NORTH WEST REGION - British Dressage

Newsletter October / November 

NORTH WEST REGION 

For more details contact your RDO 

lou.jones@britishdressage.co.uk 

OUR GREATEST TEAM 

Hello and welcome to October 

& November’s North West 

Newsletter. Well after the 

excitement of the Olympics and 

Paralympics we look back on 

some photos of ‘Our riders in 

the North West’ who made it 

happen for Team GB. They 

were amazing and everyone is 

very proud of what they have 

achieved. Also included we 

look at the S HI; BYRDS— 

Sheepgate results; Area 

Festivals and NW riders 

successes' at the Nationals; 

IOMDG celebrate their first 

Dressage Festival: 

Congratulations to Taise our 

NW Para Rider; as ever 

advertisements and future 

events listings. If you have some 

news then please send it to us at 


For booking information or more details go to www.britishdressage.co.uk/your_regions/north_west_region


SENIOR HOME INTERNATIONAL 2012 

Congratulations to Team North West for their sterling efforts at this years Home 

International at Addington. With a great start in the warm up classes, we had some 

outstanding individual placing’s across all classes. Saturday we were faced with some 

challenging and unexpected issues, but the team held their composure together. 

Sunday was a better day leaving Team North West Vultures in 13th Place and North 

West Buzzards in 15th Place overall. 

Jaine Bailey stole the show with her fabulous ride 'Bon Jon' taking the Elementary 

Individual Title and WS Bakkerat coming in 5th in the Medium Individual. Alexandra 

Ebbinghaus a new member to Team North West did exceptionally well with her 

stunning 5 yr old mare 'Holiday 76' to come 7th in the Novice Open Individual. 

A huge 'Well Done' to all those involved and those that came to support us. 

Addington did an amazing job and a special thanks to Sue Harcombe and Sarah 

Sneyd for their amazing Chef's organisation skills. Not forgetting Kate Cowell as 

Team Trainer who assisted in the warm ups and kept nerves at bay. Well done all and 

Many thanks . 



BYRDS U25 SHEEPGATE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS 

Once again BYRDS NW come up trumps at the Sheepgate U26 National 

Championships. A huge thanks must go to Jill Watts and Sue Blackshaw who stood in as 

Chefs’ for the week and the riders did everyone proud. Throughout the week North West 

had riders placed in most classes : 

INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIPS 

Medium Championship – Kirsty Imm Champion and Lucy Pincus Reserve 

Elementary Championship – Lucy Pincus 3rd. 

Islay Auty Trophy – Emily Watts 

Pony Derby Championship – Maddie Whelan Champion & Holly Needham Reserve 

Young Rider Championship – Zara Myers Champion & Amy Blount 3rd. 

TEAM COMPETITION 

Medium - Team Champions & Amber Barton individual champion within the team 

competition. 

Elementary – Team 3rd 

Novice – Reserve Team Champions & Nancy Rollings individual champion within the team 

competition. 

Preliminary – Reserve Team Champions & Victoria Cavill individual champion within the 

team competition. 



NW BYRDS RIDER ACHIEVED HER DREAM 

AT THE NATIONALS 

North West BYRDS 14 Year Old Chloe Vell bought her first horse at the end 

of 2011 taking the step up from ponies. Kaja di Valentina but Kaja for short, is a 7 year 

old black Hanoverian mare by K2 out of a Weltmeyer mare. Previously owned by Jackie 

Walker, who also owns Pinnochio ridden at the Olympics by Sophie Wells. Chloe went to 

see her and knew she felt right. After several trips to Germany not really seeing the right 

horse Chloe knew what she wanted and Kaja was it !! After quickly qualifying for the 

Regionals at Medium Open and Advanced Medium Restricted, Chloe decided to ride at 

Kingston Maurward in Gloucestershire. Coming 3rd in the Medium Open, only 0.2% 

behind Matt Frost and then taking the title in the Advanced Medium Restricted, Chloe 

was absolutely thrilled ‘ I had a few minor mistakes in the test, Kaja was soft with me 

and I could not believe I won the class and qualified’ . The pressure then mounted when 

British dressage contacted Chloe as the highest scoring qualifier to go in the nationals 

booklet . On the morning of Chloe’s first Nationals, the lorry wouldn’t start and it needed 

a new starter motor. Two hours later they were re-loaded and ready for the off. Just 

making the arena walk only to be greeted with a torrential down pour which soaked 

them both to the skin! In the morning of the test Chloe was up early and Lucy 

Cartwright, Chloe’s trainer worked in Kaja and Chloe in a rather busy warm up arena. 

