Localrider Magazine
Eventing • Show Jumping • Pony Club • Reining • Showing www.localrider.co.uk
October 2014 • VOLUME XIV NUMBER 9
Gemma Tattersall dazzles at Burghley Horse Trials
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October 2014
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Autumn Clothing: We test this season’s key pieces
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Locals compete at the World Equestrian Games
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FRANCIS WHITTINGTON claims Blenheim title
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SPOTLIGHT Team GB Young Rider squad, Caitlin Crossley and Meredith Baker pictured with Chef d’equipe, Julia Knight-Jones
Meredith Baker Meredith Baker from Andover in Hampshire and her Criollo gelding, Miz, successfully represented Great Britain at the European Trec Championships in Scandiano, Northern Italy over the weekend of 5th - 8th September.
T
he combination formed a two-man Young Rider team with Caitlin Crossley from North Yorkshire and her striking Dales. Despite being low on team members the pair managed to finish a credible eighth and Meredith finished sixteenth from 45 starters. The horses travelled across to the continent from Folkestone spending two days travelling 12 hours each day, arriving five days before the competition started in order to give them time to settle in. Meredith said: “Friday evening was the opening ceremony and what an experience it was. We were all very smart, wearing sponsored items, such as Toggi GB kit, gloves from Carrots, chaps from Just Chaps and saddlecloths from Informed Choice. The Opening Ceremony was in the town of Scandiano, so we first had to hack there, which was interesting as we had to go through rivers and deep sand under a main road. We had a great reception through the town with people on every street. Miz behaved beautifully even though the crowd was loud (generally not for us, as we had the Italians behind us so lots of loud cheers for them). We all lined up in front of the castle for the speeches and then hacked back.”
Caitlin Crossley and Meredith Baker
The Opening Ceremony was held in the town of Scandiano
Miz settled in to his Team GB stable
What’s involved? There are three parts to the competition. The Control of Paces, which involves a fast walk and slow canter over a set distance. POR, which is orienteering and PTV, which is a variety of obstacles. Marks are awarded for the various sections, including for the style in which they are conducted. Saturday morning saw the start of the orienteering and Meredith and Miz had an early start at 8.21am. Meredith said: “Most of the route was flat then half way around we had to go up a big hill, luckily the speeds were slow so we just took our time and enjoyed the lovely views. We came to the last check point and we had 45 minutes to go to the vetting, so we trotted home, past people cheering us to the finish. I was so thrilled just to finish and have Miz feeling well that I was beaming. I was greeted by Rob, our team vet, and the support crew, who washed Miz down very quickly and measured his heart rate, before going to the vetting. One issue the riders had was, we were out riding for five hours, there was no water available on the checkpoints (other than rivers), even though we were told there
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The obstacle section included a 2’9” log in water
Meredith and Miz tackling one of the obstacles in the PTV section
Miz is regularly used by the Abbotts Ann Andover Branch of the RDA
e we have over At World Horse Welfar caring for horses. 85 years’ experience in orld Horse Welfare Leaving your horse to W e peace of mind of in your Will gives you th re wellbeing will knowing that their futu always be our priority. If you would like information about how to secure your horse’s future, please call us on 01953 497225* or email: dawnwitney@worldhorsewelfare.org
would be, which resulted in some horses having to re-present.” Day two saw the start of the control of paces section. Meredith knew it had gone well, she said: “We came out and gave a thumbs up to my chef d’equipe, Julia Knight-Jones, as it had felt fast. It turned out Miz got a fantastic score of 57/60 and was joint fifth out of 45 for the CoP. It was a personal best and I still felt we could have done a bit better!”
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The Obstacles
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The PTV section includes an amazing array of obstacles including low branches, bending turns, going over a footbridge, going down a staircase, jumping fences including a log in water, opening a gate, plus halting, reining back and mounting.
*lines open 08:30 to 5:00pm
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Getting started
Meredith and Miz had limited experience of Trec until last year. They had first attended a taster day in 2009, which they enjoyed, but their first proper competition in 2010 saw them eliminated and two years passed until they decided to give it another go in 2012. Last year the combination took it a bit more seriously competing in Level 2 competitions, which were held in Surrey, the New Forest, Dorset and Rugby. Being in her last year of Young Riders Miz decided to register her interest in being considered for the team and was immediately invited to an un-mounted team training day in North Yorkshire. Meredith and Miz qualified to compete at the Young Rider Championships by completing three Level 3 competitions. It has been a busy summer for Merdith who sat her Geography finals at the University of Reading this summer. Talking of the Championships Meredith said: “I had such a fantastic experience, Miz was a star throughout and I now need to decide whether I should take the step up to Level 4 to campaign for seniors.”
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www.worldhorsewelfare.org/leaving-your-horse-in-your-will Please return this coupon to: Freepost Plus RRXL-LHJS-YEKK World Horse Welfare Anne Colvin House Snetterton Norfolk NR16 2LR
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