Author Archives: al

Less than a week to go til the East Cheshire Summer Games on Sunday 20th May! The combined training is now full, though a wait list is being held and you can still enter the show jumping. Contact Gemma Kippen (07887 547082) to get your entries in. Times will be available on the website from Thursday May 17th.

On September 18^th the newly formed ECCTG Endurance Riding Team, the “Cheshire Challengers” took part in the Endurance GB Riding Clubs Team Event Final over 33kms (20.5 miles) at The College Equestrian Centre near Bedford. Our squad of four riders, myself, Jane Wyatt, Sue Williams & Marjory Higgs, had qualified at the Wirral Ride in July with the leading score in our area thus making us determined to contest the final. Sadly Marjory lacked the time to maintain her horse’s fitness due to family commitments but as three riders counted for a team the rest of us decided to go anyway.

The venue was at a very smart equestrian centre with excellent facilities. After heavy overnight rain, the day of the ride dawned fine & breezy giving near perfect conditions. The course was a flat circular route with marvellous going almost entirely off road on fields & bridleways. Jane was heard to remark on several occasions that she had never cantered for such a long distance before! The horses all went well together & we maintained a steady pace of over 13 kph (8 mph) throughout giving us time to walk in calmly at the finish. Success in endurance riding depends not only on a good riding speed & a sound horse but also on the final pulse rate which needs to be low. Generally the fitter the horse the lower the pulse, but often outside influences come into play to upset this. Fortunately all our horses were calm & vetted well with excellent pulse rates. As we had ridden at the optimum speed we were delighted & dared to hope our chances could be good.

As we gathered in the indoor school for the prize giving tension was mounting as awards were given from 6^th place in reverse order. As we had not been mentioned by 3^rd place we began to realise that we had either done very well indeed or come nowhere. We were announced in 2nd place which at our first attempt was amazing. The winners were Delamere Forest giving Cheshire riding clubs the two top spots out of twelve teams from across the country. Now the East Cheshire Combined Training group is definitely on the endurance riding map!

Pat Guerin

All competitors and supporters (a huge number) arrived safely on the Friday evening in time for a very social evening under the stars (and gazebos).

Saturday morning dawned bright and dry. The open dressage team Darren Jessop, Elaine Sutcliffe, Amy Lennon and Iestyn Lewis did their tests in the morning and finished eighth overall. Elaine was individual 3^rd in her arena. Darren’s and Amy’s marks were over 60% but they were just out of the rosettes in their respective arenas.

Iestyn finished 5^th in his arena as part of the team but as an individual he won the medium championship, and was presented with lots of goodies from NAF and a sash. Well done that man (and horse)!

Nicky Toomer won the elementary individual championship, congratulations to her; one better than last year – her picture riding Littleworth Squashes (Harry to you and me) graced the front cover of the programme!

The riding test team – Sarah Spearing, Amy, Darren and Nicky – were unplaced.

Brook Butler rode as an individual in the preliminary class scored over 60% but was not in the top ten. They had a busy day as they jumped with the Novice team as well!

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE COMPETITORS AND MANY THANKS TO ALL THE HELPERS.

Juliet Foden

The Friday night party was ‘mega’ – the biggest yet! All arrived safely although Jocelyn Gleave was a bit later than most – but made up for it later – read on!
Our ‘novice’ team got off to a great start by finishing the first round on a zero score and although things weren’t quite so good second time around, we still finished on a highly respectable score of 20 – only just out of the top 10 in a very strong class. Well done to Christine Guildford, Tory Rigby, Brook Butler and Jane Swann.

Not wishing to be outdone, the ‘intermediates’ also finished the first round in equal first place with 2 other teams all on 4 faults.

The second round was truly nail-biting with Jocelyn Gleave and Lauren Murphy achieving ‘double clears’ and Vicky Jones and Ellie Miller both going well to enable us to finish on a total of 8 faults and win the team championship without the need for a jump off!!!

Jocelyn and Lauren were thus also up for individual honours – and what a competition that was!

The jump off rounds got progressively faster with no clears and Lauren then took the lead with 2 to go with one of the quickest rounds we’ve ever seen but at the expense of 1 down. The next competitor chanced her arm with a slow steady clear and took the lead. And so it was all down to Jocelyn as the last to go and she did it!!! You could have heard the cheers back in Cheshire as she sailed over the last to win with a speedy clear.

It was a privilege to be part of a very special day for the club and I would urge anyone to try out for the teams and hopefully experience something extra special – it was fabulous!”

Gwen

The club had an excellent, albeit a long day.
Team “B” won, so we are off to Hartbury College on Saturday April 5^th!

The team consisted of Debbie Round on a sparkling in every way Oscar, who was 3^rd in her class. Jean Spearing (Cinderella is going to the ball), on Solly was 2^nd in her section. Jo Whipp on Lady was, unfortunately, only 10th on this occasion, but are always worthy and reliable team members. Elaine Sutcliffe on Wulfie was 3^rd in her class. Wulfie will be unable to go to Hartbury as he is competing at Weston Park horse Trials with Brook Staples that week-end.

Our “A” team were 2^nd by only one point. Karen Watson on Billie was 7^th, but always consistent. Carol Graham on Sergeant Pepper, who very uncharacteristically “threw his toys out of the pram” so was unplaced.

Dereth Bonell on Admiral was equal 1^st. Julia Willan on Ulfrid also 1^st in her section. The first time for both representing the Club! Unfortunately there is no individual championship in the winter otherwise they would go to Hartbury in their own right.

Well done to everyone!!

Juliet Foden (Chef d’ Equipe)

PS I hope this will inspire more members to apply for the Area Summer Dressage Teams at Prelim. , Novice,  Elementary and even Medium levels plus Riding Tests for non dressage minded folk!