a change of career.”
“I was so nervous and excited at the same time!” Kim went onto say but with Max by her side they had a wonderful day. “He warmed up beautifully and our test was great, even if I initially forgot my first canter over X. Everyone was so friendly and helpful too.” Their highlight of the day was “Just finishing my test and feeling so proud of making it there, also standing on the podium with my sash.” They plan on moving up the levels together and aiming for the Regional Championships and the RoR Dressage series too.
Alongside her successful Novice eventing career rider, Summer Jones put on her dancing shoes for the winter with her dressage bred gelding Floris VII (Johnson x Talent). “Floris came to me having not done a lot and being very inexperienced so he has only evented for two seasons so far. We wanted to do it for some practice and competition experience for Floris,” Summer told us. Originally qualified at Novice Silver in November, it was her trainer’s idea to go out at another level, “Lizzie Murray said I should try to qualify at Elementary Silver as well, by this time I didn’t have long to qualify. I managed to do three tests in just over two weeks!”
It all paid off as they were on the podium twice at Parwood, being placed as the highest U21 rider in both the Novice and Elementary Silver on 68.40% and 68.77%. Taking through her test Summer said, “I loved the Elementary test, we’ve been working really hard on our leg yield and rein back and I was so pleased with how it all went.” They want to stay within dressage for a little while longer and hope to do some Medium tests as well as get him established at BE Novice in the next two seasons.
Parwood Equestrian Winners
Petplan Equine Winter Preliminary Bronze
Rupert Byam-Cook and Twyford Salamander, 71.11% & Kimberley Watts and Exit Visa, 70.42%
Petplan Equine Winter Preliminary Silver
Clive Hexton and Dezina Double Dip, 70.14%
Petplan Equine Winter Novice Bronze
Kirsti Gordon and Private Capitol, 66.53% & Eleanor Robinson and Boston Lucky Rose, 67.85%
Petplan Equine Winter Novice Silver
Clare Hammett and Half Moon Doblinski, 71.04%
Petplan Equine Winter Elementary Bronze
Genevieve Craven and Don Corrado, 70.10%
Petplan Equine Winter Elementary Silver
Kate Welch and Dicali OHZ, 70.44%
Petplan Equine Winter Medium Bronze
Gillian Peckham and Hero, 69.41%
Petplan Equine Winter Medium Silver
Megan Austin and Kingcarra Carrick Cruise, 67.60%
Petplan Equine Winter Advanced Medium Bronze
Lucyanna Westaway and AHI O Malley, 69.32%
Petplan Equine Winter Advanced Medium Silver
Danielle Balsdon and Lord Lennox, 68.25%
Petplan Equine Winter Prix St Georges Bronze
Danielle Balsdon and Lord Lennox, 66.81%
Petplan Equine Winter Prix St Georges Silver
Amy Elizabeth Jack and Graf HIT VH Bloemenhof, 69.95%
Petplan Equine Winter Intermediate I Bronze
Fiona Harter and Diamond X Fandi, 66.96%
Petplan Equine Winter Intermediate I Silver
Sue Brougham and Amazing VY, 70.15%