The UK Riders 'Ride & Relax' Challenge National Finals 2006 Sponsored By Allen & Page
held at: Warwickshire College Equine Unit 1st- 3rd September 2006. After a year of qualifying rounds at over 60 equestrian centres around the UK more than 300 unaffiliated competitors arrived to compete at the UK Riders Challenge National Finals 2006. Many travelled from as far a field as Devon, Norfolk and Cumbria for the Show Jumping and Dressage finals held at Warwickshire College. A great weekend of friendly competition ensued with some fantastic prizes up for grabs courtesy of our sponsors Allen & Page and Net-tex and Eqine Affairs who were all there to support our riders on the day.

Results... Results... Results...

Junior Dressage Friday 1st September
Star of the day was undoubtedly 15 year old Chloe Little from Bristol riding her home produced show horse Croft Limited Edition. Having been 4th in both her classes last year Chloe was coming to the ’06 finals determined to win. She achieved her goal in style winning P1 and N30 National Finals and the pairs class (together with Beth Bexon and Crackerjack Aurora from Lincolnshire).

The remaining class of the day, the P14 National Final, was taken by Chloe Beresford and Chester from Nottingham with a great score of 72.30%. Chester is Chloe’s first horse, both of them started out complete novices and the pair hope to affiliate soon. They qualified at Eland Lodge UK Chasers Course.

Show Jumping Saturday 2nd September
A speedy Ebony Cossey from Heazle Arena in Somerset won the first class of the day, pipping her nearest rivals by nearly 6 seconds in the jump off of the junior restricted Novice. Sally McNaughton and Joop from Yorkshire were the senior winners. Other riders from Heazle followed Ebony’s lead as the day progressed. Rory Brake, who has future plans to become a jockey, triumphed in the Junior Novice Final with Heazle’s Old Nick while Laura Scott and Mercury Firefly headed the leader board in the senior section. Laura has had prolific success at the UK Riders finals winning her 6th UK Riders National Final Title here today and said she has achieved more with her horse than she could ever have hoped for.

Another rider who returned to successfully defend a title was 13 year old Sally Lyons and Snapdragon in the Intermediate Final. They qualified at University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN) Cumbria Campus at the same time as Rosanna Martlew and Phoebe and won the Junior and Senior sections respectively. Undoubtedly the most challenging class of the day was the 1m Open Final. 14 year old Katie Bembridge from Lincolnshire jumped the only double clear to win the junior section while Michelle Lloyd and Another Beauty from Sunnybank Centre in South Wales won the senior section. Michelle was absolutely thrilled saying at the wrong side of 40 she felt overjoyed to win her first National Final and couldn’t believe it!

The day rounded off with the popular team show jumping run as a baton relay. With 10 teams forward it was a fun yet competitive way to round off the day before the UK Riders Family BBQ took place in the evening. Ollie Cossey proved the one to watch winning In the “Red Arrows” team alongside Emma Rickards and Joanna Crouch, and accompanying Jessica Parker and Laura Scott to 2nd place in team “Ollie and His Fillies”!

Senior Dressage Sunday 3rd September
Popular winner of the P1 class was Sammy Jeans riding Mrs D.A Lowe’s lovely stallion Creden Frivolus Heir, on a % of 72.9. Henry as he is known at home combines dressage and showing with his stud duties in Oxfordshire where his favourite treat is Sunny Delight! The pair were also 3rd in the P14 and N30 Finals. In the P14 Final Denise Richardson made the long journey from Cumbria worthwhile winning the class with her Working Hunter Star Simone while it was a local win for Georgina Miller with Irish coloured cob Marco Polo in the Novice, who qualified for the finals at nearby Radway Riding Centre.

The competitive senior pairs class rounded off the day with team Ryme and Reason – consisting of Sue Oakley and David Batten, who both qualified from Leigh Equestrian Centre in Dorset, producing the winning test.

Official Photographs from the event were Pegasus Photographic and all pictures take over the weekend can be found online at www.pegasus-photographic.co.uk

Friday 1st September 2006
Junior Dressage Results

Champion Chloe Little & Croft Limited Edition

Champion Chloe Beresford & Chester

Champion Chloe Little & Croft Limited Edition

Saturday 2nd September 2006
Show Jumping Results

Champion Ebony Cossey & Fable

Champion Sally McNaughton & Joop

Champion Rory Brake & Heazle's Old Nick

Champion Laura Scott & Mercury Firefly

Champion Sally Lyons & Snapdragon

Champion Rosanna Martlew & Phoebe

Champion Katie Bembridge & Samara

Champion Michelle Lloyd & Another Beauty

Sunday 3rd September 2006
Senior Dressage Results

Champion Sammy Jeans & Creden Frivolous Heir

Champion Denise Richardson & Simone

Champion Georgina Miller & Marco Polo

Winners Ryme & Reason

Many thanks to our event sponsor’s: