Area 21 on form at Side Saddle Association National Show
Video footage included of winning Working Hunter round!
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The Side Saddle Association National Show was held at Bury Farm near Leighton Buzzard in Bedfordshire on August 4, 5 and 6. Over 150 riders took part in classes over the three days, ranging from dressage to showing, jumping, dressage to music, various equitation championships from age five to adult, costume and historical costume classes, fun classes like pairs and the champagne challenge, HOYS qualifier and much more!
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A number of international guests from Spain, Czech Republic, Belgium, Switzerland and Germany, to name some of the nationalities, attended too - some bringing horses.
Northern Ireland Area 21 was represented by Shirley Anderson (who is a National Side Saddle Association Vice Chairman) riding ‘Swatch This Diago’; and Julie Donaghy Simpson riding ‘He’s The Lad’ (aka ‘Tonto’); Michael McGaffin, Kirsten Conly Devlin and Megan Hamill, the Area 21 Chairman, were the support team on foot.
On Friday, Julie was placed fifth in the Horsemanship class and Shirley was third in her Novice Dressage class.
On Saturday, Julie jumped a fabulous clear round to place fourth in the Adult Novice Equitation Jumping and fourth overall in the Adult Novice Rider of the Year.
Shirley was third in her division of the very large entry in the Costume Concours D’Elegance class. Shirley’s costume, which she made herself in Irish linen, is based on the Munnings painting ‘The Morning Ride’.
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On Sunday, Shirley won her division of the Large Show Hunter class and went on to take Reserve Hunter Champion.
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Meanwhile, Julie won the Open Working Hunter, together with Best Rider with another fantastic jumping round. Julie had only started jumping a few weeks before the show, but she and ‘Tonto’ took to it like a duck to water.
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Julie’s success in the Open Working Hunter meant that she brought a haul of silverware home to Area 21! As owner of the winning horse, Julie won the Langston Cup; as winning rider, she won the Black Fen Royalist Memorial Challenge Cup and, as highest placed horse exceeding 158cm, ‘Tonto’ won the SSA Square Salver B.
Click on the arrow above to watch a video of Julie’s winning round!
As Vice Chairman, Shirley presented awards for the Rider of the Year competition.
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Full results of the show may be found here.
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Area 21 of the Side Saddle Association is a small, friendly, knowledgeable but keen group of side saddle riders in Northern Ireland. As an Area of the National Association, they bring qualified side saddle instructors and association judges over on a regular basis throughout the year for clinics and shows.
Occasionally, they are able to offer spaces to non-members to try side saddle on their own horse. For further details regarding the SSA in Northern Ireland, contact Megan Hamill, Chairman or Suzanne Glenn, Hon Secretary.
Unfortunately, due to insurance issues, the Association no longer hires out side saddles, but can advise on where to look to purchase a saddle and what to look for when you are considering buying. Side saddles, unlike astride saddles, hold their value and in some cases may increase in value.