Introducing Sofia Games

‘SOFIA’ THE GAMES ON FOR 2022.

Into

by Maria Wynne

Thirteen year old Sofia Games is launching into the 2022 season with gusto. The last twelve months have seen many changes, and much training progression. And as ever, Sofia does not limit her efforts to the sporting, but also extends it to the academic and privately intellectual. One challenge is never enough. This uniquely driven young lady has an innate desire to excel at everything she undertakes. Including teaching herself ‘a few more’ foreign languages with podcasts and audio facilities. How? When asleep? A change of school in September 2021 and a revised and intensified academic study schedule meant that an already tight schedule had to be micro-managed to allow for study time. This meant revising in the car to and from training at Kingswood three times a week, whilst being chauffeur driven by ‘Jo-Jo’. (We still don’t use the term “Granny”, it feels inappropriate for such a driven dynamo of a lady. One that is far, far away from the image of a blue rinse, sensible shoes, and twinset with pearls). Indeed ‘Jo-Jo’ has put more hours into Sofia’s schedule than many a magnificent full time employee worker has done over the past two years. Jo-Jo has also applied for her HGV Class 1 licence in order to share the driving of the new monster truck (known as Shakallaka Boom Boom) with her daughter Katie. Not your average pastime when most mature ladies have joined the local ‘Knit and Natter’ Group down at the local Village Hall.

Sofia has also had to contend with the excruciating dental work that accompanies the passage into teenagehood. The removal of some extremely healthy wisdom teeth, which to be quite frank rivalled the molars of Snow-Po. And the ensuing bloodbath that was equally impressive. Sofia, true to form was a complete stalwart. Apart from having to loosen the harness on her helmet to accommodate the swelling and subsequent ‘Chipmunk cheeks’, she was back in the saddle as soon was feasibly possible, training, training, training. Ending 2021 as the Under 16’s Reserve National Dressage Champion aboard her chunky partner Mister Snowman (SnowPo to the initiated) ambitions continued to soar. And we are now hurtling forward into 2022 with many plans afoot. As a result Sofia now has another partner with whom to dance. And what a privilege he is. ‘Totti’ has joined the Games family. And Sofia’s mantra of “Be with them, be with them” has paid huge dividends. Their results and the burgeoning partnership is already reaping exceptional rewards. The joy and harmony that they display together is enchanting. And scoring a one, two in the early season results aboard ‘her boys’ is a testimony to her dedication.

In February Sofia was competing at Hartpury with both Mister Snowman and Steendieks Cadillac.

‘Cadillac’ is the up and coming prodigy of the Games Team. Sofia and Cadillac had to head up the centre line immediately before the legend that is Charlotte. “Even warming up in the same space was an honour” gasped a slightly wideeyed Sofia. To which the eminently wry Jo-Jo commented “Probably the first and last time you’ll be in front of Charlotte my dear.” However, Sofia did score a 9 for her final movement, so maybe the dream is not impossible. There is an earlier prelude to this encounter though. Charlotte and Cadillac are not strangers. Roughly two years ago ‘Cadi’ was being led up on the Abbey Dressage yard when Charlotte was visiting. Ever curious, Charlotte asked for him to be trotted up, because he reminded her so much of her Olympic Partner and protege. Impressed by what she saw, her verdict was “I’d love to teach Sofia on that one. He looks just like Pumpkin”. The ever decreasing circles will hopefully be intertwining soon.

6th April Diary

2022 has thus far yielded selection for the U21’s International Pathway Squad as one of seven Pony Riders. As a result Sofia enjoyed the cover shot on EuroDressage.com and started 2022

with aplomb. This weekend Sofia is competing at Myerscough, and already inconvenience has struck, with the hook up for the lorry being left at Kingswood. So it is Jo-Jo to the rescue with her indomitable spirit and initiative. She is now undertaking a 220 mile round trip to retrieve it.

