Southern region

Claire Carr
Southern Regional Development Officer

Boarden Stables
Boarden Lane
Hawkenbury
Tonbridge
Kent
TN12 0EB
Tel: 07894 232358
LAST UPDATED: 19th AUGUST
:: Quick Links
EQUESTRIANISM AT THE OLYMPICS!
For the lastest news and information about Equestrianism at the Olympics please click on the following link:
To download a TV schedule for dedicated Equestrain programming on BBCi please click here.
Good luck to all our athletes, and especailly to Simon Laurens from Jersey who will be competing in the Para Dressage in the Paralympics!
 REGIONAL NEWS: 
* NEW TRAINING DATES - PLEASE SCROLL DOWN TO BYRDS AND SENIOR TRAINING SECTIONS *
***** BYRDS *****
 VIEWING DAY FOR PONY SQUAD TRAINING - click here for more details.
 NATIONAL TRAINING  - click here for more details of training and  eligibility and click here for an application form
TALENT SPOTTING RESULTS FROM THE SOUTHERN REGION:
The two Southern Region Talent Spotting days at Hadlow College and at Chichester College are now complete and the winners wil be making their way to the prestigious finals at Addington in October  to compete alongside the finalists from the other seven BD regions. Riders each rode the Talent Spotting test which was assessed by two assessors. Each rider was then called back in and was asked to assess their own mount and ride under instruction from the trainers before then swapping onto the mount of another rider and repeating the exercise. Riders were also tested on their understanding of theory and the all important scales of training - all in all a rigorous assessment of a rider's true potential to reach the top and those who won a place at the Addington Finals certainly earned it! Congratulations to the winners:
Hadlow College, 22nd July:
Alex Wyatt - Young Rider
Laura Walker - Junior
Lauren Warner  - Pony
Chichester College, 14th August:
Lucy Miles - Young Rider
Sadie Smith - Junior
Amy Hampton - Pony
Assessors James Burtwell and Sue Rowlands discuss the riders at Hadlow College
Young Rider winner at Hadlow College, Alex Wyatt
Alex Wyatt and Ashleigh Hill assess their own horses with James Burtwell before swapping mounts 
Junior winner at Chichester College, Sadie Smith 
A full report of the Talent Spotting qualifiers will be published in a future issue of Local Rider Magazine.
 MARLTON UNDER 21's INTERNATIONAL, SOUTHERN IRELAND, 3-4th July 

For the first time  ever a team from the Southern region made the long journey over to Wicklow, Southern Ireland, to experience International competition at Marlton last week. Our team riders were 16 year old Gemma Maddox from the Isle of Wight riding Abbisfields Royal Sovereign, Stephanie Busbridge, also 16, from Kent riding Buzzlines Woodlands Boy and younger brother Daniel Busbridge, 13 years old, riding Buzzlines Elizabeth. Yet again the weather proved challenging, with heavy rain throughout the competition which made for a damp few days. Our Junior team was placed fourth overall, a really fantastic result - especially bearing in mind that there was no discard score as the team was the minimum three riders and Daniel was riding in a squad in a higher age group than his normal squad in order to make up the bare bones of a team with Gemma and Stephanie. In the individual competiton Gemma and Abbisfields Royal Sovereign won the Elementary Championship following a series of consistently good performances in all the Elementary classes and Stephanie and Buzzlines Woodlands Boy came away with a very well deserved fifth place also in the Elementary Championship. Congratulations to all three riders and their horses - a fantastic result. 

 

Gemma Maddox and Abbisfields Royal Sovereign , Individual Elementary Champions

 

The Southern team – left to right, Gemma Maddox, Stephanie Busbridge and Daniel Busbridge

 

LOCAL RIDER MAGAZINE:

Localrider Magazine are huge suporters of British Dressage in the Southern region and have very kindly sponsored our BYRDS show by providing some fabulous prizes and also helped to co-fund a our senior squad's regional kit. Each month we publish regional reports and information regarding many of our activities. We will shortly be posting archived articles on this web page but for now please take a look at a recent article, written by Sally Andrews, our regional commitee judge delegate, all about what it takes to  become a BD listed dressage judge - the high degree of work involved and the commitment needed from a  dedicated team of volunteers to help all of us who choose to compete in dressage to progress. It could be quite an eye opener for many, so read on.....!

