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The Welsh Pony and Cob
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NPS/TopSpec Dressage Championships 2009 |
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The Welsh Pony and Cob
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NPS/TopSpec Dressage Championships 2009 |
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The second NPS/TopSpec Dressage Championships - the only Dressage event specifically for British bred ponies - run by the NPS Dressage Working Group saw entries double with a quality field travelling to the immaculate facilities of Addington Manor Equestrian Centre in Buckinghamshire from all over the UK. Two British Dressage Preliminary & Novice Tests are used for this competition Final run for registered Native, Part Bred Natives and British Riding Ponies plus the addition of a Junior section. Fine weather helped make the show a real showcase for British Performance Pony breeding with well produced examples of all the UK's native breeds, the British Riding Pony and Part Breds performing to a very competitive standard.  Sunglow Lady Paula [Dales], Tynycae Sand Martin [Part Bred Welsh] and Sunwillow Gundegai [Welsh Section A] The 2008 NPS/TopSpec Supreme Dressage Champion twelve year old Beckie Edwards from Henley-on -Thames retained her British Riding Pony titles riding her 138cm bay mare Stanley Grange Revelation by the previous HOYS Supreme In Hand champion Copybush Catchphrase. This quality pony stood Champion at Surrey County last season and Supreme Show Pony at the 2005 BSPS Summer Championships. "Syd" as she is known at home turned her toe to her new sport achieving scores of 69% in the British Riding Pony Prelim Final and 73.9% in the Novice Test. Standing second to her in Prelim 7 was the Hampshire based Lane family's homebred Northlands Main Lane who qualified at the NPS Summer Championships with Abbie Garbitt. Erimus Matchmaker bred by the De Quincey family from Sussex and ridden by Georgie Toole collected second place in the Novice 27 test ahead of Rosie Hughes-Smith and Rambling Fairy Magic who were third in both Finals. The Sandbourne Royal Ensign daughter Rambling Fairy Magic has a good record in dressage classes and has been a valuable member of the VWH Branch of the Pony Club team. Part Breds were thin on the ground last year and whilst there still remains room for growth more horses & ponies qualified this time. Taking both Championships with scores of 71% and 76% was the reigning Veteran Horse Society Supreme Champion Part Bred Welsh pony Murram Park Phantom bred in Australia and by Rotherwood Footlight. Murram Park Phantom is ridden by Kent based Kate Marfleet who refused to leave him behind when her family returned to the UK two years ago. "Phanty" competed in dressage for his State team and since returning to the UK has joined the FEI pony ranks. Taking second place in the Prelim and third place in the Novice was Laura O'Connor's Part Bred Connemara Caraun Lord Arthur [by Caraun Atlantic Jewel] who fought out the ribbons with Becky Edwards Irish bred 143cm SHP Knockreigh Mistletoe who is of Part Bred Welsh ancestry with Sarnua breeding in his lineage. Native sections saw huge numbers forward which kept judges and spectators glued to their seats all day. The NPS/TopSpec competition is judged throughout its stages by British Dressage panel judges who were delighted with the standard of tests ridden. They stated the combinations forward in all sections of the competition were worthy of gaining affiliated BD competiton points and should be encouraged to do so. They felt that the competition was unique and praised it for supporting the breeding of British bred competition horses and ponies. They felt it illustrated the versatility of the UK's breeds and gave ponies a chance to prove their ability. Jennie Loriston-Clark's view that UK breeders are breeding very good moving ponies was again highlighted. Taking first place amongst a field of twent four good M&M ponies not exceeding 138cm was the dapple grey Welsh Section B gelding Boreton Cerdin [Eyarth Tayma x Balfour Catrin] ridden by accomplished Somerset based WHP jockey Emily Proud a member of the Wyle Valley Branch of the Pony Club. Emily purchased her pony as a two year old at Fayre Oaks Sale and has brought him on herself. Emily won her section on a score of 69.5% ahead of Hampshire based Natasha Smith riding her New Forest pony Wayland Crescendo [Wayland Cranberry x Peveril Pirouette II] who was a member of the 2008 Riding Club Championships winning team and more recently stood champion of the 2009 Sparsholt College Winter Unaffiliated Dressage series. Crescendo also worked into third place in the Novice Final. Third place in the Prelim went to Sarah Gorman riding last year's grey Dartmoor hero Mr Mufti who moved on to excel in NPS M&M WHP classes over the summer becoming Reserve Champion in the Native Breeds WHP Final at Malvern. Bred on Dartmoor and previously owned by BBC Radio presenter Elenor Goodman Mr Mufti moved up to second place in his Novice test behind fellow Dartmoor Haven Justin {Allendale Vampire x Blythe Jessica] ridden by Kent based Georgie Bourne who achieved a mark of 70%. Haven Justin joined the Bourne family as a schoolmaster for Georgie, took her to HOYS and then went out on loan. Now back at home he is introducing Georgie's younger sister Bonnie to life off the lead rein and qualifed for the dressage as a fun activity when Georgie's 153cm SHP The Artist was sold.  