GUERNSEY and Jersey riders have been invited to compete in the National Championships. Following a visit to view and assess the Guernsey Riding & Hunt Club’s facilities, Peter Buist, vice-chairman of the British Riding Club’s National Committee, issued the invitation.

He asked a combined Guernsey and Jersey Riding Club team to compete at showjumping and dressage in the championships taking place in Lincoln in September.

Jersey Riding Club representatives came to Guernsey to meet Mr Buist and to liaise with the GR&HC organisers regarding the team standard and selection criteria.

Because of the high calibre required to take part in not only the affiliated British Dressage competitions but also the British Riding Club Champion-ships, Mary Tidmarsh and Ann Holland, the two visiting English judges, were forewarned that the GR&HC judging had to be on a par with the UK standards.

Mrs Tidmarsh has judged and scribed at Badminton Horse Trials. Mrs Holland has regularly judged at West Wilts Equestrian Centre.

Although this was the club’s third dressage event in 2004, it was the first dressage-with-jumping competition of the season.

The two judges arrived in Guernsey and straight away set to work by helping to set up the three dressage arenas needed.

The weather started beautifully but by the time the grounds were ready, everyone was thoroughly soaked.

The following morning saw dressage and dressage-with-jumping classes and the early riders had a soaking, though the later ones escaped a drenching.

The Prelim 10 and Elementary 52 tests were judged by both Mrs Tidmarsh and Mrs Holland from different areas around the arena.

The total of the scores and percentages was divided by two to give an overall score and percentage.

This was interesting for the competitors as they were able to compare the judges’ scores and comments.

Junior rider Jenny Winfindale and Cocu III were the winners of the 2ft 3in. dressage-with-jumping class.

Emma Dorey won the 2ft 9in. dressage-with-jumping class riding Snaffles Purple Patch; she also produced good results in the dressage on her other horse, Harijke.

The Sunday also saw the return of dressage to music, which seems to attract more spectator interest as the rider attempts to match the paces and movements of the horse to the music being played.

Kathy Marley on her mare, Sweet Inspiration, had a win in the elementary freestyle music with a satisfying score and Patti Duckworth on Icarus II managed to produce two music tests and had a win in the medium music.

The GR&HC has been holding affiliated British Dressage Qualifications for 10 years with the aim of sending local riders to compete in the UK.

A high standard is required for competitors to be able to hold their own there and the qualification needed is one win with a score of at least 65%.

Guernsey’s qualifiers over the weekend were Emma Dorey and Harijke in the preliminary class, Maxine Whalley and Ramses ‘G’ in the novice and Traci Butler and Kancarna’s Dark Crystal in the elementary.

On the Saturday afternoon, after the competition had finished, the first of the team selection trials were held.

These proved to be extremely helpful to both the riders and organisers with excellent advice from the judges following each test.

Further trials will be held in the May and June competitions.

Any interested dressage riders can contact Kathy Marley and jumping riders may contact Jan Coomer.