Last week we once again held the British Dressage Petplan Winter Area Festival. The Area Festival is a fantastic five days of dressage, held across our main Indoor Arena and Agria Outdoor Arenas, with hundreds of dressage competitors travelling to join us over the week.
We had another really successful Area Festival this year, and the whole team at Solihull is extremely grateful to absolutely everyone who has helped run the event – these events don’t just happen, it really does take an army of support. To every single one of our staff members, grounds team, judges, officials, stewards, commentators, scorers, writers, volunteers, supporters, and of course our competitors – thank you so much for supporting Solihull.
We need to say a particular thank you to our sponsors, who helped to make the Area Festival a really special competition.
Listers Land Rover Solihull generously supplied a Range Rover SV, Defender and Discovery for our judges in our Agria Outdoor Arena which all helped to make the arena look amazing! They were also involved in prize giving – we are incredibly grateful for their generous support.
Prizes for our competitors were generously supplied by Classic Dressage, LeMieux, TopSpec and Dodson & Horrell.
Here’s the top three competitors from every class across the week:
Advanced Medium Bronze
🥇 Annabelle Wesley & Vanir Kamira
🥈 Hannah Macmillan & Brookeborough Lad
🥉 Laura Barrow & Angel II
Advanced Medium Silver
🥇 Louise Robson & MSJ Finale
🥈 Helen James & Lisa B
🥉 India Edwards & Hey Arnold
Intermediate I Bronze
🥇 Jade Clark & Jemimah HH
🥈 Theresa Smyth & Impress II
🥉 Annabel Abell & Sheepcote Lets Go
Intermediate I Silver
🥇 Rosie McDermott & Carrick Aldato Girl
🥈 Josie Kent & Serious Black
Medium Bronze
🥇 Annabelle Wesley & Vanir Camera
🥈 Tina Guion & With Good Intention
🥉 Annabelle Wesley & Den Ostrik’s Nio
Medium Silver
🥇 Rose Punchard & Sport Awole
🥈 Lauren Darby-Brown & Don Karlos
🥉 Simon Lawrance & Le Petit Prince
Prix St Georges Bronze
🥇 Sarah Jacklin & Good Speed
🥈 Rebecca Parsonage & Wacton Billy
🥉 Jessica Sanders & Gershwin FH
Prix St Georges Silver
🥇 Helen James & Lisa B
🥈 Rosie McDermott & Carrick Aldato Girl
🥉 Lindsay Wilcox-Reid & Sanbonani
Elementary Bronze
🥇 Lydia Holmes & Caramelle
🥈Amelia Dickens & Ghabar Doncorleoni
🥉 Stephen Pool & Hillgrove Donatello
Elementary Silver
🥇 Rebecca Parsonage & Mr T STW
🥈Katie Wrennall & Chatoon S
🥉 Rebecca Jessett & Percival’s Rebel
Novice Bronze – Section A
🥇 Sarah Holliday & Hatterall Walk Tall
🥈 Danielle Price & Jeanne D’ark VDV
🥉 Charlotte Bailey & Brucky Boy
Novice Bronze – Section B
🥇 Bella Balian & Beechwood Joey
🥈 Joshua Bailey & NORAALFEE
🥉 Jayne Partlett & China Herself
Novice Silver
🥇 Hannah Dixon & Desiree
🥈 Amanda Williams & Narramore Shooting Star
🥉 Georgia Dixon & Fiderpoppy
Prelim Bronze – Section A
🥇 Isabel Callow & Dyffryncothi Bridget
🥈 Rachel Ryder & Singing Gatlin
🥉 Georgina Millard & One Above
Prelim Bronze – Section B
🥇 Lily Crompton & Four Ashes Wembley
🥈 Maia Bryce & Maesmynach Modlen
🥉 Jessica Parnell & Backstairs Pearl
Prelim Silver
🥇 Boo Riley & Wellfields Valentino
🥈 Joshua Bailey & NORAALFEE
🥉 Boo Riley & Thames Oak Glamour Girl
Becky Parsonage, winner of the Elementary Silver, said “Patch is owned by Judy and Kevin Thomas. He mainly events throughout the summer and we’ve done a bit of dressage through the winter, and he qualified for both the Novice and the Elementary. He’s very trainable and always tries his hardest. He started off a bit tense today but as it went on he got more relaxed, with some really nice canter work at the end! It’s been a really nice, friendly and well organised day – we’re looking forward to coming back tomorrow!”
Sarah Jacklin, winner of the Prix St Georges Bronze said, “I’ve owned Joey since he was 5 and I’ve brought him all the way up through the levels. He’s an absolute unicorn, he’s like a labrador trapped in a horse’s body! It’s been amazing here today – although I did help organise it! There’s been fantastic feedback and it’s been a real team effort, from Jane doing the flowers to Mitch being up at the crack of dawn harrowing the arenas. It’s been a fabulous atmosphere and it’s really special to have been able to experience it both as an organiser and a competitor.”
Jade Clark, winner of the Intermediate Bronze A said, “Jemimah is a homebred horse so this is really special. She’s 11 this year and a bit sharp, but she’s come through the levels and I think the higher level work is suiting her – she was very excited to be here, so I made a few mistakes in the test but the good parts obviously shone through! We recently finished second at the Prix St Georges regionals, and now I’m looking forward to the Winter Championships. We come to Solihull a lot and it’s a great to have the indoor warm-up and competition – it’s always nice to support it and it’s always well run.”