CREATING AN

IMPACT – IN MORE THAN ONE WAY

25th April Diary

As this is being written, Sofia is preparing to travel to Le Mans CDI in France to represent Team GBR. Having been chosen with her dancing partner Steendieks Cadillac, Sofia is having to juggle schoolwork, training, preparation, a long journey and quarantine requirements. Both her parents Katie and Robert have recently taken their HGV Class 1 licences in order to share the driving across foreign soils. Apart from that (and only because it is illegal) Sofia chooses and prefers to do pretty much everything herself. It is an important part of her mental preparation and has helped to create the very close bond that she shares with the ponies that she rides. The wonderful partnerships that she creates with her equine friends is evident in that she has been longlisted for the British Pony Dressage Championships in Strezgom, Poland in August on not one, but THREE ponies; Cadillac, Snowy and Totti. Truly a case of ‘One in the wash, one to wear and one spare’. With recent wins at Myerscough Premier League and Keysoe CDI Sofia Games has certainly been smashing a few barriers. And she is not the only family member to have done so. The ever present legend that is JoJo has been smashing barriers of her own too. Although this particular one did in act belong to the Government and Highway Maintenance. However, never one to be outdone, it was done in true style with a Mercedes and a BMW.

After training at Kingswood in Staffordshire, JoJo was travelling to get to Keysoe CDI in Bedfordshire as a vital part of the entourage, with the intention of undertaking some errands on the way. The practicalities of popping into Waitrose in a 17 tonne lorry to collect some groceries presents difficulties; none of the parking spaces are large enough for a start. Hence the car. JoJo was on the final junction of the M54 before hitting the M6 when she was hit from behind by an aqua-planing BMW, which smashed her into the central barrier. Leaving her straddling the motorway. In those brief seconds JoJo recalls thinking that this was going to be her final view of life, and what an inglorious way to go. What about Waitrose?

The other driver, (a fellow lady) was only mildly concerned and insisted that she had to continue her journey down to London for a meeting. She had only lost a numberplate after all. Hence JoJo was left in the rain, abandoned, with a dead car on the hard shoulder waiting for the tow truck to rescue her. A couple of hours later the truck arrived and duly deposited her at Frankley Services where she had to endure another long wait, and the bureaucratic red tape of the DVLA, tachometers and respite break laws delayed her rescue. Forget being a lone female of a certain age in the early stages of hypothermia, that does not register Thankfully some very helpful policemen sprang to the rescue, and even helped JoJo to circumvent the threatened £100 services parking fine for exceeding the time limit allowable. Despite her having been deposited there by Mr Tow Truck. Ultimately the very tall and burly 6ft 8” AA man did arrive and was charming. He also happened to be quite gregarious, and upon realising the shared equine interests regaled JoJo with a story of his own.

Quite recently he’d had to rescue someone after a breakdown due to a blown-out tyre. A man who he described as “A little chap who did a bit of NH Racing”. Turned out it was only none other than AP McCoy. The AA man’s wife was a big fan of AP and was not impressed that an autograph was not purloined. Ultimately, JoJo got delivered home at midnight. The accident had happened at 1.10pm. Astonishingly she made it to Keysoe for the first of Sofia’s tests at 11.20am, proving that the back-up Team has to be just as determined as the competitor in the pursuit of the end goal. Never one to admit defeat, she did of course detour via Waitrose for the ‘on the lorry’ groceries with which to sustain the rest of Team Games.

Our next installment will detail the adventures in France.

Snowy and Sofia cooling off having just scored 72.4% in the pony Team Test behind Mette Dahl and George Clooney… Joined by Izzy Lickley, former rider of Mr Snowman. Photo by: Janet Oliver (JoJo aka Granny). Central Horse News will be providing readers with regular updates on Sofia’s progress. Please enjoy this journey with us. Sofia Games Dressage: https://www.instagram.com/sofiagames.dressage/?hl=en