The 2018 BRC TopSpec Dressage to Music Championships took place at Bury Farm Equestrian Village with competitors travelling from all over the country to take part.
The BRC team were delighted to welcome TopSpec back to the championships which grows year-on-year.
More than 200 riders took part in the recent championships and the addition of an elementary level Pairs Dressage to Music Championship added to the occasion.
BRC also introduced a number of direct entry classes, including a Retrained Racehorse (ROR) prelim / novice Pick a Test class.
Said Katy Mickle of TopSpec:
“We were delighted to sponsor the Dressage to Music Championships, it was a fantastic few days and to see and speak to so many people, passionate about their horses and ponies wellbeing was great.
“The level of competition was brilliant and it was just a wonderful championship.”
The first winner of the weekend competing in the BRC TopSpec Medium / Advanced Medium ‘Pick A Test’ Dressage to Music Championship was Megan Rees riding Thorneyside Tornado from Berkshire County RC, in Area 6. Megan rode an extremely expressive Medium level test on her lovely 14hh, chestnut, Welsh Sec C, gelding, just piping Tessa Seed, on the artistic merit score, with 71.42%.
Tricia Smith riding Helios from Wokingham & Bearwood RC, also in Area 6 lifted the BRC TopSpec Elementary Dressage to Music Championship. Scoring over 74%, and going one better than her second place in this class last year, with a fabulous, flowing test, which really complemented her stunning chestnut gelding.
The new BRC TopSpec Pairs Dressage to Music Championship went to young riders, Kitty Ashpole riding Ruby Fire Fox and Samantha Wuidart riding Lince FS from Shillington RC, in Area 7, with a score of 68.40%. This class was introduced to give riders competing at the higher levels more scope, involving a greater degree of difficulty in the required movements.
Sarah Beveridge riding Sir Archibald from Solent RC, in Area 17 was thrilled to win the BRC TopSpec Novice with Points Dressage to Music Championship, Sarah and her stunning, piebald gelding, Sir Archibald scored 74.44, with a superb, exuberant test.
The BRC TopSpec Novice Pairs Dressage to Music Championship was won once again by riders representing South Durham Saddle Club, Helen Williams riding Secretly Unique and Caroline Tough Trevoulter Silver Replica from Area 2. With western themed music they produced another polished routine. Making for an impressive season, following their win together in the pairs dressage class at the National Championships in Lincoln at the start of the month.
Marion Powell won the BRC TopSpec Novice 0 Points Dressage to Music Championship riding her striking black, homebred, gelding Mister Tobias from Golden Valley RC in Area 15 with a score of 72.22%. Marion was so pleased with this win, having also won the Veteran Rider 1 Pick a Test Class on the Saturday.
The first of the two junior championship classes, the BRC TopSpec Junior Prelim Dressage to Music Championship, was won by Maddy McIntosh riding Alvediston Dafydd Ddu (Dave) from West Oxfordshire RC, in Area 18, with a score of 72.92%. Maddy has owned Dave, a 15.2hh, black, Welsh Sec D gelding for three years. They rode an accurate well choreographed test to narrowly win this class.
Eleven year-old Myles Graham riding a new pony Harnells Erasmus (Nelly) from Swindon & District RC in Area 9 sealed the BRC TopSpec Junior Novice Dressage to Music Championship, with the highest score of the weekend, 80.14%. Miles won this class last year on his other pony Jinks, but he is forming a wonderful new partnership with Caron Robert’s Nelly a beautiful dun, eight year old 14hh, Connemara mare.
We would also like to thank all our Volunteers who helped to make these championships such a great success.
Full results can be found on the BRC website. With pictures posted on the BRC Facebook page.