Boreton Cerdin Ridden by Emily Proud The Tests for M&M ponies exceeding 138cm saw intense competition. Forty five ponies produced outstanding performances with the top ten achieving marks in excess of 70%. Lifting the title was the very balanced Highland pony Strathmore Harry [Achtriochan Dougal x Rosebud of Strathmore] ridden by Charlotte Winser who was visibly delighted with her pony's efforts at the end of his test in which he achieved 78.5%. Pushing him all the way were two Welsh Section D's. Regular BD competitor Foxglen Dawn [by the 2003 HOYS Champion Rhydfendigiad Daniel] ridden by Jessie Hyde took second place with 77.5% whilst Wiston Flashman [Clyngim Bonheddw x Wiston Mena] piloted by Worcester & District Riding Club member Karen Richardson who enjoys both affiliated eventing and dressage finished on 77%. Another Highland gelding, the Rees family's Moss-side Murdo [Moss-side Domhnach x Moss-side Ardnamonadh] enjoys showing as well as dressage was fourth whilst the Connemara Performance specialist and 2008 Olympia BHS Riding Clubs quadrille team member Elaphine Murphy [Kirtling Tam O'Shanter x Laetitia] tried his heart out for his jockey the well known NPS judge Julia Woods to gain fifth place. The Novice 27 Championship section saw more excitement with the Dales mare Sunglow Lady Paula and ridden by Samantha Roberts looking to be on glorious form for the coming show season. Watched by her breeders and her owners this large, dark lady filled the eye and the arena working accurately throughout gaining the highest winning top marks of day - 79.5% - an amazing feat as her jockey had competed in Cornwall the day before, arrived home at 3am that morning and worked her clients ponies before drivng from Hampshire to meet Sunglow Lady Paula for only the third time since Olympia. Second place went to the consistent Jessie Hyde and Foxglen Dawn on 75.7% and Emma McGurk and another Welsh Section D cob Cricketwood Kentucky [Glawvyrnwy Flying King x Winmark High Noon] in third place on 75.4%. Others to shine were Jane Haskell riding her New Forest mare Furzely Serenade [Luckington Sportaide x Sophia] placed at the TopSpec Final last year and who has a notable show record in New Forest breed classes and Jo Loughton on the 5th placed Connemara Millfields Tristan. Juniors enjoyed a very competitive time with superb riding from jockeys all aged under fourteen. Taking the Prelim title was nine year old Rebecca Bell riding the Welsh Section A gelding Sunwillow Gundegai [Brierwood Constable x Sunwillow Bellona] who achieved 74% ahead of twelve year old Lucy Pincus riding her very versatile Tyn-Y-Cae Sandmartin [Sheepcote Wurlitzer x Tyn-Y-Cae Goldfnch] who also competes in 143cm WHP classes with great success. Herefordshire based Lucy then upped the pace in the Novice section where her big moving pony achieved 71.1% to head the class.  Tynycae Sand Martin Ridden by Lucy Pincus During the afternoon presentations commenced for each NPS/TopSpec National Championship section. Ponies received beautiful finalist keepsake rosettes from the competition sponsor TopSpec. Breed awards were also presented by the Breed Socieies and Stud Books. Following this ponies were called forward in reverse order - from 10th to Champion. The National Champions from each section then competed against each other in a "Ride Off" to music which varied from nursery rhymes to cowboy & indian film soundtracks. Although some ponies compete at higher BD levels than others this did not affect the scoring as the results reflected the day's section percentages. Putting up a well timed display were the Dales mare Sunglow Lady Paula and Samantha Roberts who were rewarded with the overall NPS/TopSpec Supreme Dressage title together with the floral garland sash made up in TopSpec's colours presented by the company's Sales Director Michael Bacon. Sunglow Lady Paula also received the NPS/Sylvie Noel Designs Dressage Performance Pony Trophy. The Part Bred Welsh gelding Tyn-Y-Cae Sandmartin and twelve year old Lucy Pincus showed good paces and rhythm throughout to clinch both the overall Reserve Supreme award and the new Junior Supreme title. Chasing them all the way, not at all intimidated by the opposition was the youngest winner Rebecca Bell and the charismatic Sunwillow Gundegai. The tiny pair put up a charming and rousing performance to music. All competing appreciated TopSpec' for their support of the competition and provision of prizes and the much coveted commemorative rosettes provided to all Finalists.  Sunwillow Gundegai Ridden by Rebecca Bell Any Pony Club, Riding Club, Breed Society, Show or Dressage centre holding affiliated or unaffiliated BD Tests 7 & 27 btween April 2009 and March 2010 may apply to run qualifiers. These can be incorporated into tests with the top placed ponies eligible for each NPS section receiving qualification cards and rosettes. There is no affiliation fee.  Cricketwood Kentucky Ridden by Emma McGurk Further information can be found on the dressage page of the National Pony Society website www.nationalponysociety.org.uk Please contact Angela Kember, Secretary Results Class 1 Class 2 Class 3 Class 4 Class 5 Class 6 Class 7 Class 8 Class 9 Class 10 |
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