Riding - Sparkling displays at 'Diamond' Show (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Riding - Sparkling displays at 'Diamond' Show

1:14pm Saturday 18th October 2008 in Sport By Gazette Sports

LOCAL competitors enjoyed a string of successes at the Diamond Jubilee Horse of the Year Show, held at the NEC Birmingham, writes Malcolm Bewsher.

Elizabeth Butterworth, from Appleby, took second place in the Underwood Intermediate Working Hunter class riding Christine Richardson's 13-year-old gelding, Lough Crew, which also took reserve champion.

Elizabeth, who is studying at Newcastle University, qualified at the Scottish Horse Show, Kelso, and shared the ride with Christine, who just missed her ticket.

Liz and Roger Titterington, from the Birkrigg Stud, Endmoor, were delighted when Liz Needham won the Ridden Pure Bred Arab, with 10-year-old Shamzarah by Nazdromal, which was also winner in 2004 with Louise Stanley aboard. 2006 winner Silver Lil by Silver Satyr, ridden by Andrea Boyle and bred by Annette Dixon, from Arkholme, was third while Kathy Houghton, from Lupton, with Elaine Smith's Sinatra, was seventh.

Babs Ruchwaldy, from Yealand, was overjoyed when Charlotte Thompson took Reserve Show Hunter Pony champion with Roseberry Serendipity by Bottingelle Swansong, which stood at the Yewland Stud and died earlier this year at the age of 29.

Swansong's granddaughter, Mayeath Royal Diva ridden by Lindy Burnip, was ninth in the 14 hands Show Hunter.

Emma Boardman produced 13 hands winner Springwind Proset ridden by Danielle Hughes. Emma also rode Flookburgh owner Susan Rawthorn's five-year-old Exmoor stallion Phi, and was sixth in the Carrs BMW M&M Ridden Pony of the Year while Yealand breeder Ann Rigby's Dykes Diplomead, ridden by Poppy Duncalf, was eighth.

Becky and Chrissy had several ponies which qualified, with Myles Cooper riding Cosford Charteuse into fifth in the Sandal BMW First Ridden. His elder brother, Michael, rode Imperial Measure into ninth in the Intermediate Show Hunter while Alex Peill took the best 14 hands Coloured with Lyric and was tenth in the 15 hands Show Hunter with Helsington Tailor Made.

All Fired Up, ridden by Jon Allen, finished fourth in the 15 hands Working Hunter.

Ann and Les Park, from Lyth, were pleased with the third place in the 15 hands Show Hunter by Northern Fanfare, ridden by Alix Coster. The horse was ridden as a novice by their granddaughter Chloe.

Casterton pupil Sophie Schofield had a good third in the Intermediate Show Riding with Royal Angel.

Carnforth's Angela Stephenson partnered 14-year-old Dexter to win the Riding Horse Hack section in the 'Search for a Star' competition.