Kaja remained relaxed and after a while thanks to Lucy, Chloe relaxed as well !! The test 

had no mistakes and with a big atmosphere Chloe was thrilled with Kaja’s performance, 

and even more ecstatic when they went into the lead. They both then had a nervous wait 

while the final 5 riders went. They held their breath then all cheered as Chloe had 

achieved her dream and won the title. I am also delighted to announce that Chloe as 

been selected to ride at the National Convention in November. Well Done Chloe. 



‘A NATIONALS NEWBIE’ BY NICKI PRITCHARD 

No one was more surprised than I when I qualified for the National Championships at 

novice when Beks and I attended our first ever regional at Keysoe in August. Beks or 

Weltbekannt is a 16.2 Hanoverian mare by Worldly who I purchased from Joan Munday of 

Elite Dressage and who I now train with her son, Tim Munday. We went to our first 

competition last year making a rather nervous debut as I had never really been that bothered 

about competing, but once I had, I definitely got the bug. 

We arrived at Stoneleigh on Thursday afternoon. My friend Louise, had kindly taken the day 

off work to come and help us get settled in and to keep a lid on my rising panic . After a 

wander and some retail therapy, It was then time to get Beks and negotiate the horse walk 

with very scary tents on the way to the warm up arena for some exercise. I would liken it to a 

Formula 1 track on race day – many big horses with very big trots going really fast. Having 

survived this we settled Beks back in her stable for the night. The next morning I arrived to 

tack Beks up ready for the arena walk at 7am. It was reminiscent of a hunt meet as we all 

waited for the horse walk to open which Beks found more and more exciting. 

This is were it dawned on me, 

I’m here, at the Nationals! 

Our final warm up went well 

thanks to Tim who had come 

down for the day to help me 

and then it was time to trot 

in under the archway for our 

test. Beks was definitely in 

the mood to show off and I 

began to relax as the test 

progressed. Then, just as we 

turned across the 

diagonal in canter, the crowd 

watching the arena 

next door burst out clapping at the end of that test, this resulted in a large spook and flying 

change from Beks. We recovered and carried on to complete the test – halt, salute (I’d have 

scored a 10 for my feeling of relief!!). When my score went up, I was only 2% off the leader 

despite our upset and lying 7th. The wait for the final competitors’ scores to be posted was 

excruciating but we retained our 7th place and got to do the prize giving lap of honour. I have 

always enjoyed going to watch the Nationals but competing there will be a very special 

memory. So now it’s all over I’m off to buy a clapping CD in preparation for Hartpury in April, 

where we will be trying to do even better at elementary having just won our first Pet Plan 

Area Festival. Weltbekannt means ‘world famous’ in German and I think she has a 

plan............ 



NW RIDERS SUCCESS AT THE PET PLAN 

AREA FESTIVALS 

Amy Hazel and Westhills Wrock Star 

have certainly had a winning start to 

their partnership by claiming Prelim Area 

Champions at Weston Lawns Area 

Championships. Amy bought Jacob last 

year as a 5 year old and spent the winter 

training hard with Julie Yardley. 

Amy says 'it is great to have won this as it 

is great to have something as a 

recognition of all the hard work we have 

put in’. When I got him he had no self 

balance in the canter and would have to 

make sure we rode in an arena with 

fencing as we were likely to be on the other side !'. 'I’m so pleased to have found him. He is such 

a laid back character and now we are going to have a great winter together training and playing 

a little, ready for the championships in April.' 

Fay Butlin with Freckleton Melody 

decided to have a go at Petplan after 

taking a visit to the Championships in 

April 2011. She wasn’t sure what to 

expect of the competition, but as Fay 

could compete at every phase of the 

contest fairly locally she thought it 

would be worth trying to qualify. After 

getting her two qualifying scores, Fay 

went to the Area festival at Weston 

Lawns. Melody is not always an easy 

Ride and Fay never really knows what she is going to be working with until the day comes. 

Luckily for Fay, Melody tried really hard for her in their test on the day and they were totally 

thrilled to get the top placing. ‘I am now very excited about going to the championships in April 

next year; a Championship I admired so much when watching it myself just a year ago’. 

Sam Fish with Cumeragh House Mac took the Medium Open title at Kingswood Area 

Festival. Mac is 10 years old and by the TB, 'Pocketed', out if a Shire mare, 'Mill Lane Pearl'. 

