S&E Regional Updates
Here you can find everything you need to know about the latest news and updates in the South & East region!
Silver Anniversary Ball
11th November at Hilton Metropole, Brighton
Tickets are now on sale! We've have been working very hard behind the scenes to make this a night to remember, with auctions, entertainment and FIZZ! Tickets are very limited and are sold on a first come, first served basis, priced at £75 per person or £700 for a table of ten. This will include a drinks reception, dinner, some table wine and entertainment.
Senior Home Nations
23 - 24 September 2023 at Kelsall Hill, Cheshire
Last weekend was the finale to our team season the Senior Home Nations, kindly hosted by Kelsall Hill EQ who made us very welcome. Our squad of intrepid dressage riders and their steeds travelled ‘up north’, some clocking up over 5 hours of driving. As with any regional show the competition was fierce so it showcases riders from each region, from Novice to PSG. It is testament to our region that so many members are prepared to go the extra mile, often managing work and family to step up and represent the S&E.
All our squad showed the very best team spirit, supporting one another in and out of the arena in any way they could as many said, "all we could see is a sea of green!" We would like to thank the generous and wonderfully kind supporter who funded some fantastic new green and ivory team stocks, beautifully designed and manufactured by Equi-jewel. Thank you also goes to Atlee Country Stores who donated some fantastic team caps.
Our teams were supported throughout the weekend by coaches Char Lassetter and Hayley Liddiard who worked tirelessly with our Development Officers Sharon Walker and Katharine Perry to coach, encourage and support our riders.
With the warm-up tests completed and some impressive scores and results from the SE team's we moved onto two days of team tests. One test a day may sound simple enough to achieve but anyone who has ridden at a team event will know it's incredibly hard to keep the focus and energy going to pull off two 'blip free' tests. This competition is judged as a 'team of four' event, and as individuals at each level so every rider has a part to play and where team camaraderie and support is so pivotal.
Unfortunately, this year the converted cup was just out of the region’s reach but our ‘ET’ Team of Zoe Kirkpatrick, Kelsey Love, Sian Sheridan and Daryl Ware came third out of 34 teams! Lastly thanks to all the support teams, grooms and family members who made the trip up and not forgetting our wonderful horses.
Inter County Challenge 2023
1 - 3 September 2023 at Bury Farm, Bucks
The sun shone, friends were made, much laughter was had, and some fantastic scores were achieved! A whopping 132 riders attended the S&E Intercounty Challenge, hosted by Bury Farm Equestrian Village. Representing 11 counties across the S&E region, this event is a highlight in the regional calendar. As ever, the competition was close run, and we are delighted to announce that Team Hertfordshire took the county title for a second year, with second place for Kent, and a third placing for team Surrey.
Congratulations to the Hertfordshire team: Becky Hutchinson, Melissa Storey, Victoria Risley, Jenny Gattuso, Isobel Morton, Joanne Brett, Scott Allen, Victoria Risley, John Osborne, Maisie Filler, Cassie Osman, Thomas Chan.
No ICC would be complete without the annual stable decorating competition – with the theme of coronation and royalty the county stables looked fit for a king. This year’s deserved winners were Norfolk – complete with a drum horse, closely followed by Suffolk who went all out to produce their own coronation rap, performed by Jasmine Baker. The award for welcome parade turnout was won by Kent, who put their artistic skills to great use and arrived with a beautifully painted pony!
The competition itself could not run without the hard work from our Development Officers, Sharon, and Katharine, supported by their team of County Coordinators, team coaches, Judges, Commentators and a troupe of volunteers – Thank you all for your continued hard work before, during and after the competition, the epitome of teamwork! Thank you to Anne and her team at Bury Farm for welcoming us with open arms, providing catering, team dinners and all the infrastructure that’s required for such a massive event.
Lastly, a big thank you to our regional and team sponsors who supported us with funds and amazing prizes, our riders were thrilled with your generosity:
- Chart Stables, for sponsoring the competition plaques.
- TDR Dressage Ltd for sponsoring all the rosettes and sashes and bottles of fizz!
- Olive Print & Graphics for funding prizes for our lucky teams.
- SPILLERS for sponsoring goody bags for our teams.
- Premier Equine for supporting us with prizes for all our teams.
Upcoming events
Want to get involved, check out our training page to see what training events are coming up, from camps to clinics, youth and para training days to evenings out.
