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Olympics await for Bramham designer
THIS year will be Sue Benson's 10th and final year as the cross country course designer at Bramham International Horse Trials.
Benson is to step down from the role to concentrate on working on the course for the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Her successor at Bramham will be Ian Stark who should know the event well having won there on four occasions during his competing days.
He is now making his mark as a course designer having been responsible for the CIC three-star at Chatsworth, Galway Downs CIC three-star (USA) and Central Scotland CIC two-star.
Stark will be following in the footsteps of some of the country's top course designers including Mike Etherington-Smith, Mark Phillips and Mike Tucker.
Last year's course was considered to be Benson's best yet and this year, with a major re-routing of the course to provide over 50 per cent of new terrain, it promises to be an exciting one during her final year in charge.
Nicholas Pritchard, Bramham's event director, said: "Sue has been one of Bramham's best assets in recent years. Her attention to detail, knowledge of the park and flair for design have ensured that riders want to come back to Bramham again and again while keeping our visitors entertained with a real test of horsemanship."
Bramham International Horse Trials take place on June 11-14, with cross country day on the Saturday. For information go to www.bramham-horse.co.uk
Para dressage rider Kat Wesson is having a very successful season with her mare Sundahli. Among other things she recently won the Para Equestrian Dressage Talent Spotting day at Vale View equestrian centre and has been invited to train with the German team. Wesson is from Berlin but now lives in Richmond.
She has also been invited to compete in the CPD14 one-star competition at Kreuttal in Austria in June which she is keen to do but will need to raise funds. The entry fee alone is 550 euros.
"It's such a great opportunity, I really don't want to miss out on it," says Wesson. Anybody who is willing to help her can contact Kat on 07765 860346.
Waccabuc Bay Charger (Charlie) celebrated his 18th birthday in style at West End Farm Stud, Thornholme near Driffield. The evening was organised by Farmway Country Stores of Driffield and included advice from experts from specialist feed companies Top Spec and Baileys Horse Feeds about feeding the competition horse and mares in foal.
Charlie, an American Quarter Horse stallion, was given a special birthday cake made with oats, carrots, apples and honey.
Further evenings are being planned at West End Farm Stud over the Spring and summer featuring talks from an equine vet and a farrier.
The stud currently has three resident stallions and two visiting stallions. They include Charlie, a Cleveland Bay stallion, a coloured horse and two sports horses.
The popular Pendle Forest point-to-point, billed locally as Skipton Races, runs at Heslaker farm on the outskirts of Skipton on Sunday. It is a picturesque setting and it is well worth walking the course for the views of the surrounding countryside. The seven-race card commences at 2pm with the Members Race.
The Greenall brothers will be out in force and the Easterbys will have some of their top horses running.
Hawkridge 'moved to tears' by cruelty
Karina Hawkridge, a freelance riding instructor and founder of Interdressage (a website where riders can compete from home via video) has been raising money for the Safe Haven donkey charity after reading about it in the Yorkshire Post.
"I couldn't believe the cruelty and ignorance these poor donkeys have to endure," said Hawkridge.
"In Palestine and other Middle Eastern countries they are seen as a 'throw away' item.
"I was moved to tears when I found out how people dispose of them when they have no further use for them, sometimes after just a day's work."
Interdressage has recently introduced a new range of showing classes to run alongside the usual dressage classes.
There is also a Riding School Points League.
For information go to www.interdressage.com and to help the Safe Haven for Donkeys in the Holy Land go to www.safehaven4donkeys.org
Results
Bishop Burton College Arena, BSJA Advanced Progressive Seniors, 1.05 Open: 1 Kiltealy Brief (S Swiers).
Tri-Zone Newcomers – 1 Handles Inschallah (L Redfern).
Smarter Transport Training National 1.15 Members Cup Championship Qualifier: – 1 Stanhopes Good Friday (S Swiers); 2 B Seeing U (L Redfern); 3 Morabito (E Stoker).
Foxhunter / 1.20: 1 Berenice (R Underwood); 2 Spirit T (J Roberts).
1.30: 1 Lillibet (A Bedford); 2 Sisca (J Roberts).
Derby House British Novice Rd 1: 1 Night Bust (E Sanders); 2 Mastercard (E Sanders); 3 On A Rainbow (A Clancy).
Equissage Discovery: 1 On A Rainbow (A Clancy); 2 GCD Zergarino (A Farr); 3 Mastercard (E Sanders).
The Yorkshire Post will be covering this year's Bramham in full, with a photogallery and results. We also want to see your Bramham photos - either upload through our equestrian group on Flickr or email to yponline@ypn.co.uk>>
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Weather for Yorkshire
Sunday 12 February 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 1 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 4 C to 8 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: West