To download judging article please click here

SENIOR HOME INTERNATIONAL:
The Hand Equestrian Centre, Somerset, 11/12th October 2008.
Following a viewing and squad selection day held at Merrist Wood College we have now selected our senior squad, from which the final teams will be picked. Please note squad training days are only open to members of the training squad.
 Squad Training Days:
  • 6 September - Team selection day for sections A, B, and C of the squad with Sharon Edwards and Mark Ruddock. Venue TBA. Cost £40.00. Call Sharon on 07767 338004.
  • 20 September - Trainning and test riding day for selected team and reserves from 6 September plus team selection for Section D of the squad with Sharon Edwards and Mark Ruddock. Venue TBA. Cost £40.00. Call Sharon on 07767 338004.. 
  • 4 October - Final Team Preparation Day and Get Together
    Bombers Farm, Dwelly Lane, Edenbridge, TN8 6QF
    Details to be advised.

To download further competition information please click here

 

 

 

 

UKCC TRAINING DATES ANNOUNCED - PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR FURTHER DETAILS!
KENTISH DRESSAGE FESTIVAL
23/24th August, Cobham Manor, near Maidstone, Kent
British Dressage is proud to support a new unaffilliated dressage concept. We are providing 30 class tickets as prizes to help encourage those who have never afilliated before to have a try and see what it's all about. There are classes ranging from Walk and Trot through to Medium as well as Dressage to Music. If you have friends who have not affilliated do tell them about this competition and the channce to win BD class tickets, it might encourage them to give affilliated dressage a try once they see what's involved! Schedules can be downloaded from www.fgstud.co.uk or call 01622 891681.
****** PACHESHAM EQESTRAIN CENTRE TUESDAY EVENING COMPETITIONS******
Please note that the evening competitions taking place at Pachesham Equestrian Centre on Tuesday evenings this Spring/Summer will start at 5.00pm, not at 9.00am as shown in the magazine schedules.
ACCREDITED BD TRAINER BOOKLET
Please can we advise our Southern region riders that Alison Craig and Tanya Larrigan are BD accredited trainers but unfortuantely have been ommitted from the 2008 Trainers Database booklet due to a printing error. Their contact details can be found on the BD web site by clicking on the 'Training and Judging' tab.
Hello everyone and welcome to the Southern section of the BD web site. We have lots of stuff planned over the next few months to help you with training and competing!

Please note that the dates for the Southern Pet Plan Area Festival, which will be held at Step by Step Dressage, Royal Leisure, Henfield this year will be 9th/10th October, NOT as published in the promotional literature.

We also have lots of training on for BYRDS riders - scroll down for more information.

BYRDS riders have also been invited to visit Paul Hayler's yard on 4th August, along with judges and trainers. This is a great opportunity to watch Paul train his horses and see how a professional yard operates, followed by a fish and chip lunch in the pub opposite. Look out for more details on the web site shortly or in our next BYRDS newsletter.

Finally, after many years service on the committee as BYRDS rep Rosanne Liversidge has stepped down to allow herself more time to concentrate on other things and help with her daughter Mary's training. We are very sorry to see Rosanne go as she has helped so many children through BYRDS trainig in the region over the years and has really got BYRDS in Kent running at full steam. We have however been very fortunate to appoint Joyce Wood, a list 2A judge who is well known to many of you, as our new BYRDS rep. Joyce is also our Para rep so will be busy! So a very fond farewell and our heartfelt thanks to Rosanne for all her help and welcome on board Joyce.

The regional activities are coordinated by the regional commitee, whose contact details can be found below. Should you have any queries please don't hesitate to contact any of us. If you have any ideas of specific clinics or events you would like us to arrange please let us know and we will do our very best to organise them in our area, which covers Kent, Surrey, Sussex, the Isle of Wight and the Channel Islands. Do please keep checking this page for updates on training and events as we are able to keep this up to date much more easily than the regional page of the BD magazine, so make it a weekly visit.

