Festival Focus - Beacons Equestrian
With just a few Area Festival left in the Winter Season, Beacons Equestrian 18 – 20 February was up next to welcome riders in Wales. See who was successful in gaining the last few tickets to Addington!
Petplan’s picks!
Having a break from the competition arena for almost two years, Rebecca Lock and Brickwell Mr Pickwick are back. Heading down the centre line in the Elementary Bronze to take the win with 70.29%. Rebecca spoke on social media to express how proud she was of her partner, “Tho really didn’t owe me anything after all that he won and done for me. I just love at fifteen years old he still gets excited at a competition. His test felt amazing and halfway round I just keep saying to myself, don’t make a mistake, and as soon as we did our final halt I could breathe.”
Qualifying for the Elementary Bronze Championships in 2021, but not attending due to a ligament injury, the pair have been working on their recovery slowly, “A full year with a pony that was only slight lame but didn’t want to improve, I talked with the vets about him never coming sound and I had got my head round never riding him again. So an early retirement was the least I could give him. Then February last year he came up sound.” They then worked tirelessly, in a very wet summer, to rehabilitate him, “Slowly asked more of him and he just remembered everything.”
Pinching herself daily that her dancing partner was fit enough to keep doing what they both loved, “I just couldn’t believe I have my best friend back. He was a little fireball in the warmup.” It was a personal best score that won them a place at Addington and Rebecca loved being back at stay away shows, “Everyone was so friendly and we all supported each other. This weekend reminded me why I love the sport.”
Last years Advanced Medium Freestyle Bronze winners at the Petplan Summer Area Festival Championships, Amy Foster-Smith and Kimberley SHR are hoping to add another title to their record. Stepping up a level, they went home after being awarded 66.08% at Beacons Equestrian, with a ticket to Addington in April. They also gained another ticket, this time to the NAF Five Star Winter Championships in the Advanced Medium Freestyle Silver, the following weekend.
Beacons Equestrian Winners
Petplan Winter Preliminary Bronze
Skylar Fear-Monday and Greenbarrow Goldleaf, 69.10 %
Petplan Winter Preliminary Silver
Megan Hutchison and Foxcourt Dewi Sant, 69.72 %
Petplan Winter Novice Bronze
Zara Owen and Fairgrove Tiger Bay, 68.13 %
Petplan Winter Novice Silver
Ava Turner and Danash Tommy Tucker, 70.07 %
Petplan Winter Elementary Bronze
Rebecca Lock and Brickell Mr Pickwick, 70.29 %
Petplan Winter Elementary Silver
David Molloy and Paddy’s Flight, 69.12 %
Petplan Winter Medium Bronze
Bryley Llewelyn and Cwmtysswg Will, 67.55 %
Petplan Winter Medium Silver
Beth Phillippa Miller and U-Gino, 68.19 %
Petplan Winter Advanced Medium Bronze
Helen Marsh and Disco Chick, 67.18 %
Petplan Winter Advanced Medium Silver
Jaz Armistead and Shiraz II, 63.50 %
Petplan Winter Prix St Georges Bronze
Amy Foster-Smith and Kimberley SHR, 66.08 %
Petplan Winter Prix St Georges Silver
Samantha Fish and Cumeragh House Mac, 66.62 %
Petplan Winter Intermediate I Bronze
Nancy Joanne Rollings and Wellbeloved, 62.01 %
Petplan Winter Inter I Silver
Gemma Haworth and Kilcorban Cottage Fire, 66.96 %