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On Charm offensive for London Olympics
SHEFFIELD'S Darryl Thickitt won the top prize at the Badminton Young Dressage Horse of the Future competition held in Gloucestershire.
The 29-year-old was riding a Dutch-bred gelding called Warlock's Charm and took home the championship trophy along with 3,000 prize money.
The duo won one of the regional rounds in Newark earlier this year and went on to the final at Badminton competing against over 50 riders, including some of the best competitors in the UK. Darryl won overall, with Carl Hester second and Peter Storr third.
The Badminton Young Dressage Horse of the Future competition is aimed at finding potential horses of the calibre to reach the top level of dressage. The horses must be athletic, willing to perform and with the potential to develop into a world-class dressage horse.
Darryl said:"Many of the UK's best dressage riders have won this event, including riders who have competed in international events and represented Britain in the Olympics.
"Warlock's Charm is an up-and-coming star of dressage. I have been working with him since February, 2007 and his talent is shining through. When I started with him, he had just been backed, and since then he has developed through strict training, to become a potential competitor for the Olympics in 2012."
Some of the past winners of the Badminton Young Dressage Horse of the Future include Carl Hester on Valegro (2007); Lucy Cartwright on Valegro (2006) and Josephine Ely on Nibley Union Jack (2005). The Duchess of Cornwall has competed in this event.
Darryl starting riding horses when he was14 years old. He has progressed to become an elite dressage rider and in 2003 was selected by UK Sport to join the World Class Development Programme. He has also trained with past British Olympic dressage competitor Richard Davison.
Darryl is also a professional dressage horse trainer and runs a livery yard in Retford.
With less than a fence separating the top two, the British Pony Eventing team won team silver at the European Pony Championships in Avenches in Switzerland.
The team consisted of an all-girl squad, Gina Ruck (15), from Tealby, Lincolnshire; Eliza Stoddart (15) from Market Harborough; Ella McEwen (14) from Swindon; Althea Bleekman (16) from Cullompton, Devon and Helen Dunning (15) from Tarporley, Cheshire.
In the nail-biting final phase, the show-jumping, Gina, Eliza and Ella all jumped clear to put the pressure on the German team. They finished individually in 4th, 5th and 6th places, respectively, just a out of the individual medals.
Althea and Helen both had just one fence down, but their rounds were good enough to secure a hard-earned 10th and 11th place.
Team manager Ginnie Keen said: "I am over the moon with our silver. The Germans had a very strong team this year and to be second to them with less than a fence in it is a great achievement.
"I would like to thank all those who have helped the team, particularly our sponsors Derby House."
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Weather for Yorkshire
Saturday 26 May 2012
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Temperature: 8 C to 21 C
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