He won the medium open at Kingswood last year so it was great to do it again this year and 

also to be 2nd in the Advanced Medium Open as well! ‘I am really pleased with his 

performance and we are now working on PSG for next year’ 



Sam Fish riding : Cumeragh 

House Mac at Kingswood Pet 

Plan, Area Festival 2012 

Image Courtesy of Real Time Imaging 

Margaret Bevan secured the 

advanced medium restricted with 

Lancier. The 12yr Bay Gelding by 

Lorentin ‘ George’ did a beautiful 

flowing test, and even made a minor 

mistake! But Margaret trained by 

Richard Davison and Julie Yardley, held 

her nerve and was thrilled with his 

performance. Although the celebrations 

were put on hold until Margaret arrived at Blenhiem Horse Trails that evening, when 

she met up with her Husband Martin. I would imagine the Champagne was already 

on Ice!!! 

MEMBERS MEETINGS & LECTURE 

FREE FOR ALL !! 

Wednesday 21st November @ The Park Inn, Foregate, Telford Centre, Telford, 

Shropshire, TF3 4NA 

Dr Moira Lafferty - From Declaration to Scores – Sport psychology tips and techniques 

for enjoying the dressage competition . Come and meet the Committee, Get 

involved in your region and have your say. 6.30pm Start, please contact your RDO 

if you wish to attend, and anything you wish to add to the agenda. 


Northern half of the region’s meeting is being booked for February 2013’ more 

details to come. 

DEMO 



ISLE OF MAN UPDATE 

IOMDG—BALLAKANEEN DRESSAGE FESTIVAL 

Ballakaneen owned by Anne King, a superb new venue for dressage on the Isle of 

Man, held their first dressage competition on the last weekend in September. It 

wasn’t just an ordinary dressage competition, it was a Festival with style , showing 

of its splendid new facilities, friendly atmosphere and even the weather was on 

their side. IOMDG enjoyed bumper entries from Prelim to Advanced Medium 

Freestyle With thanks to Marian Greene and Sandra Edwards for Judging such large 

classes and all the sponsors and helpers that made it a very successful event. 

Angela Kennedy IOM representative and Rowan Caley IOM Para Rider, took part 

in the Isle of Man sporting enterprise program last weekend at the National Sports 

Centre, which was organised by Dame Kelly Holmes ’Double Gold Enterprise ltd’ 

This sporting programme is looking at the future of Sport and athletes with their 

coaches where invited to attend. There was a wide variety of athletes from different 

sports and they are all helped by the Isle of Man Sports Aid Foundation. Angela is 

Rowans coach and she was in the coach development sessions which were taken by 

Mark Bennet MBE. ‘what surprised me most was how much in common coaching in 

the field of equestrian sports has with other sports and just how much there is that 

can be of benefit by working together’ Angela said. Rowan took part in the psychology, 

bio mechanics Upper body and core circuit training as well as the self massage. 

The positive part of this scheme is it follows up at various weekends throughout the 

year, so they can see what achievements have been made, and support for coaches 



NORTH WEST PARA NEWS 

Congratulations must go to NORTH WEST'S 

Para rider Tasie Neale and her fantastic horse 

Romanze In Dur 'Rosa' for not only qualifying 

for the KBIS Grade IV champs at Stoneleigh - 

but she won and is now the Grade IV KBIS 

National Champion and Taise has just found out 

she has made the final selection of the World 

Class Programme. Well done Tasie from all at 

North West, that is a fantastic achievement. 

New Information is now available on the North West Regional Webpage on Joint 

Regional training with Wales and the Northern Region, more training is currently 

being organised for other areas of the region, and this will be updated on the 

webpage as soon as I get it. There is also more information around how to get 

started as a Para, with direct links to the RDA hubs, PDDT funding and the BEF. 

To join the Para’s mailing list please contact : Sarah Sneyd (NW Para Rep) on 

sarahsneyd@live.co.uk 

JOINT PARA TRAINING 

With Cathy Burrell (Northern Para Rep/ Coach) at Middleton Park RDA Centre, 

Leeds. 2012 Dates - 14TH OCTOBER. This is Joint Regional Training with the 

Northern Region. To reserve you place please email Cathyeburrell@aol.com and 

put a cheque for £30 payable to British Dressage in the post to Cathy Burrell, 

Clarebria, Church Lane, Pannal, Harrogate, HG31NQ. Also there is a Test Riding 

Clinic on the 11th NOVEMBER -Middleton Park RDA does provide horses for hire, 

for this you will need to contact Middleton Park direct. 

