Trailblazers showing, show jumping and dressage qualifiers break all records
By Amanda Stevenson
Event diary
17 September 2008 13:44
The Trailblazers series has broken all records this year. The UK-wide series of regional, unaffiliated show jumping, dressage and showing qualifiers captured the imagination of over 200,000 riders and culminated in nearly 3000 qualifying entries to the Spillers Trailblazers championships, which were held at Stoneleigh last month.
Riders who attended the Spillers Trailblazers championships had battled for their places via the South Essex Insurance Brokers series of regional Trailblazers competitions, held earlier in the year.
The new showing class proved to be a big hit in its inaugural season, providing budding show handlers and riders with the chance to enjoy their time in the ring without the stress and pressure that affiliated competition can sometimes bring.
Dressage Championship classes were run from Preliminary to Elementary level and had the added kudos of being judged by leading British Dressage officials. The prestigious Senior Trailblazers Elementary Dressage Championship was won on a score of 69.1% by Caroline Clews from Bicester in Oxfordshire, riding Woody, while the Junior Elementary Championship was claimed by 12-year-old Georgie Toole from Leigh Sinton in Worcestershire, riding Brio II.
The Show Jumping Championship classes, running from 75cm to 1.05m, were real crowd pleasers. The 1.05m Senior winner was Ceri Wardrope from Carlisle in Cumbria, riding Pennington Star, while 16-year-old Chloe Newall from Winsford in Cheshire, riding Toffee took home the 1.05m Junior title.
The Supreme Showing Championship went to a delighted Simone Cable from Preston in Lancashire, with the stunning appaloosa Apache Warrior. The pair won both the show pony class and the coloured horse or pony class.
“We had a brilliant time at the championships and it still hasn’t sunk in that we won our class,” said 1.05 Junior Show jumping Champion Chloe Newall. “Toffee my 13.3hh, 15-year-old, Connemara x Welsh Section D was on flying form.”
“The competition was impressively stiff in every section,” said Norman Bargh Chairman of Trailblazers. "It’s so rewarding to see how the series builds the confidence of leisure riders, giving them the chance to reach realistic goals in fun dressage, show jumping and showing competitions. The quality of horsemanship was excellent on the whole, indicating that a little nurturing at grass roots level can pay dividends in boosting morale, talent and competition experience for those who prefer to ride purely for pleasure.”
SPILLERS produces an extensive range of feeds for optimum health and performance and have the perfect feed for all kinds of horse or pony at every level of work or rest. For further information visit the Spillers website at www.spillers-feeds.com
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Photo: 16-year-old Chloe Newall from Winsford in Cheshire, riding Toffee, who took the Spillers Trailblazers Championships 1.05m Junior title.