Posted: 9th June 2014 | Back to news feed
The Pony Club partnered with Dressage Anywhere, the worldwide dressage competition website, for the first time this year to enable young riders to compete for gold, silver and bronze medals in the special PC Online Dressage Championships. This was a great opportunity for those with and without their own ponies to compete against riders from all over the country without leaving their own yard.
Laura Armstrong of The Pony Club said “The Online Championships are a great way for Branch and Centre Members of The Pony Club to have a go at a dressage competition from home, their yard or their riding school. Whether they are just starting out at competing or use it as a way of practicing one of our Area or Championship tests, getting feedback from a British Dressage judge is very helpful to find ways to improve and develop their riding.”
Young riders from all over the country, from the Isle of Man to Scotland, competed in qualifiers held between April 2013 and February 2014 in 4 classes, walk & trot, Introductory, Novice and Open. Those gaining the highest percentages overall were invited to take part in the Championship Show.
British Dressage judge Chris Porterfield who judged the Championship said, “I found it a pleasure to help our Pony Club members in their efforts to ride a dressage test and look forward to seeing them again competing on Dressage Anywhere to continue their progress”.
All the riders had great fun and felt that taking part had helped them with their riding. Lydia Thomas who was placed 2nd in the Walk & Trot test on Wellington Riding school pony, Toby said “I was very pleased to find out that I had come 2nd in the 2014 championships. I really enjoyed taking part and representing Wellington Riding. It was fun to watch myself on the Internet too and exciting looking out for the results.”
Qualifiers for the 2015 Pony Club Online Championships open on 1st July and will be running until the end of February 2015. They are open to any young rider whether they own a pony or ride at a riding school. If qualified for the Championships, riders must become a Pony Club branch or Centre member before entering.
Dressage Anywhere was founded in 2010 and now has members from 58 countries all over the world competing in monthly competitions and training classes.
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