British Riding Clubs select Olympia bound Quadrille teams at Dressage to Music Championships
The standard of the Junior Dressage to Music with Points was very good and first place was awarded to Helen Turner and Marbon Mask with 229.5 points.
The Senior Pairs Dressage to Music class was won by Emma Ross and Georgina Miller from South Warwickshire RC, who rode matching piebalds Mix and Match and Marco Polo.
Sunday morning saw the start of the Senior Dressage to Music with Zero Points. This was an extremely close contest, with Champion Nicola Nicholls riding Fabio finishing just 0.10 points ahead of Sally-Anne Barton and Blakes Thicket in second.
Alison Moorhouse (Ben) was brimming with joy as she took the honours in the final class of the day, the Senior Novice Dressage to Music with Points, after losing out on first place the year before by just one point.
Yet again the highlight of the championship was the Quadrille Selection, which took place on Saturday evening. In total 13 teams competed for one of the four prized places up for grabs to attend the final at Olympia in December.
 Moat View RC, last year's winners at Olympia with the Furious Angels, will be heading to London again with their new theme ‘Battleaxes - A Call to Arms'. The team's impressive costume included a shield donned with feathers, spears and war paint. | Moat View RC, last year's winners at Olympia with the Furious Angels, will be heading to London again with their new theme ‘Battleaxes - A Call to Arms'. The team's impressive costume included a shield donned with feathers, spears and war paint. "We took inspiration from many different tribes," explained Nicky Murrell, Chef d'equipe for Moat View RC. While the team's performance certainly impressed the crowd, Nicky adds: "It is never as tight as it is in practise, but the horses definitely rose to the occasion - they're such superstars." |
Although they did not make it to Olympia, the team were awarded rosettes for the Best Costume.
Saffron Walden and District RC overcame the challenge of having to make last minute changes to their performance, including a completely new theme and routine. Originally performing ‘Ride of the Valkyries', the team still won a place at Olympia with their new piece, ‘Double Trouble' and haunting soundtrack.
The other two teams selected were Wey Valley RC, with their imaginative interpretation of carousel horses and St Edmunds RC with colourful salsa costumes. All four teams will battle it out to be crowned Quadrille champions at Olympia on Saturday 20 December 2008.
Added on: 16/10/08.
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