ROUND 1 REPORT - AMEC, MELTON MOWBRAY

RAF EQUITATIONTEAM WINS FIRST LEG OF THE INTER-SERVICES

The RAF Equitation team started their 2010 campaign in thesame style as they finished 2009 by winning the one day event in Apr. The Inter-Services Championshipcomprises of three competitions hosted by each Service in turn throughout theyear. Points are accumulated fromeach competition towards the overall championship which is sponsored by TheWorshipful Company of Loriners.

The Army hosted the opening competition with a one day event(dressage, showjumping and x-country) at the Defence Animal Centre (DAC),Melton Mowbray. The team consistedof Wg Cdr Jane Austin, Flt Lt Carrie Moore, Cpl Sarah Marshall and SAC MelStoner; with Flt Lt Caitlin Wroe competing as an individual with two of herhorses. Given the extremelyinclement British weather in the run up to the event, it was touch and go as towhether the x-country phase would go ahead. The DAC is sited on a hill and is very open to the elements– luckily the wind played a major part in drying out the ground and thedecision to continue with the x-country was made. The ground could not have been better, very springy and theonly fence that gave cause for concern because of soggy ground was removed fromthe course. Everyone appeared todo good dressage tests, although the scores of the tests were not releaseduntil after the results had been announced; so pressure was on for good showjumping rounds. However, the show jumping course was very technical and quitetwisty causing problems across the board with very few achieving clear roundsfrom any of the Services. In the last phase, despite a few ‘rider frighteners’the x-country course rode very well, although the optimum time was fast andmost riders were awarded time penalties for exceeding it. Consequently, theresults were very close but the RAF team came out on top with SAC Stoner takingindividual third.

ROUND 2 REPORT - BARBURY HORSE TRIALS

RAF TEAM 2ND BEHIND ARMY

Round 2 saw the RAF Team travel to the Barbury International Horse Trials for the RAF leg of the Inter Services, Loriners Competition. The competition was to be a Top Score which is show jumping only, each rider attempting to get the highest score possible. The Royal Navy were not able to field a team so it was going to be close between the Army and the RAF. The team consisted of Wg Cdr Jane Austin, Wg Cdr Dawn Elson, LCpl Martin Caterall and SAC Kim Lawton. Everyone jumped well however the Army managed to jump the Joker with 2 riders therefore gaining more overall points and thus clinching the 2nd Leg. This means that, with the 3rd leg next weekend at the Royal Navy Championships, it is currently a tie between the Army and RAF.

ROUND 3 REPORT - ROYAL NAVY CHAMPIONSHIPS

RAF WIN FINAL LEG

A team of 8 riders made the long journey down to Southamptonfor this year’s Navy Championships. Traditionally this combined training(dressage and show jumping) competition would have been the second of the Inter-Serviceslegs for the Loriners Trophy but because this year saw the introduction of anew show jumping event for the Inter-Services at Barbury Castle it meant thatthis competition was the grand finale. After the first two legs the Army andRAF were in joint first place on points so it would be winner takes all!

On the first day everyone performed well with Wg Cdr JaneAustin and Wg Cdr Dawn Elson picking up individual prizes in both show jumpingand dressage and Flt Lt Caitlin Wroe winning one of the dressage classes. Withthe majority of the RAF Squad that had were available to attend the competitionbeing less experienced in dressage and the Inter-Services title up for grabsthe Chef D’Equipe (Jane) considered the tactics required and decided to lend hersecond horse to Dawn for the next day so that the RAF could make up acompetitive team for the Loriners leg. Thus, the 4 riders selected for theInter-Services element were Jane, Dawn, Caitlin and MACR Simon Allen.

In the novice classes all the riders did well with CplMarnie Long managing to pick up a prize in the top score show jumping. But withall to play for the pressure was on for the Loriners Team and the atmospherewas tense at the dressage arena where the ruling on callers being allowed washotly debated. Unperturbed by the last minute rule clarifications the ridersmanaged to keep their concentration and delivered very good tests. Indeed,Caitlin once again won the dressage element and Jane was individually placed,so the RAF was in the lead with the jumping phase to go. However, the RAF havebeen in that situation before and managed to have too many fences down in thejumping to maintain the lead - consequently, they needed to ride clear roundsto ensure victory. Amazingly, Jane, Caitlin and Dawn all went clear and Simonjust had once fence down, they were all individually placed in the jumpingphase and, more importantly, they had won the final leg of the Inter-Services.This also meant that the RAF was Inter-Service Equitation Champions for thesecond year in a row a feat that had not been achieved for over 15 years!