It’s one of the biggest equestrian happenings of the year, even though no horses are present. Cumbria Horse trials staged their annual awards evening at the North Lakes Hotel in Penrith, with riders gathered in all their glittering finery to be rewarded for their achievements and to applaud the success of others.

The Cumbria Riders Challenge Trophy & Horse of the Year title went to Elizabeth Ostle and Glaramara Freya. Kacey Finch was named Junior Rider of the Year with her equine partner Moychullen Turbo. The Young Rider title went to Sian Routledge with Burnlea Sea Safari.

The BE80, BE90 and BE100 Cumbria Series Champions were named respectively as Laura Sanderson riding Goodnight Percy, Amy Auld riding Holmside Red Ace, and Holly Richardson riding Ipache.

The Cumbrian Rider of the Year title went to Mark Davidson and Performance of the Year to Jacqui Dodds’ Highlight K, ridden by Mark.

Sarah Ettridge was chosen as All Round Eventer of the Year.

The Crackenthorpe Nightingale Cumbria Mare BE100 went to Sarah Graham riding Dangerous Liaison. The Chess III Cumbria Mare Novice was presented to Charlotte Morphet riding Much Ado II.

The Cumbria Salute Team of Leiganne Little, Shirley Sadler, Christine Hardman, Karen Penny, Sian Edwards & Lee Jason Concannon won the BD Team Quest Open Championship. The BD Team Quest U21 Championship went to the Valegro Up North team of Breanne Kelso, Miles Thomas, Alexa Weymouth, Sam Clark & Evie Boon.

The Jedburgh Grammar team of Jackie Hartley, Kelsey Mclachlan, Becky Forster, Lacy Mclachlan won the Winter Timber Trials Schools Championship. The Individual Championship went to Kelsey Mclachlan riding Muhammad Ali.

Shirley Foster and RJT Tilly LongStockings were named as the Summer Eventer Derby Senior Champion, and the Junior went jointly to Jackie Hartley riding Monagor Tilly and Emma Donnan riding Mr Blue Sky.

A special presentation was made to the Show Jump Arena Party of Matthew Rippon, Issy Mulholland, Maria Cleasby, Olivia Errington and Alexa Weymouth for their dedication. And also to Emma Atkins and Black Hawk Down for achieving their first win together after many years in BE events.

The organisers also said they took great pride in knowing that three out of the top five at Blair Castle Grassroots BE90 Championships were from Cumbria – namely Annie Sandell, Emma Little and Claire Light.

Away from the awards – well done to Jilly Francis who won the Discovery at the Ian Stark Equestrian Centre with Jazz after warming up nicely with a fourth in the British Novice.

n PLEASE send your equestrian news and results to: gilly.fraser@gmail.com