EQUESTRIAN: Dunham's dressage delight (From This Is Wiltshire)

EQUESTRIAN: Dunham's dressage delight

1:20pm Wednesday 11th November 2009

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AMBER Dunham, daughter of Paralympic rider Anne Dunham MBE, was among the winners at the first 2009-10 winter dressage meeting to be held at the Caron Roberts Equestrian Centre.

The Centre, run by international event rider Roberts near Wootton Bassett, staged four tests at the meeting ranging from Walk and Trot to Novice.

Dunham, who is based at Wootton Bassett, finished equal first in the Prelim 14 test on the Welsh Cob gelding Teddy, who has proved highly successful her mum.

“I’ve had Teddy for three and a half years now,” said Dunham senior, winner of multiple Paralympic, World and European medals in a superb career.

“Amber mainly does dressage, as she finds it fascinating and more of a challenge, but she does also do a few hunter trials.”

In the Prelim 14 test the pair gained their best marks for walk and trot and they went on to finish fifth in the Prelim 12 test.

“Teddy also gets good mark for his halt, but his canter can be a bit hollow as he doesn’t have to do that when competing with me,” added Dunham.

“Caron’s equestrian centre is really good, with excellent facilities, including two all-weather arenas and a space to park your horseboxes. There’s always a very friendly atmosphere too.”

Amber, who is practise manager at the Purton Veterinary Practise, was delighted with the result.

“I’ve had four heart operations this year but am now back riding and Amber has kept the horses going beautifully while I’ve been out of action,” said Dunham senior, who suffers from multiple sclerosis.

Heather Beresford shared top spot in the Prelim 14 test with Dunham junior, on Dancers Diamond, and Isabella Lee won the Prelim 12 test on 68.8%, riding Ellie May.

Julia Iles led the Novice 36 test on Norman the Strawman, finishing on 68.01% but best score of the day went to the Walk and Trot test winner Alice King, who finished on 69.13% and won by a clear margin on Little Firefly.

The next dressage date at the venue is November 15, with a meeting on December 13th as well.

Details on www.robertsequestrian.co.uk.

RESULTS Walk and Trot: 1 Alice King, Little Firefly; 2 Nicki Allen, Ladybird; 3 Kathryn Durston, Curly; 4 Anya Garner, Yogi.

Prelim 12: 1 Isabella Lee, Ellie May; 2 Ladybird; 3=Clare Bennett, Cortez & Jo Thornton.

Prelim 14: 1 Amber Dunham, Teddy & Heather Beresford, Dancers Diamond; 3 Tayy Pearson-Gregory, Fernhill Anam Carn; 4 Jacqui Bowden, Zack Novice 36: 1 Julia Iles, Norman the Strawman; 2 Chris Burch, Lady Grey; 3 Zack.

DANIELLE Dunn is another rider who has gained selection for the British Equestrian Federation (BEF) regional foundation South West squad, created to develop the country’s most promising up and coming riders aged 16 to 24.

Dunn, 17, from Purton Stoke, joins Lacock’s David Doel on the South West eventing squad after a great first full British Eventing season in the Under 21 ranks.

The teenager finished a close 13th in the British Junior (18 and under) Championships at the Houghton Hall three-day event in Norfolk in 2009 on Boundalong, a seven year old mare she starting riding in 2008.

“Danielle was also delighted to take in the British Festival at Gatcombe for the first time, where she was one of just three in her age group to take part,” said mum Jacquie.

“She was especially pleased to jump a double clear and finish in the top 20 in such a strong field.”

Such excellent results made sure of squad selection for the former Cheltenham Ladies College pupil, who is now studying for her A-levels at Cirencester College.

“The riders selected for the squad recently went to an induction day at Bath University where they had talks on nutrition and psychology and were introduced to the various members of the BEF team that will be helping them,” adde Mrs Dunn.

“Danielle is very pleased to have made it onto the squad, as there are so many good young riders in eventing, and she feels that working alongside such talented riders will be a big boost.”

Caroline Creighton is in charge of the South West event riders’ training and coaching dates are set for November 25 and December 22, with the venue still to be announced.

“We have also been told that the BEF are looking for 15 riders to go on to the lottery funded World Class Programme, the top training scheme in the country, which will be a real incentive to do well,” Mrs Dunn added.

Danielle, who also has dressage coaching from Jane Kidd and came up through the VWH Hunt Pony Club, plans to move up to the highest advanced level in 2010.

THE Kennet Vale Riding Club also got their winter dressage season underway with a competition at Rabson Manor, Winterbourne Bassett.

Home club rider Helen Rawlings dominated the top ‘Percentage’ class, where riders can pick from a choice of tests and are placed on their overall percentage score, taking first and second places on Mishka.

The second date in the Club’s Winter Dressage Series takes place on Sunday 22nd November at Heywood Equestrian, Westbury.

RESULTS

Walk and Trot, Section A, 14yrs and under: 1 Jessica Phillips, - Zippy.

Section B, Over 14yrs: 1 Nicola Allen, Ladybird; 2 Elizabeth Phillips, Soberton Half A Dream; 3 Pippa Crouch, Elite Espirit; 4 Caroline Turrell, Al's Fella.

Prelim 4: 1 Rhian Evans, Daisy; 2=Teri Strange, Karls Black Socks & Bev Hoddinott, Pentrefelin Nantucket; 4 Ladybird.

Prelim 14: 1 Andrea Moxey, Dilys; 2 Lynette Morrison, Zippy; 3 Karls Black Socks; 4 Pentrefelin Nantucket.

Percentage Class: 1& 2 Helen Rawlings, Mishka; 3 Jill Beck, Eloise; 4 Zippy.

ADELE Pitcher scored a double at West Wilts Equestrian Centre’s unaffiliated dressage at Holt.

She won both the Novice 20 and Elementary 42 tests when her mount Spartacus Too, who she also competes in affiliated dressage, impressed local judge Teresa Tanner.

RESULTS

Prelim 12: 1 Mendel, L Lawson; 2 Lucas Song, Z Bassett; 3=Moonlight Dance, M Ransome & Dune, A Harris.

Prelim 14: 1 Flying Colours, P Hughes; 2 Lucas Song; 3 Mendel.

Novice 30: 1 Spartacus Too, A Pitcher; 2 Henry Himself, A Pitcher; 3 About Thyme II, L Rippa.

Elementary 42: 1 Spartacus Too.

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