With eight team events and nine riders competing for individual honours, the Leweston group had a very busy three days at the All England Jumping Course, Hickstead for the NSEA Eventers Challenge and National County Dressage and Showjumping Championships during half-term.
The three days of competition started well with the dressage team coming a very close second with May S riding a beautiful test to earn 75% in her arena.
With 44 teams and 222 competitors riding, the Leweston team was almost content to just get pipped to second in the Novice (80-85cm) Eventers Challenge Championships! It was a great achievement for the team of Poppy Y, Jessica W, Tara W and Hen J.
Tara W riding Peasedown Toners Neo had a long overnight wait to see where she would eventually be placed Individually and again it was exciting to see a Leweston rider on the podium in the silver position at prizegiving.
The younger squad riders did exceptionally well and brought a team fourth back to Dorset in the Mini (70-75cm) National County Show Jumping.
Leweston had one team and two individual riders competing in the mini (70-75cm) Eventers Challenge, the team came a creditable fifth against thirty-two teams. Tara and Rosie rode lovely Individual rounds but just went a little too quick to get an individual placing.
The Intermediate (90-95cm) Eventers Challenge proved to be a difficult and technical course which saw many riders eliminated, so both teams were happy to get ‘home’ in twelfth and fourteenth position. Congratulations to our four riders who rode great clear rounds over this challenging course.
The Open (1m-1.05m) Eventers Challenge was another formidable championship course and tested every rider. The team were just out of the placings, however, Madeline RS rode one of the best rounds of the whole Championships on her second horse Mickey to take a well earned second Individual placing.
Crowning glory came on Day Three in the Intermediate (90-95cm) National County Showjumping Championships when the Leweston team held onto their top spot after the first round and rode thrilling jump-off rounds to win the National County Showjumping title.
Many congratulations to Molly C, May S, Jessica W and Poppy Y.
