Festival Focus - Port Royal
Port Royal Summer Area Festival showcased talented riders and amazing horse and ponies, who all danced down the centre line to smash personal best scores, to compete at their first Area Festival and to achieve the dream of qualifying for the Summer Championships.
Hannah Spencer riding Pontesford Puzzle, had an amazing top ten finish in the highly contested Novice Bronze Freestyle at Port Royal Summer Area Festival. Achieving a 66.20% from the three judges. Hannah spoke to us about why she has chosen to compete in the Area Festival series, “I have enjoyed competing in the Area festivals as it gives me a focus in training. Each test I aim to improve on, reaching for higher scores.” Encouraging others to give the Area Festivals a go, “the series is a really enjoyable competition to be involved with. I like the option of having a stay away Area Festival even if we don’t make it to the finals. I have also made some fab friends through the Area festivals.”
On the lead up to travelling to Port Royal Equestrian, Hannah and Puzzle were having regular lessons with their trainer, continuing to work towards those higher marks Hannah tells us, “we set up a long arena in the field at the yard so I could continue to practice my freestyle and ensure I’m on my music! We aim to train two days a week then we hack the rest but the week before we trained three times.”
Looking back on the success of her Summer Area Festival, Hannah describes some of her favourite moments of their test, “highlights of my test were getting a beautiful first halt, which scored a 8. But the main highlight was that we both enjoyed it. There were a few things I wish I rode differently on reflection but couldn’t be prouder of my 22-year-old section D.”
“Back in 2014, I was thrilled to own my first pony at the age of 28. I never dreamed that we would have been competing at British Dressage and unaffiliated eventing” Hannah explains, “during 2014, we enjoyed pleasure of owning a horse. Our love for competing begin after a yard dressage day in the autumn of 2014. By the end of 2015 we had joined British Dressage on the club membership. In 2016, we competed in the British Dressage My Quest season, we were the My Quest Senior regional Intro champion at Beaver Hall Equestrian Centre then we were placed 9th at the Quest National championships at Bury Farm in Autumn 2016.”
Hannah and Puzzle have been on an incredible journey, and continued to progress and enjoy dressage, “post covid, we competed in the British Dressage Associated Championships at Vale View Equestrian for the first time, were we competed in the Veteran horse 15 – 19 Novice class we were placed in the top 15. Now to 2023, this was the year we started our Dressage to Music journey.” Hannah wanted her music to be “bold and theatrical” created by Equidance Hannah tells us, “our music builds the suspense! Hoping that it keeps the judges happy.”
Looking towards continuing their dressage journey, Hannah and Puzzle are hoping to keep improving their Novice scores, but also, “I’d love to tweak the floor plan so I can do an elementary level, next summer season” Hannah shares.
Lauren Crowe had three amazing top five finishes on her two geldings! Riding Randale Legacy to fourth place in the Medium Bronze class, with a score of 64.95%. As well has lovely Scout finishing Second in the Medium Bronze on 66.08% and fifth place in the Elementary Silver, after receiving her highest score of 66.52%.
Having started competing in the Area Festival series back in 2018 after changing disciplines from Showjumping, Lauren has never looked back. “I love the energy you feel at Area Festivals, everyone comes together and supports each other and it is a great opportunity for hard working amateur riders to compete on the bigger stage and get that championship feel!”
Looking back on her experience at Port Royal Equestrian Lauren tells us, “I had a brilliant time at Port Royal, it is one of my favourite venues, the staff are so friendly and supportive and it is always ran so smoothly even when we had to deal with strong winds on the day!” Describing her tests Lauren explains, “my tests went really well, being first and last in the class I didn’t get a chance to see any other combinations so I didn’t know what was going on with scores but I was so happy with how both of my boys performed and tried so hard for me.”
Despite achieving a great result Lauren reflects, “there is still plenty for us to work on at this level! I could not have been prouder to have them both finish in the top 5! I feel lucky to have worked our way up through the series from prelim and to now be competing at medium level which I didn’t think was possible a year ago.” Taking the time to thank those who have help Lauren achieve these results, Lauren tells us, “I’ve had brilliant support over the years and my coach List 4 judge David Lannon has pushed me to believe in myself and realise what we can achieve, it’s a special feeling when hard work pays off!”
Sharing with us how important both of the horses are to her, “Scout (Smudge) is now 18 so every time out I feel blessed to still have him as my dancing partner, although I’m sure he still thinks he’s 5!” The two of them have been on an incredible journey together over numerous years, “I got him as a feral three-year-old from a local dealer so we have learnt so much together over the years and he has been my absolute horse of a lifetime turning his hoof to everything I have asked of him.”
Despite Lauren telling us that Smudge “is not built for dressage” he is an amazing example of how the smallest of horses can have the biggest of hearts, “he always tries so hard for me!” Lauren and Smudge have also competed at the Area Festival Championships at every level from Prelim, and in October it will be their first time at Medium, “he’s just so cute and cheeky I can’t wait to dance at Arena UK with him!”
Randale Legacy otherwise known as “Leggy” Lauren brought eight years ago from a family friend, originally as a showjumper. “When I decided to change discipline he struggled with the transition but after many years of training and patience it feels so special that it is all coming together and he absolutely loves his dressage now!” Their dressage journey has been one to be proud of, “we’ve gone from finishing bottom of the pack at Area Festivals to now finish fourth at Medium level so he has came so far, very excited about the future with him!”
Currently Lauren plans on working hard ahead of the Championships and also getting her scores at Medium for the Winter Area Festivals, also Lauren is potentially aiming to qualify Leggy at advanced medium too! “It’s hard trying to juggle a work life balance, but I just love this whole learning journey and it is amazing to be rewarded by qualifying for Area festivals and getting to experience the excitement that comes with it, seeing so many friends doing so well too and making new ones!”