THE lure of Malvern’s Three Counties Showground and stunning riding country has tempted two of the UK’s leading show horse producers to move to Worcestershire.

Mark Armstrong and Alan Charlesworth began the season with champagne corks popping after success at the West Midlands Ponies UK In Hand Show at the revered showground.

Mark’s three-year-old mare, Romanno Bedriska who was bred out of Olympic dressage stallion Quando Quando, was shown in the ring by Alan.

They won the Riding Horse Championships, the Cuddy Qualifier Championship and Supreme in Show, beating many ridden horses. The Cuddy Qualifier win secures them a place at this year’s Horse of the Year Show at Birmingham’s NEC.

“To win all three championships and qualify for HOYS in her very first outing is a dream come true,”

said Mark.

“I am overjoyed with Romanno Bedriska. She has behaved impeccably at her first show and to win as she has done today is astounding.

“I knew she had talent and am so pleased that my convictions have come true. She is a real star in the making.”

Mark and Alan, who is also a respected international show judge, relocated from Leicestershire last September to develop the Centan Stud, Doverdale Lane, Hampton Lovett, which is near Droitwich.

“It was a great move,” said Alan.” We can hack in the beautiful countryside and we are very close to Malvern.”

The pair are renowned show producers, with a wealth of knowledge in the production and showing of youngstock, riding ponies and hacks. They have several mares due to foal plus their existing range of youngstock that they are bringing on. They currently have two stallions standing at stud, plus three more who are spending the season at other studs.

Broadstone West Country, the distinguished Hanoverian dressage stallion by Weltmeyer, is owned by Mark, and is responsible for many hacks, riding horses, hunters, eventers, show jumpers and dressage horses – covering all equine disciplines.

The Fife Flyer is a thoroughbred small hack stallion, and the sire of show-winning ponies and hacks.

As well as this, Mark is also developing his dressage career with his mare Terregles Little Balmae.

Mark and Alan take on horses and ponies to show throughout the season and have had numerous successes over the years, winning championships at all prestigious horse shows such as the Royal Show, Royal International and the Royal Highland.

Although they have qualified for HOYS before, the most recent placing was in 2010, when they won Reserve Cuddy Champion with Scallywag II.

What made the event historic is that the champion was Alan’s son, Simon – the first time that a father and son had won the two titles together.

Mark and Alan are thoroughly enjoying living in Worcestershire.

“Being so close to the motorway network is ideal for both us with the amount of travelling we do, and also easy access to us for our clients,” says Mark.

More details can be found on Mark and Alan’s website at centan.co.uk.