Record numbers of competitors travelled from as far afield as Southern Ireland to compete at the BHS TREC Championships of Great Britain.
 
The Championships, sponsored by South Essex Insurance Brokers, were held at Bryn Sion Liveries, North Wales. Competitors had earned their place at the finals at qualifying events held across the country.
 
The Level 2 Individual title was won by Kirsty Wylde from Lincoln with her 13.2hh Highland pony, Iona of Dykes. The Pairs honours at this level were awarded to Midlands duo Jan Oldham (Derbyshire) on Josh and Rachael Wilmot (Nottingham) with her 17-year-old Fell pony, Grindle. This is only the pair’s second season competing together after winning the Novice BHS TREC League in 2009.
 
At Level 3, the Individual title went to Clare Reynolds and her “horse of a lifetime” Starlight Sylvester, following great POR and PTV phases. Clare, who comes from Kent, is one of the long listed riders to represent Team GBR in Austria in September. The Level 3 Pairs Champions were Izzy France (Redditch) on Just Jake and Sue Lee (Warwickshire) on her “pink pony,” Daisy.
 
Daniel Nolan from Warwickshire fought off tough competition to be crowned Level 4 Individual Champion of Great Britain. Daniel became the recipient of a saddle kindly donated by the Worshipful Company of Saddlers.
 
A special prize was awarded to a particularly brave little Exmoor pony, Ariel, who on the journey to the Championship from their Middlesbrough home, was stuck in her lorry as it caught on fire. Paula Scott, Ariel’s owner and Kat Evans struggled through the smoke to get to Ariel and released her. Ariel calmly walked out of the lorry onto the hard shoulder of the motorway. Despite all the drama, Paula and Ariel went on to take the runners-up spot in the Level 3 Pairs class with their partners Kathy and Misti Blue.
 
Special prizes were also awarded to the best presented horse and rider at both veterinary inspections. The recipient of this prize was Julia Izzard’s Jock Scotch Broth, who is off to enjoy his retirement at the grand age of 23 years young. Kent-based-rider Julia and Jock also finished in seventh place in the Level 3 Individual class.
 
The vets, from Liverpool University Hospital, added an extra prize to the presentation for the best veteran, which was presented to Carolyn Hird-Rogers’ 34-year-old horse Jake. The vets thought that despite his age, he coped extremely well, finishing ninth in the Level 2 Pairs class with their pairs partner Elaine Dawson on Linford.
 
Mairead Moynihan travelled from Ireland to lend her support to her Irish comrades, but also came to present, along with Welsh Chef d’Equipe Cath Cromarty, the Irish/Welsh friendship trophy to the Owens family for all their work and support.
 
England were once again proud winners of the Nations Cup, with Ireland, Wales and Scotland following on respectively.
 
For further information and pictures, please contact: Alison Coleman, The British Horse Society, 01926 707737 or a.coleman@bhs.org.uk