Chapman takes her gentle giant along to British Dressage event

The seven-year-old Hanoverian is owned by Marie Brown and Melissa's father, Michael Chapman.

The gelding competed at the Championships last year at novice level, was placed third in a national class at Hickstead and then won the Restricted Medium Winter Dressage Championship title.

Melissa, now riding in Open medium classes, booked two tickets for herself and DHI Work of Art when they won the Open Medium Regional Final and finished second in the Open Elementary Regional Final at Frys Equestrian Centre, East Yorkshire.

Melissa runs a livery, training and competition yard at her father's farm near Catterick and as well as dressage, she also enjoys eventing.

This season she has competed at two star level with the seven-year-old Arctic Cruising.

Says Melissa: "I stepped up to Intermediate with him this year and we did the CIC two star at Scone Palace, which was the biggest track he's ever done but he's very scopey and made them (the fences) feel like a cavaletti."

A holiday in Ireland for Connemara enthusiasts Kath Wilkinson, her daughter Emily, 16, and friend Chloe Eshelby, 14, from Baildon and their ponies didn't only involve some fun rides along the beach.

All three riders were successful in competing the two Connemara ponies, Delmrose Applejack (Jack) and Geri's Prince (Prince).

Along with other members of the British Connemara Pony Society, they competed at the Clifden Connemara Pony Show and at the International Connemara Pony Championships.

At the Clifden event, Kath and Jack won the class for riders aged 21 and over and Chloe and Jack were placed second in the riders over 10 and under 16 class.

Emily and Jack came second in the working hunter ridden by a rider under 16.

Emily and Prince were fourth out of 23 ponies in a class for potential working hunter Connemara ponies aged four to six years and Prince was also third in the Connemara gelding class.

There was further success at the International Connemara Pony Championships for Emily and Chloe. Emily and Prince won the four/five-year-old Connemara ridden championship and were third in the Preliminary dressage class.

Emily and Jack won the Novice and Elementary dressage classes and came second in the Derby class which involved a testing course of 25 jumps.

Chloe and Jack were placed third in the International Connemara Performance Championship Ridden under 16 class and Emily was awarded a bronze of a horse's head for being the Best Overseas Rider under 16.

Their trip also included a visit to the Connemara pony sales where there were some bargains to be found, says Kath: "Foals were selling for as little as 400 euros, a reflection of the current economic climate."

The 750 euros they won in prize money was an added bonus as it paid for their ferry crossing. "We had a fantastic time," said Kath. "The local people and show organisers were very supportive of the overseas competitors from England and made us feel very welcome."

Back on home ground, Emily and Jack continued their winning form to take the Small Working Hunter and Hunter Championship at Keighley Show.

Nineteen members from York University's Polo Club competed in the recent SUPA'S (Schools and Universities Polo Association) Akuma National Universities Tournament which was held at Offchurch Bury Polo Club near Leamington Spa.

They were all coached by Tony Wesche from the White Rose Polo Club near Market Weighton which also sponsors the York University club.

The team of Sonja Polimac, Shoaib Arshid and Fabian Brooks won the beginners' division at the tournament.