News | 6 July 2024
Area Dressage 2024
Report by Team Manager, Karen Parry
Well what a day we all had!
In the week leading up to the competition we had a last minute change of venue to the Dallas Burston Polo Club which provided some beautiful flat arenas… it is also a wedding venue…which provided its own challenges! The competition had to stop for half an hour to allow for the wedding guests to process to and from a pavilion located adjacent to the dressage arenas, which in the pouring rain and low temperatures was no easy feat! Drummers accompanied this as well as 3 coaches and numerous cars… Louise Powell and Gary Morgan found new roles directing traffic, horses and ponies and helping wedding guests!
Thankfully all of our members negotiated the interruptions and at times very unseasonable weather conditions, to achieve some amazing results:
Our Novice Team of Izzy, Ella, Livvy and Abi came 2nd to qualify for the Championships! Notable performances from Izzy who came 1st in her section with 71.14% and Ella who came 3rd in her section with 72.05%, on a horse who she had only sat on for the first time the previous day! (She also narrowly missed qualifying for the Intermediate Championship by one place). Abi was only 0.05% off her personal goal percentage and Livvy rode a lovely test with a very enthusiastic Betty! A great team performance!
Our younger members in the PC70 team, Abyssinia, Grace and Zara have all qualified individually in their sections for the Championships also!
All three girls rode beautiful tests with Zara coming 2nd in her section with 69%, Abyssinia achieving 69.2% and 68.33% and Grace on 64%. Zara has also qualified at the Grassroots PC80 with a score of 68.75% as an individual. It was the first time at Areas for each of these members and to qualify first time out is an amazing achievement!
All competitors rode confidently, were immaculately turned out and a credit to Ludlow Hunt Pony Club. Thank you to Louise Powell, Gary Morgan and everyone involved. We all know what a huge effort it takes before anyone even goes down the centre line and this is not achieved without a team of committed parents supporting each of our members.
Thank you all!