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Sharon Lindop from Stonehaven in West Aberdeenshire has won the Petplan Equine Prix St Georges Championship at the Petplan Equine Area Festival Finals on Sandhaven. After qualification at the Scottish National Equestrian Centre Petplan Equine Area Festival in October 2015 the pair have spent the winter preparing for this prestigious event held at Hartpury College, Gloucestershire from 6th – 10th April 2016.

Sandhaven is a German bred 11 year-old gelding sired by Sandro Boy Junior owned and ridden by Sharon. He was bought for his eventing potential and was started in Young Event Horse classes as a five year old, but Sharon soon realised he’d struggle to make the time across country but training sessions with Albert van Shee made her realise that they could have a career in dressage. The partnership clearly impressed the judges achieving a combination winning score of 66.45%. Sharon was drawn early and her score set the pace but left the Aberdeenshire rider with an anxious wait. A few riders came close but no one bettered the score and victory belonged to Sharon.

“I was hoping for a top ten place. It was a safe test with no real errors and I guess it all fell into place today. There were so many riders in the class who I respect, it was a horrible wait,” commented an elated Sharon.

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 Sharon and Sandhaven 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 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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