THE Worcestershire duo of Hannah Jones and Replica II tasted success at the recent Petplan Equine Area Festival Summer Championship in Lincolnshire.

Jones and horse Replica II, both from Upton-Upon-Severn, won the Inter I Bronze title at the prestigious competition, which aims to give grassroots riders the opportunity to experience top competition-style conditions in classes from Preliminary to Intermediate.

The Petplan Equine Area Festival Summer Championship is the pinnacle of a summer of Area Festivals held around the country during July and August where qualification for the much sought-after tickets to the Championship is at the forefront in riders’ minds.

Over 800 horse and rider combinations took their turn between the white boards to qualify at all levels from Preliminary to Inter I.

The partnerships contending the Petplan Equine Inter I Bronze title had to produce an extremely polished performance and show off their horses ‘star quality’ on the day and Jones rode 13-year-old Replica II to victory, achieving a winning score of 67.10%.

On Replica II’s performance, Jones said: "It did feel really good, she stayed with me and really stayed soft and supple.

"She can sometimes get a little bit rushed and then go against the bend a little bit more but today she stayed nicely in the hand and seemed to concentrate really well."

"I am very happy to congratulate Hannah and Replica II on their victory today. We wish them the very best of luck for the future,” commented Rosie Bee, Marketing Executive at Petplan Equine.

"2023 seems to have flown by and we have yet again been bowled over by the hard work, training and determination so many of the Area Festival competitors have shown. 

"As amateur riders they very often have full-time jobs, families, pets and their horses to organise around so well done everyone who had made it to the Championship – you are all winners in our eyes.

"As we look forward to next year which will be our 25th working with British Dressage as sponsor of the Area Festivals we want to thank everyone involved in all aspects of the series from judges to venues, volunteers and the team at BD HQ."

British Dressage Chief Executive, Jason Brautigam, added: "It’s hard to believe that Petplan Equine is looking forward to a 25th anniversary next year when we have been celebrating 25 years since the inception of British Dressage in 2023. 

"We have been in partnership for a long time and continue to be extremely proud of what we have achieved together.

"We have had record entries for the Area Festivals this year and new and old members alike see the Area Festivals as a target for their competing.  The structure encourages them to work up to another level or further as each season goes by which helps to maintain these high participation figures."