In the meantime happy riding and we hope to see you out and about enjoying your dressage!

Southern Regional Committee:

Chairman: Mary-anne Horn M: 07824 639144 E: maryanne_horn@hotmail.com
Judges Rep: Sally Andrews M: 07775 560472 E: sal.andrews@btinternet.com  
Para Rep: Joyce Wood M: 07949 035021 E: joyce.wood4horses@btinternet.com
Members Rep: Sharon Edwards M: 07767 338004 E: sharononhorse@hotmail.com  
BYRDS Rep: Joyce Wood M: 07949 035021 E: joyce.wood4horses@btinternet.com  
Coaching Rep: Liz West M: 07714 342438 E: email@elizabethwest.com  
Senior Riding Rep: Maureen McPhillips M: 07976 746689 E: mmcphillips@dawngen.demon.co.uk

 MAJOR DATES, 2008:


21/25th August - BYRDS National Championships, Sheepgate, Lincolnshire
18/21st September - BD National Championship
6th October  - National Trainers Forum, The College EC, Bedfordshire
9/10th October - Pet Plan Area Festival, Royal Leisure, Henfield (Please note change of date to that previously published)
11/12th October - Senior Home International, Hand EC, Somerset
20/21st October – Talent Spotting Finals, Addington EC
15/16th November - KBIS National Convention, Addington EC with Jean Bemelmans 

 

 REGIONAL SPONSORS OF BRITISH DRESSAGE:

We are very grateful to our regional sponsors who have helped to co-fund events and without whom we would sometimes have not been able to put an event on. If you are interested in becoming a regional sponsor of British Dressage in the Southern region please contact Claire Carr for further details on 07894 232358 or by email on claire.carr@btconnect.com.

Cinque Ports Veterinary Associates, Hawkhurst, Kent.

Cinque Ports Veterinary Associates
Equine Veterinary Surgeons, Springfield Veterinary Surgery, Cranbrook Road, Hawkhurst, Kent, TN18 5EE. Tel: 01580 752187
Cinque Ports Square, Rye, East Sussex, TN31 7AN. Tel: 01797 222265
Mobile diagnostic facilities including:
*  X-ray, ultrasound scanner and scope
* Mobile shockwave therapy unit
* Reproductive work, including AI undertaken
* Competitive rates for tooth rasping and corrective dentistry
EMERGENCY DAY OR NIGHT: 01580 752187

TIM BOXALL ASSOCIATES LTD
* Professional installers of  indoor and outdoor all weather arenas
* Groundworks for stables and horse walkers
* Fencing
* Bespoke projects
Tim Boxall, Woodsden Hall, Lenham Road, Headcorn, Kent. Tel: 07801 862102

VOLUNTEERS WANTED!

We often need an extra pair of hands at our events and training sessions. We work with some of the best trainers and riders in the region and helping out at our events - eg seminars, BYRDS Camp, lecture demos etc not only means you get in for free (of course!) you can hear from some of the very best and most experienced equestrian people around and it's amazing how much you can learn that way. 

Have you ever thought about being a writer at affilliated competitions? Again, you can learn a phenomenal amount by sitting in with an experienced list judge, so whether you are starting out or thinking about making the jump up to the next level writing can help you to see things as a judge does and gain a better insight into how vital marks are won and lost.

Please contact Claire or Members Rep Sharon Edwards if you would like to offer your services as an occasional volunteer. We are trying to build up a list of names of people we can approach for extra help on the occasions we need it and we'd love to hear from you! 

 To download a copy of the Southern Volunteer newsletter please click here.
 To download a copy of the Southern Volunteer registration form click here.

