Perseverance pays off as Addyman triumphs

Addyman, 24, has competed her 15-year-old Cavalier King Charles in the Harrogate event’s Northern Show Cross competition for the last two years.

But unlike in 2012 and 2013, this time there was no agony of knocking a fence down for the Yorkshire rider who competed in the senior 90cm section and savoured the five-minute journey home after her victory.

Addyman told The Yorkshire Post: “I have had King for five years and usually I just stick to the showjumping. But he loves cross country so I decided to do some of the series with him.

“I didn’t know how well he would do at the Showground in the Main Ring as he can be a bit spooky but he jumped fantastic.

“He’s got such a long stride so can take a stride out where others have to take one. I had no idea I was fast enough to win until near the end so it was a big surprise.

“I’ve taken him the last two years and always had an annoying fence off so third time lucky. I live very local to the Showground so it also made a nice change not having to drive for an hour.”

Addyman was one of several Yorkshire riders to excel at Countryside Live, the ‘little sister’ of the Great Yorkshire Show and an event growing in popularity.

Whitby’s nine-year-old starlet Rachel Proudley was part of the Darlington-based Alan Scott Team that scooped the Junior Inter Relay championship title.

Riding Painted Lady, Proudley savoured glory alongside 14-year-old Shauna Carman and Georgia Garnett, 13.

Carman, from Durham, went on to take the 90cm junior title.

There was also joy for Brighouse sisters Marie and Kimberley Dyson, who each had a hand in taking home the Coloured Championship.

Five-year-old Subtle Affair, also known as Peggy, is owned by Marie and was ridden by her younger sibling in what is the horse’s first year under saddle for her best success to date.

The ‘Search for a Talented Showjumper’, judged by showjumping experts Graham and Tina Fletcher, went to Loughborough-based 12-year-old Lara Gorse, riding Covenham Jade.

In the show classes, Emma Boardman was delighted after her four-year-old Welsh Section D gelding Dyffryngwy Sir Picasso qualified for Olympia on his first outing, winning the Supreme Championship, Ridden Mountain and Moorland.

Preston-based Boardman has won the same class at Countryside Live for the past two years on a different horse, but it was the first time that she managed to clinch the top title.

“We bought him as a cob exactly four years ago this weekend and this was his first time in the ring,” said Boardman, who first rode at Olympia when she was 10-years-old.

“I’m delighted and can’t quite believe it.”