Festival Focus - Alnwick Ford Equestrian

Alnwick Ford was our next venue for the Summer Area Festivals (4 – 6 August). This popular Northumberland venue welcomed riders in the hopes to gain tickets to the championships in October.

Petplan’s picks! 

RAF IT Technician Holly Croall placed in the top three in three classes at Alnwick riding her nine year old Part Bred Welsh, Bluebank Geronimo in the Medium and Medium Freestyle Silver as well as the Advanced Medium Bronze, qualifying in two of them. Buying ‘Ronnie’ five years ago as a project to sell on he’s still part of the furniture at home Holly tells us, “In those 5 years we have gone from spooky and wobbly Intro’s to qualifying for PSG.” They have qualified multiple times for the NAF Five Star Winter Dressage Championships at various levels too and love competing in the Area Festivals, “I always love being a part of them. I find it is a great way to allow everyone to enjoy the sport and get your competitive fix!”

Talking through his test Holly said, “His highlights are always his changes, he really pings off the ground, it’s his party piece! I was also very happy to get 7.5’s across the board for my centre lines too!” One for riding an accurate test, “It’s always so nice to be rewarded for that.” They have altered their training at home to include more hacking which has helped Ronnie’s stamina and hindquarters. Next up is Prix St Georges and continuing their journey through the Area Festivals.

Turning on the music and getting the judges toe tapping was Rebecca Winstanley and Samurai VI in the Novice Freestyle Bronze. “We’ve been a partnership for about two and a half years and it’s certainly had its highs and lows with multiple lameness’s thrown in,” Rebecca told us. Going to the show to just have a ‘nice day out’ there were no expectations, “I didn’t even buy a bottle of fake fizz! I just wanted to go and enjoy riding my music.”

With ‘Simba’ by her side they both put their best hooves forward to produce a 69.44% test, “He really tried his best so I was very pleased. When the results came out and I saw my score I was over the moon and then to actually see my name as the winner at the end of the class was just a dream and so unexpected.” The Area Festivals have become a small family for Rebecca, “I absolutely love competing at the Area Festivals. I love the atmosphere and the build-up, how supportive everyone is and seeing all my friends come together and ride as well!”

Picking up the reins late in life, Liz Pickering was in her thirties when she got on a horse for the first time and has never looked back. Alongside Holling Blue Blaze they came fifth in the Prelim Bronze. Originally getting into horses with the thanks to her family who gifted her some money to buy her first horse, it was a few years before she’d get in the dressage arena.

“I did lots of hacking and fun rides for the next few years on various horses. Then five years ago when I was 60 I had a really bad fall, thinking I wouldn’t ride again sold my horse.” A very good friend her Liz’s gave her an opportunity, “She gave me Ice, her nine year old horse on permanent loan. He wasn’t well educated or schooled and was a bit of a project to work on but I jumped at the chance, as he was so handsome.” They later found he was a quick learner and was very rhythmic, so they entered a few low level dressage competitions. A trainer then suggested British Dressage and they headed off to their first Area Festival at Alnwick last year, “I was unprepared for Ice’s reaction to the atmosphere. He freaked out and spun in the arena, refusing to settle. I felt so defeated and embarrassed retired and left.”

However, this was not the end of their story, coming back a year later to prove to themselves they could do it, “Not one to feel sorry for myself and knowing my lovely horse had the potential and ability to produce good test I continued with my lessons and started to compete again determined to qualify again in 2023.”  With a goal of just competing the test smoothly with a smile on her face, they surpassed their expectations, “I was so relived going down the centre line to a square halt knowing we had both given it 100%, then to my delight I was presented with a fifth place rosette, this time I was crying tears of joy.”

“This experience has given me the confidence and drive to believe in myself to now look to compete in Novice classes and hopefully qualify next year.” They want to pass on this message “It’s never too late to achieve.”

Training towards the Area Festival each year since 2021, Laura Robson and her fifteen year old gelding Holling Blue Rock competed in their first Freestyle in Novice Silver. They have made their way up from Prelim and are now working at Medium at home, “I always enjoy competing at Area Festivals, everyone is so friendly and they are so well run and the venues are great. I love seeing our training paying off and seeing our hard work through our scores improving each time!”

Dancing to a Abba Medley they impressed the judges to be awarded 70.46%, “I love their songs so much and I think it's important to ride to music that you love, it makes it so enjoyable! Our highlight of our test has to be our medium canter to the chorus of 'dancing queen', it's such an incredible feeling!” Training at home consists of lots of hacking for fitness, bi-weekly lesson with Bobby Hayler-Wright and schooling sessions once or twice a week. They now hope to qualify at Medium next year but are looking forward to riding their freestyle at the championships in October.

Alnwick Ford Equestrian Winners  

Petplan Equine Preliminary Bronze

Jade Thompson and She’s Gold, 70.07 %

Petplan Equine Preliminary Freestyle Bronze  

Su McAnelly and Finnbar Star XL, 66.76 %

Petplan Equine Preliminary Silver 

Susan Jane Soley and Ellie VII, 70.90 %

Petplan Equine Preliminary Freestyle Silver

Susan Jane Soley and Ellie VII, 75.46 %   

Petplan Equine Novice Bronze

Emily Avery and KGB Sandro, 68.89 %

Petplan Equine Novice Freestyle Bronze   

Rebecca Winstanley and Samurai VI, 69.44 %

Petplan Equine Novice Silver 

Lilly Godfrey and Fourstar Struck I, 71.04 %

Petplan Equine Novice Freestyle Silver  

Laura Eleanor Robson and Holling Blue Rock, 70.46 %        

Petplan Equine Elementary Bronze

Lauren Crowe and Scout, 68.63 %

Petplan Equine Elementary Freestyle Bronze  

Lauren Crowe and Scout, 70.90 %

Petplan Equine Elementary Silver   

Rosie McAuley and Rooney, 71.23 %

Petplan Equine Elementary Freestyle Silver 

Jasmine June Bone and Rackwood Danny Boy, 69.87 %     

Petplan Equine Medium Bronze 

Cat Dalton and Derrentigue Bruce, 67.75 %

Petplan Equine Medium Freestyle Bronze   

Emma G.h. Haigh and Guess What III, 68.83 %

Petplan Equine Medium Silver

Gillian Margaret Brown and Goruchel Peter Pan, 67.94 %              

Petplan Equine Medium Freestyle Silver  

Gillian Margaret Brown and Goruchel Peter Pan, 70.50 %

Petplan Equine Advanced Medium Bronze 

Nicola J Naprstek and Don Cru, 67.52 % 

Petplan Equine Advanced Medium Freestyle Bronze  

Shelagh L Steven and Balhagarty Midget Gem, 63.39 %  

Petplan Equine Advanced Medium Silver

Jade Whitelaw and Late Night, 68.97 %

Petplan Equine Advanced Medium Freestyle Silver  

Samantha Eke and Gibside Jacob, 71.94 %         

Petplan Equine Prix St Georges Bronze

Susie White and Seventh Heaven II, 64.75 %

Petplan Equine Prix St Georges Freestyle Bronze   

Susie White and Seventh Heaven II, 67.33 %

Petplan Equine Prix St Georges Silver

Heidi Hutchinson and Ellison, 66.23 %    

Petplan Equine Inter I Bronze 

Jade Whitelaw and Dauphin III, 63.63 %

Petplan Equine Inter I Freestyle Bronze

Jade Whitelaw and Dauphin III, 64.33 %

Petplan Equine Inter I Freestyle Silver

Heidi Hutchinson and Ellison, 62.01 %