Eldwick riders stunned after quadrille win

“To our utter amazement, we not only qualified for Olympia but also beat off strong competition to be placed first overall with a score of 86 per cent,” said senior team member Kath Wilkinson.

Kath, her daughter Emily, Chloe Eshelby and Millie Ryan made up the team. As they were all riding Connemara ponies, they had decided on an Irish theme and performed a Riverdance quadrille to the music of Lord of the Dance. They were trained by Ryan Haigh.

It was the first time the club had entered this competition and the team was the last one to compete on the day. Now they are busy putting in more practice before they appear at Olympia on December 17.

Two pupils from Queen Ethelburga’s College, meanwhile, were among those making their debut in British Eventing at the recent Bishop Burton College Horse Trials.

Kirsty Wood, riding Pink Floyd, won the NSEA BE100 section with a double clear round. Page Broadbent, riding Dexter IV, was eighth in the same section. Both qualified for the NSEA championships in May.

n FOLLOWING our report from the Horse of the Year Show last week, here is our final round-up of further successes for Yorkshire riders and owners.

Rachel Cooper, from near Hull, had one of the biggest successes in her riding career at HOYS when she won the Oggy Oggy Intermediate Championship of the Year. Rachel was riding the nine-year-old Foxy Formula by Crackenthorpe Cartier, bred by Stuart Greaves.

Formula was also eighth in the small riding horse section ridden by Martin Skelton.

Rachel and her brother Matthew qualified several horses for HOYS including Swanee River, Starcrest Mel Au, Bellindene Rock Legend and Kigobben Rebel.

Charlie Marshall put in a good performance to finish second in the lead rein show hunter riding Nantlais Gwerthfawr. Thirsk rider Niamh Fahey was fifth in the same section, making her debut riding Caradines Little Lord.

Anya Potter-Firth, from Pickering, riding Heniarth Dilyscious, was third in the Colne Lead Rein and Olivia Varley was sixth in the Brineton First Ridden riding Dukeshill Mini Mutters, owned by York’s Karen Burkin.

The miniatures produced good results for the Paul Armitage stable, Wakefield with Sarah having a second place with the stallion Mostly Minnies Keywest.They also had a fifth with LWS Wildcard in the mares and geldings. Emma was fourth with Birchwood UK Flying Colours.

Freddy Welford, from Thirsk, was seventh in the 122cm show hunter pony, riding Littlebriars April Louise and Sam Elliott from Great Ayton, riding Frithwell Champagne Charlie, was fifth in the 143cm show hunter section.

Alex Gill, from Northallerton, made his debut at HOYS with Amman Valley Santino owned by his grandmother, Lynne Barker, and was eighth in both the junior newcomers and foxhunter finals.

Hayley McCaie, from York, was fifth in the Amateur Classic riding her father John’s 10-year-old year old Mister Tom IV.

n TWO Yorkshire riders were selected for the England team that competed in the Home International Endurance Ride held at the Royal Welsh Showground.

Tracy Thompson rode Crystal Jobaar and Tina Smith was on Princess Camsara. Bridget Brown was also a member of the squad as reserve. Both riders completed the 80km ride to help England take the silver medal, with Wales winning the event.

“The ride was over mountainous terrain and is one of the toughest on the calendar,” said Tracy.

“Normally riders are hampered by wind and rain but this year we had a mini heat wave which presented its own problems.”