BHS TREC national champions crowned
20th September 2011Top competitors from the sport of BHS TREC travelled to Devon recently to contest the BHS TREC Championship of Great Britain.
These Championships, sponsored by South Essex Insurance Brokers, are the pinnacle of the BHS TREC calendar. They are contested across several levels of competence and competitors earn their place at the finals at qualifying events held across the country.
This year’s Championships took place at Holwell Lawn, Dartmoor, Devon. The POR Orienteering phase, set by local organiser Julie Brand from TREC South West, and Senior Technical Delegates Robert Billson and Helen Hunt, ensured that competitors had a testing and technical route which made the most of what Dartmoor has to offer.
The PTV Obstacle course, designed by Julie Brand, was imaginative matching local points of interest with each obstacle and ensured that all riders were tested on their skill and accuracy regardless of the level.
In the Level 2 Championship, Lianna Bourne on her six-year-old Retrosketch Ruby topped off a great year by becoming the BHS TREC SEIB Performance Equestrian Level 2 Individual Champion. Earlier this year Lianna became the Scottish TREC Champion at the Brenfield BHS TREC Qualifier. Her ambition for 2012 is to concentrate on competing at the higher Level 3.
The Level 2 Pairs class sponsored by Litkit was won by Kim Nairn and Wendy Jeans. Kim rode Delicious Dolores Delaney, a 23-year-old mare kindly lent to her by Wendy, while Wendy rode her own 17.2hh Eno. Winning the Level 2 Pairs Championship is particularly special, since due to an accident the only other competition Kim had entered this season was the qualifier.
Lucy Thompson and her horse Mr G executed great performances in both the POR and PTV phases to be crowned Level 3 Individual Champions and were presented with prizes from Luna Rider.
Level 3 Pairs Champions were Clare Reynolds on her own Starlight Sylvester and Joy Taylor on Blueprint. Clare is not stranger to national success, having taken the Level 3 Individual Championship last year. Both Clare and Joy are particularly strong in the orienteering phase and have been an unstoppable force this year.
Hilary Barnard fought off a strong Level 4 class – the highest level in the sport - to be crowned Individual Champion of Great Britain. Hilary, who hails from Bristol is the recipient of a saddle kindly donated by The Worshipful Company of Saddlers. She rode her own New Forest pony, Harvey who she shares with her daughter Eleanor and was delighted with their performance.
Special Prizes were awarded for the following:
The Walbro Lucky Jim trophy was presented to Jane Armstong-Lancaster and her horse Even Worse for having the highest PTV score across all the levels.
The Jane Goldbart Memorial trophy was presented to the horse/pony judged to be in the best condition throughout the event. This trophy was awarded to Julie Allsop and her horse Thomas.
The Anne Williamson Memorial trophy was presented to Lianna Bourne who had the highest second-day score, resident in Scotland.
The BHS Prize was awarded to Yolande Eldridge and her horse Monnington Showbiz for being the best presented horse and rider throughout the competition.
The team competition was won by God Help Us, comprising Lisa Geer, Katie Holmes, Bob Cripps and Donna Leavens. Central TREC Daffo Dragons were the highest placed British Riding Club team competing at the Championships.
Lorraine Owens presented the Irish-Welsh Friendship trophy to Rob Davies who has donated all his vetting fees this year to Race for Life.
The England team was once again the proud winners of the Nations Cup under the guidance of Fiona Thurnell, with Wales, Scotland and Ireland following on respectively.
Next year’s BHS TREC Championship of Great Britain is to be held from 10-12 August 2012 at Hilton of Beath Farm, Fife in Scotland.