With Tess Chew at Maelor EC, Gresford Road, Hope, Wales, LL129SD. 2012 Dates - 

15TH OCTOBER. This is Joint Regional Training with Wales Region. To reserve a 

place please for more details and costs contact Angela Townsend on 07789225873 

or email angel125t@btinternet.com. Please note - Horses are not available for hire 

in this training session. 



WANTED COUNTY CO-ORDINATORS 

CCO’S wanted to help volunteer in CHESHIRE & STAFFORDSHIRE Counties. If 

you can spare some time to assist in organising training clinics, visit venues and be 

a Point of Contact for members in your county, then please give me a ring or send 

me an email to discuss further. In 2013 we are holding an Inter County Competition, 

and you would be an integral part of the organisation for that competition. More 

details will be available towards the end of the year. 

TRAINING CLINICS 

With RICHARD HOPE at Stourport Riding Centre, Hartlebury Road, Stourport. DY13 9JD 

2012 DATES - 26TH OCTOBER, 23RD NOVEMBER, 14TH DECEMBER Each private session 

will last approximately 45 mins, Cost BD Members £40.00 / Non BD Members £45.00. CLINIC 

ORGANISER SUZI DOUGLAS-OSBORNE (WORCS COUNTY CO-ORDINATOR) For 

further information, booking details and times please contact Suzi on 07548 517467 or email 

Suzi at suzi7@btopenworld.com 

With ISOBEL WESSELS at Kings Equestrian Centre, Bromyard, Hereford 

2012 DATES - 19 OCTOBER, 13 NOVEMBER & 7 DECEMBER 

Private Lessons with Isobel (40 mins) Members £75.00 / Non-members £80.00 For further 

information, booking details and times please contact Judith Harris on 01885 400320 

or email Judith at jharris256@btinternet.com 

With ISOBEL WESSELS at Knowsley Hall, Nr Liverpool (by kind permission of Lady 

Derby) 2012 DATES :23/24 OCTOBER, 15/16 NOVEMBER, 13/14 DECEMBER, 8/9 JANUARY 

2013 - Private Lessons with Isobel (40 mins) Members £70.00 / Non-members £75.00 

For further information, booking details and times please contact Helen Bradley on 01995 

643115 / 077111 93001 or email Helen at hjbradley@btinternet.com 

PLEASE NOTE SPECTATORS ALLOWED ONLY WITH THE PRIOR PERMISSION OF RDO 



with KATE COWELL UKCC LEVEL 3 at Kingswood Equestrian Centre, Wolverhampton, 

WV7 3AH 

2012 DATES - 19TH NOVEMBER, 10TH DECEMBER Private lessons with Kate (40 mins) Cost: 

Members £45.00 / Non-members £50.00 For further information, booking details and times 

please contact Debbie Tandy on 07828 201702 or email Debbie at debbietandy@uwclub.net 

with KATE COWELL UKCC LEVEL 3 at Allens Hill Competition Centre, Pershore, 

Worcestershire WR10 2DU 

2012 DATES - 23rd OCTOBER, 20TH NOVEMBER Private lessons with Kate (40 mins) Cost: 

Members £45.00 / Non-members £50.00 

For further information, booking details and times please contact Sue Harcombe on 01568 

760649 / 07792 573507 or email Sue at mr.raindrop@hotmail.co.uk 

With KATE COWELL UKCC LEVEL 3 at Kings Equestrian, Bromyard, Herefordshire 

2012 DATES - 31ST OCTOBER, 27th NOVEMBER &13TH DECEMBER Private lessons with Kate 

(40 mins) Cost: Members £50.00 / Non-members £55.00 For further information, booking details 

and times please contact Sue Harcombe on 01568 760649 / 07792 573507 or email Sue at 

mr.raindrop@hotmail.co.uk 

with HELEN BRADLEY At Croft Riding Centre, Croft, Nr Warrington, 

For booking information or more details go to www.britishdressage.co.uk/your_regions/north_west_region 

Cheshire WA3 7AS 

2012 DATES - NOVEMBER 11TH, DECEMBER 9TH & JANUARY 20TH 2013 Each session including 

the test riding will last approximately 40 minutes at a cost of Members £40.00 / Nonmembers 

£45.00 Semi-private sessions may be available - Members £25 / Non-members £30 For 

further information, booking details and times please contact Ellen Eccles on 07889 273367 or 

email Ellen at ej.eccles12@btinternet.com 

With LORNA GEORGE at Watt Meadow Equestrian Centre, Cannock Road, Shareshill, 

Woverhampton, WV107PJ. Each private lesson will last approx. 40 mins. COST BD members 

£38.00 / non members £42.00. 2012 DATES - 18TH NOVEMBER. For further information, booking 

details and times please contact Justine York on 07877063398 or email 

justine217@hotmail.com 

With CLIVE HALSALL at Walton Fold Farm, Longridge, Lancs. Each private session will last 

approximately 45mins. COST BD Members £45.00 / Non BD members £50.00. 

