Winners from amongst hundreds of the very best under 18 riders from across the country are celebrating following their performances at the British Eventing International Youth Championships.
The Championships which were held at Bishop Burton College, ran from Wednesday 3 August to Sunday 7 August and saw talented young athletes compete in dressage, cross country and showjumping classes.
Following a spectacular Opening Ceremony, which included an awe-inspiring performance from stunt rider Katharine Pickering complete with fire breathing, competitors representing 8 regions across the UK at BE90, BE100, CCI-L J2 and CC1-L YR2* level, were put through their paces in the ultimate equestrian challenge.
Thanks to significant investment from Bishop Burton College in their equine facilities, entrants had the opportunity to compete on a cross-country course designed by Joe Weller, a British Eventing Gold Course Builder and BE Silver Course Designer. Making use of the undulating parkland, the course provided an exhilarating and exciting ride with a mixture of permanent and portable fences.
The 8 teams were not only competing for individual honours, but also for the highly coveted team honours for their region. The winners of the various classes, including Bishop Burton student Lucy Copeland, who won the BE90 Open under 18s Championship individual honours, were presented with prizes supplied by headline event sponsors Baileys Horse Feeds and the College on the final day of the competition. Lucy’s regional team, the North, took the honours for the team competition in this class.
Lucy said about her win;
“I was honoured to be representing the North in the championships and to receive the individual and teams honours for my class is a dream come true. It has been a once in a lifetime experience to compete alongside all of these amazing riders on my home turf at Bishop Burton, where I am a student.”
The BE100 Open under 18s Championship individual honours was won by Archie Humfrey with the South East claiming the team honours. The individual honours for the Baileys Horse Feed CCI-L J2* Championship went to Charlotte Bull and the team honours was won by the Central team. Finally, Katie Edgar claimed the individual honours in the Bailey Horse Feed CCI-L YR2* Championship.
Jane Buchan, Marketing Manager at Baileys Horse Feeds, who presented the winners with their prizes, said;
“It’s been a privilege to be the headline sponsor of this year’s Youth Championships. The atmosphere has been fantastic and the standard of horsemanship, from the young people competing, has been exceptional. We particularly enjoyed being able to give riders the opportunity to use our equine weighbridge, and electrolyte supplement after cross country, to help support and monitor horses’ recovery and condition, throughout the event.”
NFU Mutual Beverley & Hedon, Visit East Yorkshire, Bedmax Shavings and Lindum also sponsored the event. Hosts Bishop Burton College provided competitors, friends and family and spectators with the opportunity to explore and enjoy the world-class facilities with activities including a demonstration of the college’s equine water treadmill and dissection of an equine leg in the laboratories.
Catherine Sykes, Event Organiser and Equine Event Coordinator at Bishop Burton said;
“We’re delighted to have hosted the International Youth Championships at Bishop Burton for a second year, it’s been a fantastic competition. We have seen outstanding riding and sportsmanship from all the young riders who took part. A huge thanks to everyone who has supported the Championships. The sponsors in combination with officials, volunteers, trade stand attendees and staff from across the college, all help to make this prestigious competition a true championship event for young and up and coming riders”
Further horse trials are planned for October 2022 and May 2023 at Bishop Burton, in addition to Lincolnshire Horse Trials in March 2023. For further information on any of the events please call 01964 553087 or email equine@bishopburton.ac.uk.
