There was heartbreak for young Cumbrian rider Lexi McSherry when she lost her pony Marons Masterpiece after a severe attack of laminitis. The pair had only been competing together for a short while but were already in the ribbons.

Happily a trip to the BSPS Heritage Championships at Arena UK made Lexi smile again. Riding Vanessa Barr’s Hilin Madryn, Lexi won the Novice First Ridden, beating a strong field of 18. For the past three months Lexi and the section B gelding have been training with international Dressage rider Lottie Flinn and the hard work is paying dividends.

The pair also won Champion Novice First Ridden at the Pony of the Year show in Formby earlier this year and now the aim is to qualify for the Royal International and for HOYS 2020.

Also at the BSPS Heritage Championships, Emma Boardman’s Heniarth Teacake won the Restricted M&M FR and took the Reserve, while Dyffryngwy Sir Picasso was second in the Young Riders Large Breeds Ridden.

Sue Chappelhow-Lacey and Peepings Aragon were third in the BSPS Heritage Mountain and Moorland Novice 133cms WHP.

In Endurance, The Ellen Valley Riding Club team took second place at the British Horse Feeds’ Red Dragon Festival of Endurance in the BRC Championship held at the Royal Welsh Show Ground.

Julie Banks, Jenny Gilmour, Grace Trueman, Ann Speirs were supported by Heather Beedie, William Gate and Mark Gilmour.

The 36km ride went up and over three hills, with challenging going following a week of rain. However riders found the ground on the plateaus to be surprisingly good, which let them make up time.

They rode in teams of two and finished at 12.1 and 11.6 kms per hour (12 kph being the optimum time) and all four horses vetted at the end with good heart rates and sound trot ups.

The scores were amalgamated and a performance formula applied to achieve a team score, which saw them miss out on first place by just two points.

In the latest Dressage day at Blackdyke, the Affiliated section saw Novice wins for Jess Rawsthorn riding Ann and Hugh Lawson’s Drummer, Kathryn Woolgar with I am Legend, Nicola Naprstek with Galopin and Rebecca Hocking with Top Rock Carlos.

Clare Chappelhow with Crackenthorpe Waban, Heather Conn with Piper’s Appeal and Suey Browne with Josie II won their Elementary sections, and the Prelim sections went to Aileen Gibson with Abbeyward Twirl and Caroline Redpath with Struan of Inverdarroch. Jess and Drummer were second overall in the Novice and second overall in the Elementary.

Sarah Pool and Rupert won both unaffiliated Novice classes.

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