The equestrian community is coming together in a bid to do its bid to help people and animals affected by the devastating fires in Australia with events being planned all over the country to raise funds.

In Cumbria, the Ellen Valley Riding Club is holding a sponsored ride on Saturday, February 8. It costs £15 to enter and riders are encouraged to raise sponsorship as well if they wish. The ride starts from Cockermouth Rugby Club with six and ten mile options. All proceeds will go to the equine community in Australia. You can find full details on the Ellen Valley RC Facebook page.

Three Cumbrian horses achieved top-10 places in the Arab Horse Society Performance Horse Awards 2019. In the Partbred Arab section Julie Banks’ horse Crofty’s Springtime Frost was placed third and her other horse, Tia Marieah was sixth. In the Purebred Arab section Ann Speirs’ horse Rusadia was placed fourth.

The awards reward success in Endurance, Dressage, Eventing, Show Jumping, Ridden Showing and Racing for Arab. Part Bred Arabs and Anglo Arabians.

Points are awarded for achievements in any of the disciplines and added together to determine the placings. Ann and Julie achieved all their points through Endurance alone.

Meanwhile, at the Cumbria Endurance Group’s own annual awards dinner, Julie and Crofty’s Springtime Frost won both the Distance trophy for competitive rides only and the Annual Distance trophy. Ann Spiers was second in both categories with Rusadia. The ER Rides and Solway Cloudy titles went to Jumanji and the Woody trophy to Keeloges Shamoah. Sienna Rose won the Veteran Horse, Leesview Stud Challenge Cup and the First season competitive rides.

Sue Chambers won the Associate Members trophy, Olivia Beedie-Skelton won both the Junior Rider and First season associate members trophies and Fiona Carradus took the Veteran Rider trophy.

In the Breeds awards, Caemanse Bright Spark won Native Breeds, Rusadia won the Arab, Sapphire Sky won the TB and the Other Breeds went to Howards Express.

In the Blackdyke Winter showjumping points league, Katie Anderson is now at the top of the leader board with Amber on 46 points, ahead of second placed Grace Wood and Drinking Buddy on 37. Claire Paisley and Joanna Coulthard are joint third on 36.

In the most recent show at Blackdyke, Vic Morrow won the 65cms warm-up with Middy, with Julie Broughton on Our Paddy second. Katie Anderson and Amber won the 75cms with Melissa Cairns and Jack second.

The 75cms accumulator with joker went to Annie Sandell on Midnight Maelstrom with Richard Nichol and Harley second. Katie and Amber were back on winning form in the 85cms with Annie and Midnight Maelstrom second. Joanna Coulthard and Matilda won both the 95cms and the 105cms with Berri Brown and Kiani and Katie McKnight with Sky Diamond second respectively.

Please send your equestrian news and results to: gilly.fraser@gmail.com