Bean awaits World Championship call as Ahern sisters prosper at county show

This was totally different terrain to what the riders are used to; with not many paths or tracks to follow, it was mainly moorland and hills.

“We all enjoyed it and it was good to be able to get out after so many events had to be cancelled due to the wet weather,” said Kathryn Bean.

The White Horse group members all did well. Kathryn, a level four competitor, came first in her section riding Millicent Millie.

She is on the GB team shortlist to ride at the Trec World Championships in Portugal in September.

Team selection will be made in July.

In level three, Paula Scott, riding Ariel, came second and in level two, Nicky Bunting was first and Alex Wells was fourth.

The BHS GB Championships will be held in Fife in August.

Team Ahern from the Aireview Equestrian Centre in Bingley have been notching up a number of successes at recent shows.

Sisters Alex Ahern and Kirsty Pickles (nee Ahern) have been producing ponies and horses for almost 10 years, backed up by their parents, Paddy and Jane.

Their achievements this season include winning three Supreme championships and one reserve Supreme at the recent White Rose County Show at Temple Newsam.

This has 109 different classes for showing and working hunters and attracts hundreds of competitors from all over the country. The team from Aireview won the Mini Supreme Championship for lead rein and first ridden ponies; the Overall Supreme and the Area Supreme.

Two of these titles were won by eight-year-old Tabitha Wood, from Ilkley, who was unbeaten at the show.

She won the Lead Rein Hunter class on the 12hh Nantlais Gwerthfawr and went on to be Mini Supreme Champion and then Area Supreme.

Ella Stuttard, 10, from Bingley, riding her 13.2hh pony Archwood Romeo Giggle, was reserve Area Champion and then went on to win the Overall Champion title.

“The girls were very pleased with their haul – three salvers, two cups, four sashes and six rosettes between them. It was wonderful they both did so well,” said Tabitha’s mother, Sarah.

The stable also won the Coloured Traditional Pony and Reserve Championship with Longdon Blackjack.

The North Eastern Driving Trials Group went ahead with its annual event at Ripley Castle in spite of bad weather.

A field of 48 competitors donned their wet weather gear and braved the showers and mud of Ripley’s testing course. The Wilkinson family from Halifax continued their domination at local level with wins for senior member John in the Intermediate class, daughter Tara in the Intermediate Pony and mother Leslee in the Novice Pony.

Both the cross country and the cone driving phases proved to be testing with only one person, Kim Usher from Barnard Castle, securing a double clear in the cones section.

Results

Pre-novice: Paul Ramage, Morpeth. Novice Pony: Leslee Wilkinson, Halifax. Novice Horse: Joe Hodgeson, Ripon. Intermediate Pony: Tara Wilkinson, Halifax. Intermediate Horse: John Wilkinson, Halifax. Open Pony: Rosie Mould, Morpeth. Open Horse: Judy Hilditch, Wakefield. Mulitples: Jeff Ormerod, Bury. Pairs: Penny Bragg, Huggate.