As the 2011 eventing season drew to an end, the South East Eventers League final prizes have been awarded. The South East Eventer’s League, which is now in it’s sixteenth year, aims to raise the profile of British Eventing members and events in the South East Region (Kent, Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire, Essex & Berkshire).
Semi-professional event rider Alycia Port and her own, Pauline and Colin Passmore and Chris Ing’s Classic Decision claimed the Intelligent Worming Leading Horse & Rider and the Leading Owner/Rider awards. Alycia combines eventing with an Economics degree at Sussex University as well as shifts at her local pub and some freelance riding to assist with funding her eventing. Classic Decision has made the transition to Intermediate this season and claimed a fourth and a ninth at Eridge and the South of England as well as picking up Novice points at events within the League.
Classic Decision is a nine year old bay mare by Dutch Classic, who Alycia took on as a seven year old after having a chequered history with back problems. She has been produced slowly to ensure she built up strength, the hard working student plans to move Classic Decision up to Advanced next year after doing an early two star. Alycia is trained by Pippa Funnell, Marion Goggin and Judi Piper-Dadswell and receives sponsorship from Wadhurst Pet Supplies and Oldwick saddlery.
Alycia Port & Classic Decision II
An enthusiastic Sue Eggleton has expressed how delighted she is to pick up the Pegasus Grassroots BE100, the Grassroots Overall Leading Rider and the Billy Stud Leading Mare. This means Sue will be the proud owner of the new saddle kindly donated by Wow to the winner of the Grassroots Overall Leading Rider! Sue’s partner is the nineteen year old mare, Nachtigall, who was given to her last year by close friend, Nicky Killon, whose army husband was being posted from Germany to Cyprus. Sue therefore had to import her over from Germany, where she previously had no competition record, therefore 2011 has been the partnerships first season eventing.
Importing Nachtigall from Germany was all in a day’s work for Sue as she is a professional horse mover by trade, being the founder and director of the Equine Travel Agency Ltd, an International Horse Transporters based in Dover, Kent. Sue has been running the company for seven years and they are one of the largest and most successful international transporters in Europe.
Bristol University student Claire Roissetter and her own eighteen year old Harvey Hooves decisively won the TruLeisure Grassroots BE90 and the Equine Travel Agency Ltd Veteran Horse rankings. Claire purchased Harvey Hooves six years ago as a ‘professional eater of grass!’ The pair have learnt together with the help of their brilliant instructor, Tracey Lawson, who has made them work hard, whilst having lots of fun along the way!
Next season, Claire will be focusing on the BE90 grassroots championships after winning the regional final at Firle Place. Due to Harvey’s age he may retire after this event or at the end of next season- however he doesn’t seem to realise his age at the moment and loves eventing, so Claire plans to let him decide his future plans.
Full time event rider, twenty four year old Georgie Strang and Jenny Newton’s Cooley Business Time have secured the Tri Tec (Farnam) Leading Novice after a fantastic first season together, jumping double clears in all their Novices, including winning at Eridge and Chilham, second at Smiths Lawn and second in the Intermediate Novice at Firle. Cooley Business Time has been selected as first reserve for Le Lion six year old Young Horse Championships and will now have a break, before doing some affiliated dressage and show jumping in preparation for next season. His aims for next season will be to progress to intermediate and 2*.
Georgie currently has seven horses to event from her base in Lamberhurst, where her dad farms and mum runs a livery yard. She is very grateful to her owners Jenny and John Newton for their support and also to her mum Debbie and boyfriend Nick who have been invaluable in helping her achieve success this season.
Previous winners Aileen Tizzard and Kavannagh II have once again picked up the Rachel Lamb Art Veteran Rankings. Aileen is a freelance instructor based in West Sussex and currently has two horses to event. Kavannagh II is an eighteen year old grey gelding, owned by Alison Driver.
A level student Laura Greary and her own and Dr. Patricia Milligan’s Dinero have rounded off a fantastic season by winning the Littleton Manor Under 21 rankings. Laura has produced the seven year old 17.2hh son of Dimaggio from a three year old with help from her riding instructor mother. Laura aims to progress up the levels with Dinero, their plans next season are to continue doing novices and finish with a CIC*, with the hope of making it to the junior teams in the future.
For more information about the league, please click here.