 

UKCC

 

GREAT SPORT NEEDS GREAT COACHES!
The UKCC is a new government  initiative to improve coaching skills across all sports to help our athletes across all disciplines become the best they can possibly be. The UKCC Equestrain Coaching Certificate is a qualification which essentially hones specific coaching skills within an equestrian environment. Levels 1 and 2 are being managed by the British Horse Society and the Pony Club, with level 3 being co-ordinated by British Dressage. Level 3 will cover coaching skills up to PSG.
In our region we have three events planned over the next few months:
20th June, Bolney park Farm, Sussex, 7.00-9.00pm. An unmounted session with Anne Tezer looking at 'How to profile riders and goal setting', with a  further UKCC update. Cost £10.00. To download an application form click here.
10th July, Bedgebury Equestrian Centre, Goudhurst, Kent, 10.00-4.00pm. A mounted or unmounted session with Anne Tezer and Adam Kemp on 'Teaching Flying Changes'. Cost £40.00 unmounted or £60.00 mounted. To download an application form click here.
28th August, Belmoredean, West Sussex, 10.00-4.00pm. A mounted or unmounted session with Anne Tezer and Adam Kemp on 'Teaching pirouettes. Cost £40.00 unmounted or £60.00 mounted. To download an application form click here.
These sessions are open to all List and trainee judges, RTC trainers, BHS registered instructors and trainee instructors. Applications in advance only to Claire Carr, tel 07894 232358 or claire.carr@btconnect.com. All cheques made payable to British Dressage.

 SOUTHERN REGION BYRDS SHOW
12th April, Pachesham Equestrian Centre

 

Results will be posted shortly.

 

SENIOR INTER REGIONAL COMPETITION:
Congratulations to all our riders who took part in this competition and who all made it a thoroughly enjoyable and fun weekend. See 'Regional News' for details on individual placings. Do let us know if you would like tio be considered for squads for 2009 - we will be starting squad-specific clinics to help gear up for the competition next year, further details to be posted shortly.
If you would like to find out more about the Senior Home International  team competition on 11/12th October at The Hand Equestrian Centre, Somerset, please contact Maureen McPhillips for further information.
JUDGE TRAINING SESSIONS:
10 Sept TBA / South of England Dressage Group, Ardingly / Medium and Advanced
27 Sept Helen Webber / Pachesham Equestrian Centre, Leatherhead, Surrey / Prelim/Novice
11 Oct Gill Drew / Merrist Wood, Surrey / Prelim/Novice
9 Nov Helen Webber / Merrist Wood, Surrey / Novice
22 Nov Linda Whetstone / Pachesham Equestrian Centre, Leatherhead, Surrey / Elem
22 Nov Jennie Loriston-Clarke (FEI) / Merrist Wood, Surrey / Medium & Advanced Medium
13 Dec Linda Whetstone / Merrist Wood, Surrey / Adv/PSG

Cost of sessions  £12.00, cheques payable to British Dressage. Please reserve your place by calling Claire on 07894 232358 or emailing claire.carr@btconnect.com . The closing date for sessions is 7 days prior to the event. 

SEMINARS AND CONVENTIONS:
National Trainers Forum - 6th October, The College EC, Bedfordshire. £25.00 per person, including lunch. Tickets in advance from Ruth Tyler at the BD office, tel: 02476 698833. Please send a SAE with any postal applications: Ruth Tyler, Sport and Technical Officer, British Dressage, Stoneleigh Park, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, CV8 2RJ.

The Principles of Judging - 1/2nd November, Hartpury College, Gloucestershire. Open to all lsit judges, trainee judges, , trainers and interested riders. This will count as an official seminat for Lists 4-6. Contact mandyheath@rosudgeon.fsnet.co.uk.  Phone:  07831 580097

KBIS British Equestrian National Convention - 15-16th November, Addington Manor EC. Members £40.00 a day, £70.00 for 2 days. Non members £45.00 a day, £75.00 for 2 days. Tickets in advance from Ruth Tyler at the BD office, tel: 02476 698833. Please send a SAE with any postal applications: Ruth Tyler, Sport and Technical Officer, British Dressage, Stoneleigh Park, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, CV8 2RJ.

 Trainee Seminar with Isobel Wessels - Belmoredean, West Grinstead, Sussex. 27th November. All enquiries and to reserve your place please contact Claire Carr on 07894 232358 or email claire.carr@btconnnect.com . Please note the trainee seminar will also be open to members and non memebers of BD, in addition to all list judges and trainers on the BD database.

