Equestrian Life – September 2014

TEAM SHEEPGATE QUALIFIES FOR NATIONAL FINALS
It’s been a busy summer for Team Sheepgate as mother and daughter made their mark at the Northern Regional Championship and Area Festival. Sarah Payne, riding her father Bruce Grant’s eight-year-old chestnut gelding Sheepgate Bommel, took the Elementary Open

Dressage Championship and secured their place at the British Dressage National Championships. Sarah admits to having a very special bond with this lovely horse that she has been riding for the last two years.

As a local Pilates teacher and specialist biomechanics coach, Sarah’s attention to detail allows her and her horse to perform at their best with a strict daily routine that is clearly benefiting this combination.

Ten-year-old Lily Payne proved that she is a force to be reckoned with despite a rather disappointing start to her Area Festival campaign, when her pony proved to be rather a handful. Riding an experienced pony in her first season of competing with him, he became rather excitable during the test which didn’t quite go to plan. Lily showed maturity beyond her years to focus her attention on the next test, though, and won the Prelim Area Festival in Yorkshire. Lily was very excited to have qualified for her first-ever Area Festival Championships in April 2015.

LOCAL RIDERS QUALIFY TOO
Rachael Grundy, riding her own eight-year-old Belgian-Dutch gelding was delighted to secure second place at the Elementary Restricted Area Festival Final, securing a ticket to the National Finals in April 2015. Rachael, a full-time civil servant, juggles her work schedule with managing her two horses that are stabled close to home, benefiting from regular training with Sarah Payne at Sheepgate. Rachael also credits her performance to Pilates and Equipilates classes that she regularly attends.

List 3A dressage judge, Alice Elliott had every reason to smile after her confident performance with her stunning seven-year-old gelding Chatsworth Chieftain, standing at 17hh. He was bred by the Duchess of Devonshire at Chatsworth House and was a visitor attraction at Chatsworth House when he was a foal.

Local instructor and livery yard owner, Jess Parr from Market Rasen kept her cool during torrential rain to gain her place in the Area Festival Winter Finals at Advanced Medium. Riding her own homebred chestnut gelding Freddie, this combination has enjoyed success throughout the levels and is looking forward to contesting advanced classes very soon.

The autumn schedule of clinics and competitions can now be found online at www.sheepgate.co.uk

Don’t miss out on the latest happenings at Sheepgate Equestrian, simply follow on Facebook. Tel: 01205 870236 / 07768 156262.

WEST YORKSHIRE RIDER SELECTED TO REPRESENT GREAT BRITIAN AT JUNIOR EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS
Kristina Hall-Jackson, from Dewsbury, was selected as a member of the 2014 Racesafe Junior squad to represent Great Britain at this summer’s Junior European Eventing Championships, held at Bishop Burton College, Yorkshire, from 14th–17th August. She was riding Judy Bradwell’s experienced campaigner Lemington Lets Dance.

Kristina has not had the easiest of seasons. She took a fall at the beginning of the year, twisting her knee. Reluctant to see a doctor, she eventually ended up having emergency keyhole surgery once it was discovered that she had snapped her anterior cruciate ligament. Within three weeks of the operation she was competing at Lincolnshire Horse Trials, and has opted to delay reconstructive surgery until the autumn.

“At the start of the season I never thought I’d be where I am now,” said Kristina. “I’m forever thankful to Judy for giving me the ride; he’s feisty and I had to get used to him, but he has done so much for me.

“It’s amazing, all of my dreams have come true, although I feel gutted for those not selected. I’m just lucky that, according to the doctors, one of the few sports I could have done with my injury is riding. It doesn’t even hurt!”

British Eventing are the national governing body for the sport in Great Britain. Eventing is a unique combination of all the disciplines of dressage, cross-country over fixed fences and showjumping in one exciting activity. It’s a sport that engages all ages and provides equal opportunities to compete. We regulate as well as schedule more than 190 events throughout Britain that cater for nearly 94,000 entries per season (Mar–Oct). British Eventing has more than 11,000 members and provides access to cater for riders from grassroots to those performing at international level.

To deliver the sport on a national basis to the highest standard, British Eventing trains hundreds of volunteers, officials, riders and technical support teams. The result is successful European medal-winning teams at Pony, Junior, Young Rider and Senior level.

In addition to supporting Equestrian Team GBR, the UK Sport funded World Class Programme also contributes to British Eventing Young Rider, Junior and Pony Teams, to help them prepare for the Championships and deliver medals.

British Eventing remains grateful for the absolute dedication and boundless energy that the HTSG put into raising funds which enable Britain to be represented at all youth levels of eventing. Visit www.htsg.co.uk for more information.

BURGHLEY DEBUT
Gina Ruck is no stranger to being at the top of her sport, having evented since the age of nine. A member of the Burton Hunt Pony Club, Gina found a love of eventing through Pony Club competitions and rose to the challenge of riding for her country.

Having been selected by British Eventing for a Talented Athletic scholarship and funding to help Gina with juggling her academic and riding skills, she was also selected for the Excel Talent programme which is funded by British Eventing World Class for recognised up and coming talent – to enable access to further training to produce medals.

In 2008–09 she was a member of the British European Pony Eventing Squad on her pony Ice Cool Bailey, bringing home a Team Gold in 2008 and Team Silver in 2009. In 2011–12 she was again selected to ride for the British Young Rider European Squad on her home produced horse Viper Priba.

Competing at Blenheim, Chatsworth and Belton 3* has seen Gina and her other home produced horse, Rehy Too rise to the challenges of the bigger cross-country tracks.

In June this year they successfully competed in the showcase of up and coming young riders at Bramham U25s 3* competition and produced the only Double Jumping Clear of the class to finish fourth. Rehy Too and Gina now head to Burghley for their first 4* Challenge in September.

Gina says: “If anyone would like to be involved in this exciting journey of Eventing and watching young horses grow into 4* winners, I would love to stay riding at the top and I have several horses to share/own or sell.” Contact Gina on 07887 505465 or gina@ginaruckeventing.com

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