Star of the North Gala Night

Friday 23rd March saw the top riders in The North East battle it out in 7 hotly contested finals to become the Star of the North.  Stainsby Grange Equestrian Centre in Thornaby was the venue which started its evenings procedings with the Small Pony Open Championship for children of 14 years and under it was 10 year old Harry Wood from Stockton with his pony Riahanane Lady that took the winners Mountain Bike after a blazing round against the clock to beat 8yr old Gabriella D'ambrosio with her lovely pony Darth Moll into 2nd,  Gabriella from Billingham and a pupil at St Pauls, is in her first season with this pony and it was her first championship.

 

As the crowds rolled in to Stainsby for an evening of terrific jumping there wasn't a seat left in the gallery to watch from.   The intermediate pony saw Abigail Christopher and Skidoodle  clinch the mountain bike from Elton based Morgann Henderson a pupil at Polam Hall.

 

Millie Allen was favourite too win in her two championship classes,  as  The Open pony only produced 2 clears she eased Little Ryan around the 120m track to win after Helena Reveley and Robe Ranger from Lingdale had faults.  The pony classes finished after this and with £250 to the winner and £100 to the second the pressure was on for the Horse (senior) classes after lowering the first fence in the jump off the Open Horse class  favourite Millie Allen with True Leva left the class wide open Lucy Wilson  from Wetherby jumped a classy doube clear to take the lead but pressure was felt when Francis Moiser from Durham started revving up for her round to take second place after lowering a pole in an extremely fast round.

 

The Amateur final was another hotly contested final as competitors had had to fight it out all season to even get in to the top 10 to qualify for the nights competition Anita Leadbetter and Taxing Times was the winner with Sarah Blakey and Ferndale Summer Breeze in second.  It was Leeds all the way in The Intermediate horse, Leeds University Student Beth Lac and her lovely grey horse was the winner over Leeds based Stevie Crosby.  It was home based Malandra Hale with Saceur Rouge who lead from the front in the Novice with Helen Swailes from Gateshead with Lux Jazzy in second.