Local hero Wilson heads up strong entry list for Allerton Park meeting

Northallerton’s Olympic silver medallist Nicola Wilson has seven entries at the event which now runs classes at BE100, Novice, Intermediate and Advanced level.

But also featuring among a strong line-up are Beverley’s Gary Parsonage plus Stokesley’s Badminton Grassroots winner Katie Hardisty, Market-Weighton’s rising star Lucie Cawood and in-form Pocklington rider Harriet Morris-Baumber, fresh from a weekend success at Hutton In The Forest.

Germany’s highly-rated Franca Luedeke also features among the list of entries which has a strong global feel with riders heading to Allerton Park from the USA, Canada, Holland, New Zealand, Ireland, Brazil, France and even Finland.

Next year will mark the event’s 20th anniversary – and a switch to a new dressage arena – and Johnstone is both thrilled with this year’s entry and the growing popularity of the Allerton Park Horse Trials as a whole.

“We’re really, really lucky and we get fantastic support from the likes of Nicola,” said Johnstone, who runs the event alongside Lady Penelope ‘Nell’ Mowbray.

“Nicola is local and a great supporter of our event and last year she helped us with a schooling day on the Monday which unfortunately she couldn’t do this year due to commitments.

“But people like Nicola, Gary Parsonage and Oliver Townend have just been fantastic supporters.

“Nicola will be doing dressage on the Friday and she’ll have the likes of her BE100 horses.

“She brings quite a lot of her younger horses out here because it’s a nice flowing course in mature parkland and we get a good chance to see everything. It’s good for the young ones.

“I think one of the reasons why the event is so popular is that the going is normally very good. With Ian Stark also designing the course, as soon as the entries open they just flood in and we have had to ballot people out again this year because we get too many entries.”

The event has attracted 550 entries in total with certain dressage phases again beginning on Friday. Two full days of packed action will then take place on Saturday and Sunday from 8am each day with organisers even blessed with a decent weather forecast.

“We’ve looked at the weather which starts getting better from Thursday and Friday – and Saturday and Sunday should be quite nice,” said Johnstone. “The park is looking super.”

Admission costs £10 per car with all occupants admitted thereafter. For more information on the event call 01423 330585.

n The Dartmoor Pony Society is holding a Study Day at Middle Park Farm, Pickhill, North Yorkshire on Sunday, September 22, starting at 10.30am and finishing by 5pm.

The timetable of activities includes a presentation on ‘The History of the Dartmoor Pony’ by Madge Taylor, a demonstration on ‘How to judge conformation and movement’ by Jerome Harforth, a description of ‘The Dartmoor Type’ by Nicola Shuttleworth, and a chance to judge Dartmoors in-hand; supervised by Jerome Harforth.

Following a lunch break the afternoon session will get underway with a presentation on ‘Nutrition of the Dartmoor’ by Nicola Tyler, followed by a demonstration on ‘Production of the Dartmoor Pony for Showing’ by Craig Elenor, a demonstration on ‘Correct Way of Going’ by Chris McGrann, a ridden Dartmoor demonstration followed by a talk on ‘Driving Dartmoors’ by Tania Mizzi.

The day will be rounded off with a parade of Dartmoor Star Show Champions, before a final open discussion, free tea/coffee and biscuits. Tickets are £5.

Cheques should be made out to the Dartmoor Pony Society and sent to Nicola Tyler, Middle Park Farm, Pickhill, Thirsk. YO7 4JN.

Nicola can be contacted on 01845 565063 for further information.