BSJA National Amateur & Veteran Championships 2009
Ian Wynne riding Don Douglas to victory!
BSJA NATIONAL AMATEUR & VETERAN RIDERS CHAMPIONSHIPS
Aintree International Equestrian Centre, Liverpool, Merseyside 26-29 November.Hosting these championships for the first time, Aintree International Equestrian Centre went all out to stage a memorable four days of competition. Substantial entries, superb courses, great jumping, and an entertaining social programme, all contributed to make these championships a great success, while in the ring, three newly crowned champions Ian Wynne (1.20m), Alison Lines (1.10m) and Angela Mills (1.0m) all made brilliant ‘come backs’ from injury to claim their respective titles.
Snatching the top headlines, was Ian Wynne, who made a rapid recovery following a fall, to win the National 1.20m championship riding Ann Wolley-Dodd’s Don Douglas. “I’ve had roller coaster rides this weekend, but it’s been mission accomplished” said Ian, who gained two wins, two placings, collected a British Open ticket, and finally drove away a VW Golf.
The show had started well for the Horse of the Year show amateur champions, as Ian and Don Douglas finished second in their opening competition, the Liverpool Volkswagen Car Challenge, which offered a VW Golf for the next 12 months kindly sponsored by Liverpool Volkswagen, to the leading rider on points, at the end of the show. Jemma Dennis was a worthy runner up taking away the jump saddle kindly sponsored by Willow Green Saddlery
Having been passed fit to ride, Ian bounced back with a decisive victory in the second VW qualifier, and the pair maintained brilliant form to clinch the National 1.20 amateur title in typically determined style.
Ian crowned a memorable show by heading the VW leader board with a tactful third place with Don Douglas in the last car challenge, and his final lap of honour was in the brand new VW Golf, which had been much admired all weekend.
“Lady riders from the North East certainly proved bang in form in the championship classes, and another, Angela Mills clinched the National 1.0m final riding her 2008 (90cm) champion Gibside Sarleen.
The County Durham rider had high hopes of pulling off a championship double in the National 90cm championship. Competition was certainly keen in the veteran competitions, where it proved role reversal for the 2008 champions Norman Proffitt and Sadie Burchmore.
Norman Proffitt fully justified favouritism in the minor championship. As the only rider to bring two horses through to the jump off, Norman put early pressure on his remaining five rivals when Opium Du Centre maintained a clean sheet in the jump off, and finished in a good time.
