The third Senior Inter-Regional Squad Competition was the biggest yet with 43 teams battling for top honours at The College Equestrian Centre in Bedfordshire, 24-25 May 2008, compared to just 24 teams last year.

 

The central region fielded six teams and scored their first win with Central Team 6 edging a mere six points ahead of the Eastern Blue Team. Team members were British Dressage central regional development officer (RDO) Kim Moloney riding Dazzla, Jenny Davies on her former show jumper Widmer Time Is Tight and Sparsholt College lecturer Sarah Loveday-Lovell and Ribaldi Utopia.

 

Kim put her team’s success partly down to equine sports massage therapist Lee Harris, who treated 18 of the 23 central region horses free of charge on the first day of competition.

 

“It was just the most amazing atmosphere. Even the torrential rain and gale-force winds didn’t dampen anyone’s spirits,” said Kim, who was competing her 10-year-old Donnerhall offspring after a long spell off from competition due to training issues.   Kim gave credit to her trainer Jenny Ward for building up her confidence with Dazzla, who has qualified for the elementary regional summer championships after only two outings.

 

Kim’s friend Jenny works at her father’s livery yard and converted Widmer Time is Tight to dressage with help from her trainer at Active Equestrian. Sarah, who was unknown to the other team members, has produced the 10-year-old Ribaldi Utopia, who is by Gribaldi, herself since a three-year-old and is trained by Nicola Jourdain.

 

Kim said: “Sarah was brilliant, helping me out as I was chef d’equipe and running around all over the place. She even plaited my horse and put in 22 plaits rather than my usual 12!”

 

It was an exciting weekend for Kim, who was on standby to leave the show at a moment’s notice, as one of her horses was about to have her first foal. Thankfully the mare waited until the night after the show and Kim is now the proud owner of “the most perfect little colt” Charlie.

 

Pictured are Kim Moloney, Jenny Davies and Sarah Loveday‑Lovell.

 

For the full results, visit www.thecollegeec.com.