THE Pony Club Area 16 dressage competition, organised this year by Lamerton Hunt Pony Club, saw 15 teams from across Devon and Cornwall competing for a place at the National Championships.

More than 70 riders competed in four arenas with top class judges on a blazing hot day at Launceston showground at Kennards House.

Despite the heat and tension the standard was high, with riders aged 11 to 20 aiming to qualify either as individuals or as part of the winning team.

The atmosphere was electric as competitors finished their tests and went to check the scoreboards.

The winning team, from Eggesford Pony Club, just pipped South Pool by just over three marks, with 204.4, while fewer than 20 points separated the top eight teams.

In the different arenas, George Forrest from the Fourburrow, produced an outstanding test to qualify as the winner of Arena A: Arena B was won by India Bourke of South Pool; Lizzie Pyle won Arena C as well as the best junior, and in Arena D Louise French was the

winner.

In the afternoon, the novice team qualifier for the Novice Championships was also hotly contested, with six teams taking part.

The winning team came from South Devon West, (Lucy Oetogenn,Bryony Lovell-Williams, Catherine Atwell and Katie Cockburn) with the runners-up from South Pool also qualifying to go on to the championships in Cheshire in a fortnight?s time.

To complete a full day of dressage there was also a junior team and individual competition for the under 13s. The winning team came from Mid Devon (Lydia Svensson, Scarlett Geering, Jessica Mortimore,Charlie Rowe) and the winning individual was Hannah Mann, from South Devon West.

For the under 10s there was a special competition and in this the winner was William Scott from Spooners and West Dartmoor Pony Club.

Full results ? Teams: 1, Eggesford (Kim Bland, Harriet Whewell, Lizzie Pyle, Louise French); 2, South Pool (Pippa Stephens, India Bourke, Katy Rogers, James Macintosh); 3, Fourburrow (George Forrest, Rebecca Gofton, India Ross, Emma James); 4, Dartmoor (Gemma Perry, Louise Clarke, Pippa Wonnacott, Maria Perry); 5, South Devon West (Rosie Tucker, Anna Moule, Katie Boon, Hannah Scott Smith); 6, Lamerton (Michael Harris, Lizzie Luxton, Hattie Sparks, Charlotte Steadman)

Individuals: Arena A, 1 George Forrest, Fourburrow; 2, Rosie Tucker, South Devon West.

Arena B, 1, India Bourke, South Pool; 2, Harriet Whewell, Eggesford.

Arena C, 1, Lizzie Pyle, Eggesford; 2, Jennie Humphry, Lamerton.

Arena D, 1, Louise French, Eggesford; 2, Caroline Friend. Eggesford

All prizewinners were presented with their rosettes by Lt Col Gordon Wesey, chairman of the Pony Club.

The area rosettes were sponsored by West Devon farrier Ben Chamberlain, a former member of Lamerton Hunt Pony Club.