JAN CLARK

RED DRAGON WEEKEND 27TH - 29TH SEPTEMBER 2000



Crabbet gelding Dahlih, owned by Anne Newton, was ridden by Susan Hawes and placed 2nd in the FEI 3 star class.
Photo was taken at Builth Wells the evening before the ride started
(Photo courtesy of Eric G Jones 01747 860625)

The Red Dragon ride from Builth Wells Showground, home of the Royal Welsh show, is always a fantastic festival of Endurance riding. This year there was the added bonus of glorious weather. With 3 Endurance Classes - the Red Dragon 2 day 160 km, the Little Dragon 80km and the FEI 3star 160 km 2 day class, along with a host of graded, set speed and pleasure rides, there were in excess of 500 horses competing over the weekend.

Margaret McKiddie
Winner of the Red DRagon class riding Bonnie Anne
(Photo courtesy of Eric G Jones 01747 860625)

Margaret McKiddie has always enjoyed success here in the past with her great campaigner Madoc, winning both the 2 day 100 mile Red Dragon, and the 120 mile 2 day ride the only year that was run. This year she brought Bonnie Anne, her home bred part bred mare by Bonanza, who was so successful at the Golden Horseshoe, and the winner of the 160 km Summer Solstice Ride at Ludlow. Margaret attacked the ride right from the start, but only got a clear lead after the 4th vet gate with 110kms completed. By the time she came into Vet Gate 5, with just 18km to go she had stretched her lead to 30 minutes and came in to win the class easily at a speed of 15.24 kph. Second place went to Jo Carter and her TB mare Autumn, contesting their first 2 day class and in third palce was Jackie Gilmore and Roama.

1st Eleazar de Landas Part bred gelding Chris Yeoman 14.7kph
(Photo courtesy of Eric G Jones 01747 860625)

The FEI 3* class was a qualifier for the Eueopean Championships to be held in ireland next year. With this in mind a large entry of 27 horses was forward, with many of the riders settling for a safe completion faster than the minimum qualifying time of 12kph. At the finish of the ride on Sunday 13 horses passd the final vetting - all within the necessary speed. The battle for 1st place went right to the wire, with Christine Yeoman on her French bred Arab Eleazar de Landas completing the last 18kms in 1hour and 10 minutes, to win at a speed of 14.7kph. It looked as though 17 yo Philip Hirst and Chahalam would take 2nd place, but with a great burst of speed Susan Hawes on Dahlih galloped past him within sight of the winning post to take the blue rosette.

Results - Red Dragon Ride 160km 2 day
1st Bonnie Anne Part bred mare Margaret McKiddie 15.24kph
2nd Autumn TB mare Jo Carter
3rd Roama Part bred gelding Jackie Gilmore
4th Midnight Minstrel TB gelding Ginny Gidley
5th Yamavar Pure bred gelding Zara Moon
6th Sovereign of Trewyn Part Bred Gelding Paula Postlethwaite
7th Moonshine Lucy Jean Dovey

Philip and Tricia Hirst at the start of the FEI class.
Philip and Chahalam (the grey in the pic) finished in 3rd place
(Photo courtesy of Eric G Jones 01747 860625)

Results - FEI 3* 160km - 2day
1st Eleazar de Landas Part bred gelding Chris Yeoman 14.7kph
2nd Dahlih Pure bred gelding Susan Hawes
3rd Chahalam Pure bred gelding Philip Hirst
4th Saffren Pure bred gelding Annie Joppe
5th Tigre Puer bred gelding John Hudson
6th Drysgoed Daydream Part Bred gelding Sue Buckley
7th Rawnq Pure bred mare Becky Broughton
8th Croix de Guerre Pure bred stallion Anna Welch
9th Tara's Dream Welsh Part Bred mareRachel Rolfe
10th Dacoit Pure bred gelding Anne Newton
11th Gedenski Pure bred gelding Meriel Moon
12th Rowengay Garnet Part bred gelding Nicky Sherry
13th Steel Tobias Pure bred gelding Jane James

Karen Jones & Aberanell Virginia (on left of pic) winner of the Little Dragon 80 km ER and Ken Mapp
(Photo courtesy of Eric G Jones 01747 860625)

Results Little Dragon 80km ER
1st Aberanell Virginia Part bred mare Karen Jones 16.27kph
2nd Classic Zacheriah Appaloosa Ursula Hargreaves
3rd Crystal Dior Pure bred gelding Rachel Fownes
4th North Island Bill Karen Greenwood
5th Khala pure bred mare Linda Sherwood
6th Perfeq Camilla May Pure bred mare Linda Hams
7th Robbie Sue Box
8th Kerrygold Part bred gelding Julie Marshall
9th Dezert Moon Pure bred gelding Jane Dawson
10th Franzara Pure bred mare Lesley Dunn
11th Dalya Pure bred mare Linda Court
12th Gemini R Welsh pony Sarah Rogerson
13th Dylan Jamie Craig

Check back soon for more news.

'Endurance Jan'

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