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Cara Shardlow from Whitby in North Yorkshire has won the Petplan Equine Intermediate I Championship at the Petplan Equine Area Festival Finals on Detonator II. After qualification at Sheepgate Equestrian Area Festival in 2015 the pair spent the winter preparing for this prestigious event held at Hartpury College, Gloucestershire from 6th – 10th April 2016.

Detonator II, a 10 year old gelding sired by Demonstrator is owned and ridden by Cara. He was bought as a just broken three year-old and has been produced by Cara through the levels. The partnership clearly impressed the judges achieving a combination winning score of 67.02%. There were 18 competitors in this section and it was a closely contested competition.

Whitby-based rider Cara Shardlow was delighted with Detonator II’s performance in a highly charged atmosphere with some outstanding tests and exceptional combinations competing for the Petplan Equine Intermediate I title. “The first time I rode him at home, he threw me and the saddle off! He’s really getting it now. We’ve learned a lot together and I guess we have got used to the bigger occasion.” Cara was quick to thank her trainer, Becky Moody. “I couldn’t ask for anyone better to help with our confidence. She is responsible for getting us where we are.” said a thrilled Cara.

Petplan Equine Area Festivals, now in their 17th year provide riders across the levels from Prelim to Intermediate I with the chance to experience the thrill of competing in true championship conditions. There are 19 Petplan Equine Area Festivals around the country with almost 4,000 horse and rider combinations taking part with the aim of qualifying and winning one of the coveted titles.

Kate Hopkins, Marketing Executive at Petplan Equine, commented; “Participation in the Petplan Equine Area Festivals increases year on year and the standard rises at every Championship. We are delighted to see how important the Area Festivals have become to amateur and aspiring dressage riders. We are really proud to sponsor a series which gives riders at the grassroots level a chance to showcase the depth of talent that is out there. We would especially like to congratulate Cara and Demonstrator II on their fantastic win and wish her the very best of luck for the future.”

British Dressage’s Chief Executive Jason Brautigam said: “I am so impressed with the level of participation in the Petplan Equine Area Festivals series. This amounts to an astounding 47% of all British Dressage members qualifying to take part in the series, which is something to be applauded. Petplan Equine’s on-going support of these championships has helped us develop the series into something which is now part of the sport’s fabric; they’re intrinsic to the calendar.”

Further information about the Petplan Equine Area Festivals and how to qualify for next year’s finals is available from the Petplan Equine website at: www.petplanequine.co.uk/area-festivals/area-festivals.asp

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