Berkeley and District RC- Dressage Divas at Championships!!!

In September, the Berkeley & District Riding Club took part in the British Riding Club National Championships, which were held at Lincoln. Berkeley had qualified and sent one Rural Riders Team, one Pairs Team and one Novice Dressage Team for the Seniors Day.

The Championship took place in the beautiful Lincolnshire sunshine and is the main competition event for all British Riding Clubs, and many clubs do turn it into a weekend away camping.  At this event there were 16 arenas running at same time covering the disciplines of Dressage, Show Jumping and Showing.

The first event of the day for B&D was the Rural Riders competition, which is a dressage test at elementary level involving six riders, riding at the same time in formation. The team has been training since early January 07, with the main requirements for a good team to have horses with correct, even paces and a chilled attitude. The trainer (Chef d’Equipe) is Miss Kate Scott BHSI, who has competed for Great Britain in 2002 and 2003.

So on Saturday 8th September the team members of Emma Brewer on Black Russian, Kay Webb on Gwenos Commander, Sue Ravenhill-Handley on Perrot’s Hill, Kathleen Griffith on Pamplemouse, Sarah Couzens on Nashend Corbiere, Helen James on Diamond Jubilee and Kate Scott as the commander. They took to the warm up arena looking very untidy and nervous, but rallied for the 11 minute test, the culmination of 8 months practise. There were no hiccups and the supporters and families crowded around the video monitor to replay it through, each team member feeling they had done their best. An anxious 4 hour wait had to be endured before the results were released.

The next test to be ridden was the Pairs Dressage test which is a 4 minute test designed by the riders incorporating set elements and to be ridden side by side. Pair’s members were Sue Ravenhill-Handley on Perrot’s Hill and Helen James on Diamond Jubilee.

From the quiet reverence during the test, then West Country crowd erupted at the completion, news had just been released that the Berkeley Rural Riders team had come SECOND in the national competition at their first attempt! Team captain and organiser Sue R-H said, “After so much practise and organising, it’s an unbelievable result!”

So at 4pm a mounted presentation took place for the team. Pretty impressive results we were beaten by last years champions, The New Forest Enthusiasts RC.

As for the Pairs team, they were placed well in equal ninth with very stiff competition.

The Novice Dressage team of Sarah Couzens, Andrea Cox, Joy Smart and Julie Hall-Tomkins came 20th in a strong field of 27 teams from across the country. Great results for all the Berkeley teams and a credit to their club.

Nancy Harding does the London Marathon!

On Sunday 22nd April, more than 36,000 people from 43 countries gathered in Blackheath to run the 2007 Flora London Marathon, and I was one of them!

The sun was shining, and as we all made our way to the starts, it was a mood which can only describe as nervous chatter.

After handing in our bags and a few trips to the loo, we were off! Only 26.2 miles to go!!

I had felt good with all my training runs, even those early morning ones on riding club camp, so I hoped my training wasn’t going to let me down. I had run between 60-70 miles per week, so all being well I should be able to take it in my stride.

It was an incredible atmosphere, crowds lined the streets for every part of the 26.2 miles, I have never run a marathon with so many people wishing me well and cheering me on. I enjoyed every minute of it and felt fantastic all the way.

I saw my family at 14 miles just after London Bridge, quite a tear jerker, but I on I went and then I saw some friends at 21 miles, cheering and screaming, it was fantastic.

All the way to the finish was just electric, it was like running completely on your own with thousands shouting your name, such an amazing feeling. On down the embankment and 600 mtrs from the finish heard my name above the noise, my family were there again, giving them I wave I was determined to get to the finish as soon as I could, Buckingham Palace on my left and down The mall I ran, singing with the crowds and feeling on Cloud (. Words cannot describe the feeling of such gain from so much hard work! I loved every minute. I have raised over £2,000 for charities – Kith & Kids, Breast Cancer and Hammer Out.

Thank you to my fellow club members whom wished me luck and to the club for their support. Can’t wait to do New York!

Nancy Harding