ON THEIR first-ever visit to the National Championships, and following a hard fought competition, Macclesfield & District Riding Club achieved a top-ten placing at the British Riding Club's event in Lincoln.
Having won the North West area qualifier in July, the team, Jo Sotheran on Borderline Delinquent, Jenna Cairns on Millie, Katy Bolton on Starlight Mystery and Alison Geary on Morlena Ceri, competed against 21 other teams from around the country and were delighted to achieve the result.
Also competing, as an individual in the Senior Open Class, Jenna Cairns achieved 12th place riding Warrant Van Ten Bosch.
The Junior Open team from Macclesfield lost a little of their qualifying form with a couple of unlucky poles falling and were just out of the rosettes, coming 12th at the end of the competition.
The team, also having won their North West Area Qualifier in July, were Amelia-Kate Smith on Sir Archibald, Holly Neat on Mix 'n' Match, Nikki Moores on Humble Traveller and Sammy Bowler, who was riding Blue Whistler.
The club's top achievement was from their oldest representative at the event.
Riff Raff, at the ripe age of 27, was placed third in the NAF Evergreen Pony Veteran class.
The veteran horse is owned by Angela Eardley, chairman of the Macclesfield club, and ridden by her daughter, Joanne Garfoot.
The competition in the Evergreen Veteran Riding Class was of a very high standard, and began with an assessment by a qualified vet.
This was followed by a display of the horse being shown in hand in order to enter the arena.
Riders had already been required to submit an essay explaining why their horse was qualified to ride at national level.
The weekend was thoroughly enjoyed by all who attended and MDRC members hope to qualify again next year to better a great performance.
