Thornaby’s Pippa Allen takes the reins in Spain (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

Thornaby’s Pippa Allen takes the reins in Spain

3:20pm Friday 15th March 2013 in Sport

THE Spanish sunshine proved to be a winning formula for Thornaby showjumper Pippa Allen following three weeks competing on the Silver and Gold Tours in Valencia.

Pippa, 19, who has just been selected on to the British Equestrian Federation’s (BEF), UK Sport-funded World Class Development Programme, was riding a string of horses but her standout performance was winning the 1.40mclass onthe Silver Tour riding the chestnut gelding, Espoir 17, owned by Michael Terhorst.

Pippa said: “It was a great experience to ride inSpainand I feel I’ve made some real progress.

“As well as the win, Espoir was really consistent across all his classes and achieved placings every weekend.

“It was also a great test for the younger horses who all showed improvement and I was particularly pleased with the seven-year-old mare Camilla winning her 1.40m class.

“She’s becoming really scopey so is an exciting prospect for the future.”

On the Gold Tour, Pippa rode the nine-year-old Cupido Z and eight-year-old Centaya who are both owned by international showjumper Helena Stormanns. Pippa is based at Helena’s yard in Eschweiler, Germany.

“I was really happy with Cupido as he jumped a double clear in the Grand Prix on the last day while Centaya went really well and was placed in the 1.40m class.

“She’s starting to become a really careful horse and I’m keen to see what she can do,” continued Pippa.

Pippa has now returned to Helena Stormann’s yard where she has resumed training in preparation for her next big competition, the Eschweiler jumping festival, at the end of April.

The World Class Development Programme underpins World Class Performance and, together withtheEquinePathway,they comprise the Equestrian World Class Programme, incorporating the three Olympic sports of dressage, eventing, showjumping and the Paralympic sport of paraequestrian dressage.

The aim of the programme is to be a sustainable system that can deliver more medals on the international stage now and in the future. The programme has been funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, through Exchequer and National Lottery funds, via UK Sport since 1998.