The CFHN pony club branch finished the year off with a fun and very successful Christmas Show at Blackdyke.

There were prizes galore, starting with a win in the 30cm LR class for Layla Stelmach on Geronimo ahead of Lucas Hodgson on Phoebe and Zoe Rossi on Cadey. The 40cm class went to Amy Robinson on Dalefoot Rio with Chloe Bulman second on Anna and Lucy Fraser third on Tilly.

Karen McClachlan won the 50cm class with Bough Out, with Allie Bell and Nemo second and Belle Errington third on Betty Boo.

Heidi Batey won the 60cm class with Eddie, Karen and Bough Out were second and Tara Kane was third with Prince. The 70cms class was won by Alexandra Bounch riding Becky, Steve Hartley was second with Chris and Suzie Rawlings third on Una.

Allie and Lydia Bell won the 50-80cm Mini and Mighty with Nemo and Basil, ahead of Heidi and Samantha Batey with Eddie and Johnny.

The 80cm Winter League qualifier went to Tara Kane on Lizzie, with Jackie Hartley second on Tilly. The other 80cm was won by Maisey Strutt on Maisy with Charley Gray second on Chance.

Freya Gaitskell and Benny won both the 90cm and the Winter League qualifier. Joanna Coulthard won the 1m class with Matilda.

In the recent Mini Event run by Shirley Foster at Greenlands, Katie Schug won the Beginners ahead of Annie Henry and Cree McGarva. In the Junior section, the 45/55 went to Rosie Tinkler with Lucy Benson second and Catherine Jenkinson third. The 65/75 was won by Eleysha Rowlandson eith Emma Benson second and Rosie Tinkler third.

David Keenan won the Senior 45/55 with Katie Schug second and Abbie Tinning third. Andy Hewitt won the 65/75 ahead of Elaine Allan and Clare Chappelhow.

The next in the series will be on January 25 and will include a pairs class.

Ellen Valley Riding Club Chair Catherine Harrington has been awarded the Virback 3D Worming, Training and Technical Merit bursary. The prize nets Catherine a training voucher worth £500 to be spent on BE training courses or training with a BE accredited coach.

Catherine won her award with her ten-year old Irish Draft mare Courtown Ruby at Frenchfield after going double clear in the BE80(T) and finishing only three seconds away from the optimum time, making her the closest in her section. It was their first season in BE after changing disciplines from Showing.

Catherine says if she’s feeling brave enough she will give BE90 a go this year and the training bursary will help the pair prepare for the step up.

Several people and companies have come forward with offers of sponsorship for classes and championships at this year’s Lowther Working Hunter. The show had to be transferred at the last minute to Greenlands in 2019 because of severe flooding and will be held there again this year. Heather Metcalf is keen to hear from anyone who would like to be involved in the show, which is a major operation and run entirely by volunteers.

n Please send your equestrian news and reports to: gilly.fraser@gmail.com