Connie Nicolaou on Thornfield Baloo.
RIDINGRIDERS have done the Island proud at the British Riding Club’s Winter Area Dressage at Sparsholt College.
Even though for many of the riders, it was their first time representing the IW Riding Club, they showed no nerves to produce some brilliant results.
The best result of the day came in the individual competition, the Royal Windsor British Riding Club qualifier, where IW riders took the top three places.
Winning, and qualifying for the finals, was Mary Harding on Dreamers’ Boy, with Katie O’Neill and Just Mylo second. Third place was shared between Abbie Denham and Merrie Mainstream, and Natasha Coventry and Shamlord Chardonnay, with Natasha also taking sixth aboard Shamrock Sunrise.
In the team event, the IW Riding Club had two teams, each containing four members who had to ride different tests. Their placings contributed to an overall score.
Against stiff competition, the junior black team came second overall, missing out on victory and qualification for the finals by just one point.
In their sections, Connie Nicolaou and Thornfield Baloo came first, Mary and Dreamers’ Boy also came first, Natasha and Shamrock Sunrise came fourth and Katie and Just Mylo came sixth.
Meanwhile the junior gold team came third overall.
Their team comprised Abbie and Merrie Mainstream, who came second, Natasha and Shamlord Chardonnay, who came fourth, Amy Hose and Squirrell, who came third, and Jessica Vanassche and Penstrumbly Push Pop, who came sixth.
The senior team, comprising Pam Gardener and Island Lad (fourth), Alison Hill and Murphy (tenth), Philip Sampson and Derry Boy (tenth) and Kirsty Hume and Stormin Norman (ninth), came eighth overall.