Golden joy for Lucy after Chepstow haul

A YORKSHIRE riding star enjoyed a double success in Wales last weekend – giving her opposition a serious case of the blues.

Staintondale ace Lucy Gilsenan made the long trek to Chepstow to take part in the Winter League Showjumping Championships, held at the David Broome Event Centre in South Wales.

And after a highly-impressive showing on her 13.2hh pony Comanche Blue, the partnership brought two gold medals back to Yorkshire after victories in both the 2’6” and 2’9” Open class.

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Gilsenan, 15, took on competitors from throughout the country with all riders having gained qualification at their local venues.

The competition was also opened up to British Showjumping Association members for the first time.

And first up for Gilsenan came her bid for glory in the 2’6” class with the Scarborough star winning Saturday’s Heat One.

Gilsenan was the last to compete in the jump-off for Sunday’s final but the North Ryedale Riding Club member held her nerve and secured victory by riding a virtually impossible turn that no one else had dared to attempt.

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Gilsenan then set the standard in the 2’9” Final Heat jump-off with a fast time piling the pressure on her rivals.

None of her opponents could match her feat with Gilsenan and Comanche Blue awarded their second gold medal as part of a dream weekend in Wales.

Gilsenan is trained by Sylvia Richardson of Ravenscar and competes across showjumping, cross-country, and dressage.

And the teenager’s future looks undeniably bright following a Welsh conquest that left the youngster absolutely thrilled.

“I still can’t believe it,” said a delighted Gilsenan.

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“We had a fantastic weekend in Wales and I never expected to win one gold medal, let alone two.”

n Bishop Burton College have hailed a hugely successful 2013 Pony Club Annual Instructors’ Conference that they recently staged.

Over 350 instructors joined the day of talks and demonstrations, entitled “Life is a Matter of Balance”.

Top international coaches Eric Smiley FBHS and Chris Bartle FBHS led a packed day of demonstrations using Pony Clubs riders and horses.

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Sessions covered flatwork, dressage, jumping and cross-country, with a question and answer section at the end of each one.

Jenny Yates, training officer for the Pony Club, was delighted with the conference’s turnout.

“Our aim is to inspire,” said Yates. “We have two Olympic coaches here and hopefully all the instructors will take away what they have learned to their separate areas and pass it on even further.”

On the theme of balance, Bartle talked about the importance of dressage training for all disciplines, advising riders to ride their showjumping around like a dressage test, breaking it down into movements.

During the dressage session, Smiley challenged the prioritisation of bend, saying that straightness was the most important aspect of a horse’s movement.

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