2012 DATES - 10 NOVEMBER, 8 DECEMBER. For further information, booking details and 

times please contact Ellen Eccles on 07889273367 or email Ellen at ej.eccles12@btinternet.com 

With HARRY PAYNE at Kings Equestrian, Bromyard, Herefordshire 2012 DATES - 19th 

NOVEMBER Private lessons with Harry (40 mins) Cost: Members £45.00 / Non-members £50.00 

For further information, booking details and times please contact Sue Harcombe 

on 01568 760649 / 07792 573507 or email Sue at mr.raindrop@hotmail.co.uk 

with HARRY PAYNE (UKCC LEVEL 3) at Crowberry Stud, Crowberry Lane, Middleton, 

Staffordshire 2012 DATES - 21ST OCTOBER, 11TH NOVEMBER 23RD DECEMBER 

Each session including the test riding will last approximately 40 minutes at a cost of Members 

£40.00 / Non-members £45.00. For further information, booking details and times 

lou.jones@britishdressage.co.uk or 07968819406


With LEONIE SMITH at Chorley Equestrian, Lower Chorley Farm, Chorley, Bridgenorth, Shropshire, 

WV166P. Each private lesson will last approx 40 mins. Cost BD members £40.00 / Non members 

£45.00. 2012 DATES - 11TH NOVEMBER & 8TH DECEMBER. For further information, 

booking details and times, please contact Lou Jones on 07968819406 or email 


Dressage to Music With Helen Bradley (Trainer & List 1 Judge) & Jenny Johnson 

BD Members £125.00 / Non BD Members £150.00 Full details on the Webpage. 

Reviewing your existing routine? A private 30 min session during which you can either Ride through 

your test being judged and then receiving feedback or Ride through your test being given informal 

feedback, followed by suggestions on ways to improve 

BD members £40.00 / non BD members £45.00 

2012 DATES More to come—watch webpage for details. 

Pilates at Myerscough College, Lancashire with Steven Wright - £30.00 (class size limited), 

Commencing : 11th OCTOBER - 15th NOVEMBER 2012 700pm - 800pm. To reserve a place or for 

further information please contact Helen Bradley on 01995643115 / 07711193001 or email Helen on 

hjbradley@btinternet.com 

JUDGE TRAINING 

NW Pet Plan Area Festivals - Judge Training from Novice - PSG 

27th October Helen Bradley / Myerscough Pet Plan Area Festival / Novice 

30th October Helen Bradley / Myerscough Pet Plan Area Festival / Elementary 

31st October Clive Halsall / Myerscough Pet Plan Area Festival / Adv Med & PSG 

ALL JUDGE TRAINING COSTS £12.00 per session FOR AF'S 

Director of British Dressage Mrs. Jennie Loriston – Clarke will be conducting the 

one day List 1,2 & 2a Judge Seminar on Monday 29th October at Field House Equestrian 

Centre, Birch Cross, Marchington, Uttoxeter, Stafford, ST14 8NX, 10:30am – 

3:30pm approx. The full programme will be published at a later date and the cost will 

be £15 per person. Please contact your RDO for more details. Application forms can 

be found on the NW web-page. 

With Isobel Wessels List 5 / 6 & Trainees Judges Seminar 2012 

Venue & Date To be confirmed Very soon 



ADVERTISEMENTS 

SPONSORSHIP 

BD North West is looking for Sponsors for 

2013 Regional Activities, Teams and High 

Profile Competitions. Sponsorship 

packages start from £500 upwards and 

they can be tailored to suit. North West 

Region alone reaches a vast amount of 

people, so is this the time for you to get 

involved and maximise your business 

opportunities. Contact Lou Jones for 

more details 


JLC—TRAINING 

Jenny is back at Ingestre EC 

on Tuesday 30th October 2012. 

For more details please visit our 

website - www.ingestre.com 

ADVERTISE HERE FOR £5.00 

SPECIAL PRICE FOR 2012

NORTH WEST REGION - British Dressage

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