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Vaulting to Sweden for tilt at Europeans
A very different kind of equestrian sport was on display at Bishop Burton College's arena recently.
The final selection trials for the European Championship for the British Equestrian Vaulting teams were held there when around 50 vaulters and lungers took to the floor, including current Great Britain champion Joey Eccles.
The sport is best described as gymnastics on a moving horse.
Liz Lukehurst organised the event which decided which vaulters, horses and lungers will travel to Malmo in Sweden for the European Championships in July.
Liz started vaulting at the age of 12 and only retired from competing recently.
She said: "This is a rapidly growing sport in the UK and is one of the seven disciplines recognised by the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI).
"There are currently around 35 clubs throughout Great Britain and the sport was represented at the first World Equestrian Games in 1990, with the first European Championships in the mid 1980s.
"I would encourage anyone to have a go at vaulting. It teaches balance, confidence, rhythm and flexibility and can help riders from any equestrian discipline."
The horse is controlled by a lunger and moves in a 15-metre circle. Most exercises are performed at canter, although practising difficult manoeuvres and some fun classes are done at walk.
The horse wears a bridle, (with the lunge line usually attached direct to the inside bit ring), and a specially designed roller with two large handles either side of the withers. The roller is used to keep a large back pad in position and the handles enable the vaulters to mount and carry out various exercises on the horse.
Competitors are divided into senior, for ages 14 and above, and junior, for vaulters aged 14 to 18 although younger vaulters often compete particularly in the team events.
The competition was divided into five classes: junior and senior individuals, junior and senior teams and senior pairs.
Each vaulter must complete a set of compulsory movements prior to taking part in the freestyle events, where they can develop their own routine to a piece of music as individuals, pairs, or teams.
"This is an extremely intensive sport," said Liz Lukehurst. "If they want to do well, it is not unknown for some vaulters to complete up to 11 training sessions in a week and this can include other sports such as swimming or gymnastics to build up fitness and flexibility.
"However, it can be enormous fun and working as part of a close team can be incredibly rewarding."
Selections – Senior teamEVS (English Vaulting Squad): horse Go for Gold, lunger, Julie Newell.
Junior team SEVT (Scottish Equestrian Vaulting Team): Horse WH Bentley, lunger, John Eccles.
Senior female: Joanna Eccles, horse WH Bentley, lunger John Eccles; Lucy Philips, horse Pitucelli, lunger Elka Schlp Lensing; Harriet Nicol, horse ILPH Islay, lunger Liz MacKay.
Junior female: Hannah Eccles, Horse WH Bentley, lunger John Eccles; Louise Sinclair, Horse ILPH Islay, lunger Liz MacKay; Stephanie Hunter, horse Rio Grande, lunger Kathryn Jeffress.
More information at www.vaulting.org.uk
Royal recognition as club's long servers reap their rewards
Scarborough and District Riding for the Disabled group will be celebrating its 25th anniversary on July 1 with a visit from Princess Anne.
She will watch a short demonstration consisting of a musical ride and a group lesson and will give all the riders commemorative rosettes.
Three of the longest serving riders will receive cups and Rosie the pony will be given a long service award for 15 years work.
Long-service awards for 25 years will also go to Elisabeth Mitchell, group chairman; Maureen Pearson, treasurer for many years, and Moira Richardson, county instructor of the RDA.
Sarah Morley, who is one of the instructors, said: "We are available to anyone in the Scarborough area with special needs, although members are limited by time and the amount of ponies available. We ride at a farm for at least six months of the year where riders, their carers and other residents from their homes can come – they talk to the ponies, have a coffee and enjoy a social morning in the countryside."
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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