ABOUT 700 riders competed in the Richmond Horse Trials recently.

A mix of riders from all over the country completed One Day Events consisting of Dressage, Show Jumping and Cross Country Jumping.

The competition attracted riders primarily from Yorkshire and the North East; however, riders had travelled from much further as well, including Aberdeen, the Norfolk Coast, and Essex. Competitors included Pony Clubbers and Riding Club members, as well as professionals and Olympians.

Friday’s Intermediate Classes were won by local riders James Somerville and Heidi Woodhead, with up and coming Cheshire rider Sam Ecroyd scooping the R and R Ice Cream UK Ltd Open Intermediate Section for riders under the age of 21. The Akebar Park Leisure Open Intermediate was won by Stokesley’s Julie Lawson.

But the success of the weekend was undoubtedly the win in the Open Wide Equine Dentistry BE100 Section T for 19 year old Huddersfield rider, Noah Brook. Noah’s Dressage score of 12.5 was probably the best ever seen at Richmond. Noah went on to complete double clears in both Show Jumping and Cross Country phases, adding only 2.4 time penalties, to complete on a score of 14.9.

The event also saw the return of the KBIS Qualifying Classes for the annual Young Horse Championships, with horses as young as four completing all three phases of the competition. A total of seven four and five year olds qualified for the championships.

Organiser Paul Hodgson said: “We’ve had three days of fantastic competition, with excellent standards of riding and keen competition across all sections, especially in Intermediate, Novice, and 4 and 5 yr old sections. We only run two British Eventing Horse Trials each year at Richmond Equestrian Centre so that the ground is in good condition to provide excellent sport for our competitors.”

The Cross Country courses (BE90, BE100 and Novice courses) will be open for public schooling this weekend, and the centre’s newly refurbished café will be open throughout the weekend. For further information call 01748 811629.

The Richmond Horse Trials will take place again in May and August 2015.