Plenty to celebrate in our brilliant year (From Worcester News)

Plenty to celebrate in our brilliant year

9:59am Wednesday 5th October 2011 in Equestrian By Sara Pawsey

WORCESTER Riding Club’s style jumpers swept the board at the British Riding Clubs’ (BRC) National Championships in Lincoln taking first and second team placings and providing the individual winner.

The Worcester Wolves team of Becky Briggs, Vicki Hancox and Jess Viney amassed 295 marks, making them the champions, and the Worcester Warriors team of Claire Watkins, Leanne Bennett, Megan Pountney and Vicki Hancox on the horse that scored highest marks was just one point behind, making them runners-up.

This is the fourth time Worcester Riding Club has won the British Show Jumping Association’s Eagle Trophy since 2005 and two years in succession.

It is also the second time Vicki Hancox has been individual winner – the first time was in 2009. Individual placings this year also included Jess Viney (eighth) and Vicki Hancox (ninth).

The national championships are for teams and individuals who qualified earlier in the year at area competitions – usually one team qualifies for every six teams entered. The highest placed competitors not on a qualifying team are also invited to Lincoln to pit themselves against the cream of BRC members.

Worcester Riding Club, celebrating its golden jubilee this year, was also placed second in the country at intermediate level showjumping. Jess Viney, Claire Watkins, Leanne Bennett (individual ninth) and Vicki Hancox (individual 10th) finished on 12 penalties; fifth at novice showjumping – the team of Becky Briggs, Gina Halford, Heidi Bradshaw and Jess Viney – finished with just four faults and Heidi was individual eighth after having the last pole down on her third round. The pairs dressage team (Vicki Hancox and Megan Pountney) was fourth and Worcester’s competitors in the riding test were Megan Pountney (eighth), Lucy Crawford (15th) and Claire Watkins (17th).

At the BRC Festival of the Horse Championships in June the Worcester pairs team of Vicki Hancox and Megan Pountney and the senior novice team of Vicki Leanne Bennett, Jess Viney and Gina Halford were both second, with Gina individual fourth.

The BRC Horse Trials Championships were held at Aston-Le-Walls in August, and again Worcester riders were in the ribbons, with the intermediate team second, Vicki Hancox third in her section, Lucy Blumberg fith and Caroline Archer eighth.

Despite being a horse down on the final day the open team was placed fifth.

Sarah Lovatt, Worcester and District Riding Club chairman, said: “These outstanding results against the best riders from every riding club area in the country, reflect our members’ commitment.

“Our Mercian teams, who compete in a local league at a less competitive level, have also done well this year. We invest most of the funds we raise in training for our members, whatever level they and their horse are at, to ensure everyone has fun and makes the most of their hobby.”

Å The annual fun ride for all ages is being organised by the Parents’ Association of Croome Pony Club tomorrow. The first horse will leave at 10am and the last at noon. The ride usually lasts about two hours.

All entries are on the day – £15 for adults and £10 for children under 16 (all children under 14 must be accompanied by someone over 16 years). More information is available at pcuk/croome and from Richard Walker on 07767 892883.