Bedale juniors steal the show as young riders enjoy the challenge

In glorious sunshine, the event formerly known as the Harrogate Ladies Equestrian Team Challenge attracted 19 junior teams and 17 senior teams, all competing with four riders for each team in the Main Arena at the Great Yorkshire Showground.

And the Bedale and West of Yore brigade were responsible for a brilliant one-two in the Junior event with their blue team finishing on a zero score with a time of 126.27 and therefore beating their red team by 13.43 seconds.

The winning Bedale team consisted of Cassie Ramsay riding Samson, Olivia Murry on Jimmy, Issie Saxby partnering Pepsi and Kirsten Baul on board Orlando, plus team captain Robert Blaine.

The cleverly-named winning Senior team were Aloohana Vic with their name taken from the christian names of the four members of their team. Their fabulous four consisted of Victoria Robson riding Snow Patrol, Lois Teal on Fleck, Hannah Milner on board Libby and Alice Laughton riding Franceschiella. Team captain Jackie Teal was also by their side on foot with Aloohana Vic finishing the jump off with four faults in a time of 125.46.

Rosettes Direct were second with four faults in a time of 126.29 ahead of last year’s winners Ilkley & District Riding Club in third with four faults in a time of 129.98.

Hyndburn Hillbillies took fourth place with four faults in a time of 130.13 with Team TB fifth and Team Tennants sixth. On the junior front, third place went to Northern Tetrathletes who finished with four faults in a time of 120.94 while back in fourth were The Polamites with four faults in a time of 120.95.

Ryedale Reds were fifth with four faults in a time of 122.32 with South Durham Pony Club in sixth.

This year also saw a new competition for Group winners over the first two rounds. The groups could be Schools & Colleges, Riding Clubs, Hunts/Pony Clubs or Individual Teams. The winning Groups in the Junior Section were Tetrathletes (Independent Team), South Durham (Hunt/Pony Club), Polamites (School) and Ryedale Reds (Riding Club). Victorious in the Senior Group Section were Team Tennants (Independent Team), llkley & District Riding Association (Riding Clubs) and Bramham Moor (Hunt).

Event chairman Stephen Freegard was thrilled with the event, enthusing: “I’d like to thank our hard working committee and volunteers that made the competition run like clockwork.”

And committee member Carol Dawson was also rather impressed with the weather.

“This was the first year that I was asked for suncream!” she laughed.

Next year’s Yorkshire Equestrian Team Challenge will take place on Sunday, September, 28.

Brilliant Ellie leads the way for eventers

THIRTEEN-year-old Tadcaster star Ellie Jolliffe is heading for glory in the BE90 section of the Yorkshire and North East Eventers League.

Despite her tender years, Jolliffe and her horse The Welsummer have built up a commanding lead of 16 points in the BE90 standings ahead of this weekend’s competition at Aske International.

Bedale’s Sara Bowe has a similarly convincing lead at the top of the BE100 standings while in-form Harrogate star James Sommerville heads the Novice section on Gina Van de Neerheide owned by Katherine Heslop – an event rider herself who has just had her second baby.

Gina Van de Neerheide has contested six novice classes, winning four and being second twice. Sommerville also heads the Intermediate standings on Arco BB.

The countdown is on to this year’s ‘little sister’ event of the Great Yorkshire Show – Countryside Live.

Taking place on Saturday, October 19 and Sunday, October 20, organisers the Yorkshire Agricultural Society have announced that equine numbers have reached an all-time high, with a total of 335 entered in the competitions, smashing last year’s record of 303. A new feature this year is the North East Driving Trials which take place in the Main Ring on Saturday afternoon.

For tickets and information visit www.countrysidelive.co.uk