Riding Club Competes at Eaglesfield
We sent 4 teams - 3 junior and 1 senior - to the Area 10 Inter-Riding Clubs Show Jumping competition at Eaglesfield Equestrian Centre (near Meopham, Kent ) in February.
This was the first time that the Honnington Riding Club had ventured out to compete. In fact it was the first time that most of our riders had competed outside of Honnington at all.
Despite lots of first-time nerves and some scary planks, we felt the day went well - we even took home 2 rosettes.
In the individual junior class with 47 entrants, Curt Bowles rode Marley with a very fast clear to gain 3rd place; Gemma Freeman riding Twinkle rode clear just missing out on a rosette. Hayley Pring with Rupert and Rebecca Fox with Rusty were unlucky with just 4 faults each.
Run-outs at the scary planks were the downfall of many riders in both the individual and team classes, though Hayley with Rupert had one of the fastest clears in the team class.
In the individual senior class, with 55 entrants, Jo Hardy rode Tammy superbly to gain a 5th rosette. In the senior team class, Charlotte Forde rode well but was unlucky to have just one pole down.
All those going clear should be congratulated and those not doing so well consoled by the fact that out of 47 junior and senior teams, only 2 teams had all 3 clears in the first round (respect to Maidstone and District B junior team and the Sevenoaks Riding Club B junior team).
So with successes (and a few disappointments), it was a very rewarding day. We shall have to do it again some time. Our thanks to the Dartford and District Riding Club for organising the event, and for making everyone welcome.
For more information about the Honnington Riding Club:
For the Area 10 British Riding Clubs' website:
From top: Curt riding Marley in the 3' team class; Jo riding Tammy in the individual senior class; Jo with Tammy and Charlotte with Arwen just before competing in the team class; Rachel riding Rupert; Walking the course
