TopSpec UK Riders National Finals A Huge Success 23rd September 2009
THIS year’s UK Riders National Finals supported by TopSpec was a huge success.

The Championship was held for the first time at Arena UK near Grantham and drew competitors from all over the country to take part.

Also for the first time both the show jumping and dressage were held on the same day, which added to the sense of `buzz` and excitement for the competitors and spectators alike.   

Classes were underway promptly in the showjumping arena, with a splendid two-phase course laid out to test the horse and rider’s ability and accuracy.  

The first class of the day, the Junior Restricted Novice Showjumping was won by
Jake Walker on Molly, one of four ponies he brought to the finals from Warwickshire.

In the Senior Restricted Novice, one of the winners from last year was in top form again.  Sally McNaughton on Joop took first place after qualifying in Yorkshire at Thornton Lodge.  

There were huge entries in both the Junior and Senior Novice classes.  In the Junior Novice Final, a well-deserved win went to Amy Rider on Jester Bear.  Amy and Jester have been together for four years and were in excellent form.

In the Senior Novice Final, Jane Courtney on Sea Brooke Bay from Laughton Manor, Lincs took first place with second place going to Toni Ford on George, from Leeds who qualified at Arena UK.   George was originally a ‘trotter’ and was not allowed to jump because he was used for carriage work but after a day’s hunting it was decided that jumping suited him better.