 

 

 

SENIORS:

For all Alison Craig sessions tel Alison on 07768 864648
For all Mary-anne Horn sessions tel Mary-anne on 07824 639144 Claire – 07894 232358

6 September - Team selection day for sections A, B, and C of the Home International squad with Sharon Edwards and Mark Ruddock. Venue TBA. Cost  £40.00.Call Sharon on 07767 338004.
 
12 Sep Rhett Bird / Exfold Manor, Rudgewick, West Sussex /  Tel Maureen 07976 746689 at weekends only. To download an application form for this session click here

20 September - Trainning and test riding day for selected team and reserves from 6 September plus team selection for Section D of the squad with Sharon Edwards and Mark Ruddock. Venue TBA. Cost £40.00. Call Sharon on 07767 338004.

4 October - Final Team Preparation Day and Get Together, Bombers Farm, Dwelly Lane, Edenbridge, TN8 6QF. Details to be advised.

18 Oct Adam Kemp / Details TBA / Tel Maureen 07976 746689. at weekends only.  To download an application form for this session click here

 

 

PARAS:

We now have two centres in our region running Para classes - Blue Barn in Kent, contact Steve Smith on steve.smith@courbette.co.uk and Oldencraig Equestrian Centre in Surrey, contact Charlotte Mander on info@oldencraig.com.

The current calendar for Para-equestrian qualifiers falls  into 3 series: Winter (Nov-Feb), Spring (Jan-Apr) and KBIS (May-Aug) , ie qualifiers run almost all year. The number of winter qualifiers are limited as the winner qualfies from each clas, as are the KBIS qualifiers. The Spring qualifiers work on a different system where the riders with the higest 20 percentages qualify once all qualifiers have run.

Please contact Claire on 07894 2323258 to book into any of the BYRDS or Senior training dates we have listed on this web page.

Andy Lawes has siezed the initiative and launched the British Para Showjumping Association: www.bpsja.co.uk.  The BPSJA has been formed to represent, promote and organise Para Showjumping within Great Britain and support riders at home and abroad. The aim is for Para Show Jumping or Para Equestrian Jumping as it is known in other European countries, to become a Paralympic sport by 2016. Andy will be holding a Para Show Jumping competition at Crockstead Equestrian Centre, East Sussex in August, dates tbc - we will advise as soon as known. We hope to work with Andy to create some combined training competitions in the region across the year and will post more information on this web page as soon as we are able to. In the meantime if you would like to contact Andy to find out more please email him on emily@esas.org.uk or visit the bpsja web site.

To download an article about the bpsja please click here

 BYRDS:

Yes, we have LOTS coming up! You don't need to be a member of British Dressage to come along to up to two official BYRDS training sessions to see if it is for you. If you wish to continue with BYRDS after that we do need to ask you to become a full member of BD. We try to use top BD trainers for our clinics and training, and all our BYRDS trainers have insurance cover, first aid certificates and have also completed their Chilld Protection course. BYRDS sessions run throughout the region, and we are thrilled that we now have BYRDS up and running in the Channel Islands too! Please contact Natasha Byfield for any further information about BYRDS on Jersey or Guernsey on 07797 751176.

>> To download the latest copy of our BYRDS newsletter please click here. For a full list of diary dates please click here.

To refer to the Feb '08 BYRDS Newsletter click here.

BYRDS HOME INTERNATIONAL:

BYRDS CAMP:

6/7th August, Hadlow College, Tonbridge, Kent.

 

Matt Hicks talks to the Camp attendees after his ridden demonstration about what it was like taking part in the Horse and Hound 'Winning Edge' series. For a more detailed write up of Camp please click here. (This document may take a while to open).

 

 DVDs FOR HIRE:

We have a series of British Dressage training DVD's available for hire to riding clubs and pony clubs in the region, showing tests from Prelim to Grand Prix and Freestyle to Music, Novice to Grand Prix as well. These can be hired at a cost of  £10 per DVD plus P & P. They are an excellent training tool to explain what a judge is looking for in a test and how each test at each level would be marked. Please contact Claire if you are interested in hiring out any of these DVDs.