DRESSAGE TO MUSIC CHAMPIONSHIPS
The annual London & South East Novice Dressage to Music Championships were held at Sands Farm
EC Warnham on the 19 October 2014.
Qualifiers for these Championships are held throughout the year at events organised by the various
Areas in this region. Areas cover Bucks, Berks, Surrey, Kent and East and West Sussex. Competitors
who qualify are then invited to compete at the Championships.
This year the Championships were organised by BRC Area 13 Liaison Committee – with special thanks to
Carol Porter for dealing with all the paperwork, times etc. etc. and Marilyn Turner for decorating the arena
with banners and flower tubs (not sure some of the horses appreciated this!). Entries were not as high as
hoped – it is a long and expensive journey for those in Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire.
However, it was a good day and the competitors excelled themselves, particularly those in costume!
Thanks to our lovely judge, Debbie Wardle, her writer, Pauline Brown, and Sara Green for dealing with
the music and commentary.
Thanks also to Annabelle Knight (www.TCMEquine.com), Chrissie Dodd (Bowen therapist) LRG
Photography, Netex Products (Lynn Russell) and Attlee’s Country Store for providing very generous
additional prizes.
Competitors came from Horsham & District RC, South Oxfordshire RC, Old Berkshire Hunt RC, North
Downs RC, Chipstead RC, West End RC, Mid Sussex RC, Fawlham & District RC, Northwood RC,
Elstead RC, Breakspear RC and Farnham RC. Also competing in the Novice Section 1 and Pas Seul in
Costume was the inimitable Deirdre Robinson on Summer of Torlundy. Deirdre will be known to many
people. Over the years she has been involved in many riding club activities, including quadrilles, both as
a competitor and trainer. Summer was born on the Isle of Rum and spent a large part of her life having
foals and running wild with the Rum herd – obviously not bred for dressage. Deirdre thinks because of
their combined ages, they should by now have received a letter from the Queen!!
Well done to all those who took part and many congratulations to the winners.
The winners were Preliminary DTM: (Test - BD Preliminary Freestyle to Music 2012). Caroline Pluck and Quintus 80. Caroline is a
member of South Oxfordshire RC and has owned Quintus for 4 years. He is a friendly horse who even likes the
insides of his ears rubbed!
Novice DTM: (Test - BD Novice Freestyle to Music 2012)
Section 1: 0 BD points: Vicky Allan and Razzle Dazzle. Vicky is an active member of Horsham & District RC and was
successful at the Nationals. Razzle is a 16 year old rescue mare bought by Vicky when she was 3 and she is a true
allrounder.
Section 2: 1-124 BD points: Debi Arkle and Wandering Star. Debi and Star recently came 5th in the Nationals.
Pas Seul (Novice DTM in costume): (Test - L&SE Novice 2013). Marilyn Turner and Copperfield Skipper as Wallace
& Gromit (photo below). Marilyn is a very active member of Horsham RC. Skipper is a 7 year old homebred Welsh
part bred. At the prize presentation the other horses kept away from a very scary horse with a Gromit’s face !!
Pairs DTM: (Test – BRC Pairs Freestyle to Music 2014). Caroline Pluck on Quintus 80 and Jo Holder on Cooloo
Lad. Jo is also a member of South Oxfordshire RC. This is their 2 nd year they have had a go at Pairs DTM and are
having enormous fun.
Pas de Deux – Pairs (in Costume) (Test – L&SE Novice 2013).Caroline Pluck on Quintus 80 & Jo Holder on Cooloo
Lad as Pirates of the Caribbean (photo below) . This year they chose Pirate of the Caribbean as Caroline’s daughter
was in the first film. They love every minute and spend most of the time laughing – usually at their costumes.
Dressage to Music is fun
Ann and John Foss took over these Championships around 1997.
They also took over the main
Championships in 1978 when the original organiser moved away from the area. After so many years Ann
and John have now decided to stand down and as, yet, it is not known who will take their place. Ann
presented the trophy and sashes to the winners of the costume classes – as in photos.