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A total of ten amateur dressage riders competing at novice through to Prix St Georges have qualified for next year’s prestigious Petplan Equine Area festivals Championships after a great performance in the Petplan Equine Area Festival that took place at Weston Lawns Equestrian Centre in Bulkington, Nr Coventry, Warwickshire from 18th to 19th August, 2012.

The following horse and rider combinations won their respective classes with each posting scores high enough to earn them the chance to compete in the Championships, which take place at Hartpury Arena in Gloucestershire next April.

Level	Percentage	Horse and Rider	Town	Country
Preliminary	66.82%	Amy Hazel (28) riding Westhills Wrock Star	Sutton Coldfield	West Midlands
Novice Restricted	69.19%	Sam Gawn (38) riding Appiasarri	Tamworth	West Midlands
Novice Open	68.71%	Susan Bullock (38) riding Lynwood Crofter	Rugby	Warwickshire
Elementary Restricted	66.21%	Fay Butlin (32) riding Freckleton Melody	Sutton-Coldfield	West Midlands
Elementary Open	63.79%	Alice Pullem (47) riding her own 5 year old, 16.2hh skewbald gelding, Gods Gift	High Wycombe	Bucks
Medium Restricted	69.39%	Lorraine Allen (46) riding Powerboy II	La Rue Des Buttes	Jersey
Medium Open	73.03%	Isobel Laurence (34) riding Ballebo, an 11 year old 16.2hh mare, owned by Craig Millard & Harry Payne	Switherland	Leicestershire
Advanced Medium Restricted	72.06%	Elizabeth Ward Barnett riding Sheepcoat Delight	Hereford	Herefordshire
Advanced Medium Open	69.26%	(33) riding her own 14 year old, 16.2hh steel grey gelding, Granite III	Codsall	Staffordshire
Prix St Georges	64.93%	Christopher James Pugh rudubg DHI Gladius	Tattenhall	Cheshire

The Petplan Equine Area festivals, or ‘The Petplans’ as they are known among competitors and fans of dressage, is a series of 17 dressage competitions that runs from 17th August to 29th October. Held at top competition venues across the UK these events give riders the chance to compete in top class arenas and experience true championship conditions.

Isabella Von Mesterhazy, Petplan Equine’s Head of Marketing said: “This is the 13th year in which Petplan Equine has supported this series and it has certainly been lucky for these accomplished amateur dressage riders! Dressage is UK’s fastest growing equestrian discipline and this trend is likely to continue thanks to the outstanding efforts by members of British Dressage riders in Greenwich who claimed team and individual gold and individual bronze medals. We wish all those who have qualified here at Weston Lawns the very best of luck in the Petplan Equine Area festivals Championship next April.”

The growth of series such as the Area festivals relies upon the financial and promotional input of its sponsors. British Dressage’s Chief Executive Amanda Bond explains: “Since its inception, this Petplan Equine sponsorship has helped the British Dressage Area festivals which now attract around 2,500 competitors, go from strength to strength. The Area festivals give grass roots competitors the chance to compete on the ‘big stage’ and we are seeing the standard improve year on year - could we be hosting a future Olympic Medallist at this year’s Festivals?

Further information about the Area festivals is available from the Petplan Equine website at www.petplanequine.co.uk/events.

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For more information please contact the Petplan press office on:

Name	Telephone	Email
Charlotte Collyer	0208 707 8335	[email protected]

Petplan Equine is the UK's leading horse insurance provider offering a wide variety of flexible horse insurance and rider insurance policies which cater for all levels of experience.

Established more than 20 years ago, Petplan Equine is part of Allianz Insurance, one of the largest general insurers in the world.

For more information about a Petplan Equine horse insurance policy, please visit:
petplanequine.co.uk/insurance/quote.asp

Note to editors:

• Petplan Equine was founded in 1988.
• It is part of Allianz Animal Health, the largest provider of animal health insurance in the world and part of Allianz – one of the largest general insurers in the UK.
• In addition to horse and pony insurance options, Petplan Equine provides dedicated products for veteran horses and rider only insurance cover.
• It is the sister brand of Petplan, the largest provider of small animal insurance in the UK.
• Petplan Equine believes in supporting the equine community and provides more financial support to equestrian sports and activities than any equine insurance provider in the UK.
• The Pet Plan Charitable Trust was founded in 1994 to raise much needed funds for animal welfare and veterinary projects. Money is raised by Petplan and Petplan Equine customers giving an optional £1.50 to the Trust when they take out or renew their policy. To date, almost £5 million has been awarded by the Trust.
• Petplan and Petplan Equine are specialist insurers. As such, the company employs more horse riders and owners than any other and more former veterinary practice staff than any other to ensure the provision of specialist knowledge.
• Petplan Equine is the only insurer to offer illness and accident cover for older horses, up to the age of 25 as long as the policy is taken before your horse reaches the age of 20.