Katie holds her nerve in triple Grand Prix success
Last updated 05:48, Friday, 19 September 2008
LOCAL riders have been getting some spectacular results recently and at Arena UK, Katie Walker qualified for three Grand Prix championships.
She really kept supporters on the edge of their seats in the Potential Novice Minor Grand Prix Championship. Katie rode in third out of 85 starters and held her lead with Cassius Z to win the class.
She was in the top 12 of the 95cm with Pamiro Z, and eighth in the 105, then ninth in the Newcomers with Cassius. The only disappointment for Katie’s Dad Johnny was that she missed out on the top prize car by just four seconds.
Jonathan Dixon and Zegreanne Z are taking on the big boys (and girls) of the sport and winning. They won the British National Championship in the Marine Underwriters 1.30 National at Scope, and a six-year-old class with Vancouver MH.
Then at the Arena UK Grand Prix festival, again with Zegreanne Z, Jonathan was first in the first qualifier for the 1.30m GP final on Wednesday, second in the second 1.30m qualifier on the Friday – and topped it off by winning the 1.30 GP final on Sunday, knocking Guy Williams and Geoff Lucket into second and third respectively.
Cumbrian teenager Rachel Graham is fast becoming a name to watch. She took her horse Sandros Dream to the National UK Riders Dressage Championships at the Vale View Equestrian Centre in Leicester – and won the Novice 25 Junior Championship title. Denise Richardson who coaches the 14-year-old says it was a well deserved win.
“Rachel’s been working hard with her horse and it’s starting to really pay off. She’s a really good little jockey,” says Denise.
Susan Chappelhow had a double triumph at the same competition, winning both the Senior Preliminary section with 70 per cent and the Senior Novice with 69 per cent on Crackenthorpe Nightingale.
That topped off a fantastic weekend. And she had also been to the prestigious British Show Horse National Championships at Addington Manor near Buckingham the previous day, where she took sixth place with Crackenthorpe Jamboree and a seventh with Nightingale. Susan and Nightingale then secured a place in the evening performance, where she finished eighth.
Nightingale is owned by Rachael Robson of Ladybird Livery in Appleby but Susan’s been riding her this season as Rachael has been focusing on her other ride Tick Tock Ted.
Sadly, due to a last-minute injury, Ted was unable to compete in the finals, but Rachael says she and Ted were cheering Sue and Nightingale on and were overjoyed with their success.
Nine-year-old Cameron Wadge from Rigg near Gretna is the youngest rider ever to qualify for the Horse of the Year Show Mountain and Moorland Working Hunter Championship.
Now he’s got another reason to celebrate – after securing a sponsorship deal with the Irish supplement manufacturer TRM and with Teviot Equine – the manufacturer of bespoke liveried rugs and rider clothing based in Hawick.
Greenlands Mixed Show Sunday September 14
Juniors
80cms Welcome Stakes: 1, Katherine Pickering - Silver Cherokee; 2, Molly Waugh - Black Abbacus; 3, Katherine Pickering - Eccleshill Maximus.
Jnr Discovery/90cms Open: 1, Peter Gardiner - Spring Lark; 2, Peter Gardiner - Kerry Ann; 3, Anna Dunlop - Kerry’s Boy; 4, Joe Wilson - It’s Rio.
Jnr Newcomers/1.00m Open: 1, Dan Thompson - Brightwood Galaxy; 2, Helena Pedrosa - Just The Two Of Us - Helena Pedrosa; 3, Peter Gardiner; 4, Emily Little - Mystic Ripple.
Jnr Foxhunter/1.10m Open: 1,Dan Thompson - Moonlight Flight; 2, Dan Thompson - Cyber Spaceman.
Seniors
Snr British Novice: 1, Emma Wilson - Greenlands Hindsight; 2, Alison Harrington - Lucy Diamond; 3, William Storey – Queensway; 4, William Dunlop - Gold Orb.
Snr Discovery: 1, Christine Richardson – Pissaro; 2, Sally Skelton - Nel De Vardo; 3, Philippa Hick - Tornado; 4, Alan Hadwin - Viscount Z.
Snr Newcomers / 1.10mtr Open: 1, Christine Richardson - Lough Crew; 2, Lucy Thomlinson - Twice As Nice; 3, William Dunlop - Gold Linnet - William Dunlop; 4, Kelly Smith – Riana.
Snr Foxhunter / 1.20mtr Open: 1, Jon Fletcher - Chemo Z; 2, Joanne Bell - JC Prinz Amor; 3, Richard Nichol - Medicinal Purpose.
Snr 1.30m Open: 1, Joanne Bell - JC Prinz Amor.
DIARY DATES
GREENLANDS
Saturday September 20: Mixed Unaffiliated Show Jumping - 9.30 am start
Sunday September 21: Unaffiliated and BSJA Show - Seniors (cb Keith McVittie)
Monday September 22: CFHN Evening Rally - Contact Jane Ward 01228 576637
Sunday September 28: BHS Fundraising Day to Celebrate 20 Years of the Equine Grass Sickness Fund. Walk, run, ride or cycle round a choice of routes through the stunning Border hills near Traquair and discover the beautiful Tweed Trails.
Cumbria EnduranceGroup
Saturday September 20: Cark-in-Cartmel, Furness RDA Charity Ride - 8 or 20 miles sponsored ride
Sunday September 21: Westward. Cumbria Group Ride in aid of Breakthrough Breast Cancer. There is also a walk over the same route on the Saturday with or without dogs.
