News Articles
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Foal Dumped at the side of Surrey Road
June 27, 2012 -
The Holderness Hunt hold their point-to-point at Dalton Park
March 6, 2012 -
10 Things You May Not Know About The Cleveland Bay
March 2, 2012 -
Jess's countdown to The Mitsubishi Grass Roots Championships
April 19, 2011 -
Ann's countdown to The Mitsubishi Motors Grassroots Championship
April 18, 2011 -
Sarah's countdown to The Mitsubishi Motors Grassroots Championship
April 18, 2011 -
Lucy's countdown to The Mitsubishi Motors Grassroots Championship
April 18, 2011 -
Nic Bevan's Mitsubishi Grassroots Championship preparations countdown
April 18, 2011 -
Heidi's preparation for The Mitsubishi Motors Grassroots Championship
April 18, 2011 -
Topspec NPS Supreme Dressage Performance Champion 2011
April 14, 2011
Ann's countdown to The Mitsubishi Motors Grassroots Championship
The Mitusbishi Motors Grassroots Championship at Badminton is fast approaching and for Congleton based Ann Harrison and her purebred eight year old Irish Draught Grin ‘N Bear It aka Ben, it’s been a whirlwind journey so far: “I’m absolutely ecstatic to have got this far, I acquired Ben as a foal at foot with his mare and have done everything from backing to producing him. The thought of us going round Badminton together is out of this world!”
On his temperament Ann continued “he’s like a pony in a horse’s body; willing, helpful, tries hard at everything and completely honest.” However it wasn’t all plain sailing to the Championship Finals next week. Despite Ben having consistently good dressage scores and qualifying for three Regional Finals, in the first two events his dressage scores just weren’t good enough despite double clears inside the time in the other phases on both occasions. It was at the Bishop’s Burton final that things finally went in their favour and they sailed through to Badminton in first position.
Ann works at Somerford Park Farm and stables Ben on site so has access to excellent facilities as she explained: “I consider myself extremely lucky to have been largely unaffected by the snow this winter due to the amazing indoor facilities here. The Somerford staff also harrowed and salted a path through the farm so we could still hack and canter the horses which without we’d have struggled to keep them fit and I’m so grateful to them for that. We’ve also done some Riding Club show jumping over the winter to keep our eye in.”
The 2011 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Grassroots Championships will take place on Wednesday 20th and Thursday 21st April 2011. The competitors taking part in the Championship qualified at Regional Final events between July and October 2010. The Prize giving will be at the North Front of Badminton house at 5.30 pm on Thursday 21st April. The 2010 Championship winners were 21 year old Veterinary Student Jack Day, from Leicestershire, and 27 year old Cumbrian Staff Nurse Amy Dixon who won the BE100 and BE90 titles respectively. NAF are proudly the Associate Sponsor.
We wish Ann and Ben the best of luck for the Championships next week. Look out in our news section for an update to on how they get on.
