Young Michael adapts quickly to enjoy record-breaking time at Bishop Burton

THE first international dressage event to be held in Yorkshire concluded at the weekend with a record breaking win for 14-year-old Michael Murphy.

He became the youngest winner of a senior Para competition anywhere in the world.

Michael, from Hertfordshire, was among over 30 riders from five countries taking part in the international Para equestrian dressage competition for junior and young riders (CPED1 two star/Y/J) which was held at Bishop Burton College.

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Unfortunately Michael’s horse Pebbly Tarragon was judged not fit to compete a week before the competition and he was given the ride on Sophie Christiansen’s Paralympic horse Lambrusco III by the Para Dressage Training Trust. He shared the horse with Grade 11 rider Alex Sutton, who also took first in the Young Rider competition.

Michael won the Grade 1a two star competition with an impressive score of 74.49 for Friday and Saturday’s competition and 70.67 for Sunday’s 1a freestyle test.

Yorkshire riders Natasha Adkinson, from Bawtry, Fiona Maynard, from York, and Heather Bennett, from Eastrington, near Howden, also had good reason to celebrate.

Heather, a former international showjumper, broke her neck in a riding accident in 2003. She was left with limited sensation and weakness in her hands and also in her legs, together with limited mobility in her neck. She competes in both Para showjumping and dressage riding her 17.3hh bay gelding Symphony (Sid) and, at the weekend, competed in her first freestyle to music test and came in second.

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“It was my first international as well,” said Heather. “I’ve had him (Sid) for 12 months and we’ve had a few teething problems but I was very pleased with him. He likes dancing to music obviously.”

Heather’s aim is to ride in the 2012 or 2016 Paralympics. She has been selected to ride for the Home International team which will compete in Leicestershire from August 19-21. Before that however, Heather faces a decision about another operation on her spine as she has been losing more feeling in her hands.

“I’m not thinking about that at the moment,” she added. “I’m just pleased about the weekend.”

As well as the freestyle section, Heather was second in the Grade III two-star competition and was second overall in that grade.

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Natasha Adkinson, 17, is currently on the sport’s World Class programme silver squad and has just made the transition from Junior to Young Riders with an eye firmly on a Paralympic appearance at Rio in 2016.

Natasha travels to Buckinghamshire each week to ride her current partner Prince Charming who belongs to the South Bucks RDA. She was the first-placed Young Rider in the Grade Three freestyle section on Sunday and on Friday and Saturday finished as the second Young Rider and fifth overall in Grade Three.

Partially-sighted Fiona Maynard is a grade four Para rider and, riding Commanding Officer, gained a second two-star place and was third overall in Grade 4, followed by a second two-star place in the freestyle to music.

British Paralympic medallist Simon Laurens was also on hand to help with the three-day competition. He has now retired from competitive dressage but is keen to give something back to the sport that gave him so much pleasure and success.

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“I can offer the riders some advice and a bit of support,” said Simon who also praised the facilities provided at Bishop Burton. “The riders have had a great time. It’s really nice to come somewhere fresh and new.”

Yorkshire competitors travelled to the BSPS Area 1B Summer Show held at Crooklands near Kendal where the Emmerson family had a number of winners.

Phoebe Borrowdale clinched the first ridden show pony riding her new pony Oxton Top Of The Pops and Martha Jobling Purser took the lead rein class with her prolific winner Basford Ballerina.

The stable also had a win in the 133cm show hunter class with Westerby Firelight ridden by Charlotte Blythman. Freya Cade was second in the 128cm show pony riding Sandbank Early Bird.

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Jerome Harforth, from The Stanley Grange Stud, took the show hunter pony championship with Sam Elliott riding Frithwell Champagne Charlie, a triple winner at this area show in May.

Jerome had another success with Alastair Grierson’s novice pony Bengairn Princess Royal ridden by Danielle Burnip who was second in the open 148cm show pony.

Julie Bankier had a win in 138cm show pony class and was reserve champion with Masterton Midsummer Rose. Melissa McCluskey took reserve in the Intermediate Championship riding Westerdale Regal Max, which is owned and bred by Ian Darcy, from Whitby, and is a former Cuddy finalist.

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