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The
surface was highly praised by all the riders, as was the under cover warm up area
as the weather was not kind. Jennie Loriston-Clarke MBE FBHS did not quite know
what she had let herself in for when she agreed to compere the evening but she
did a sterling job and really got stuck into the performances, even the slightly
bizarre one by the organisers Celia and Helen when their Pas De Deux consisted
of cavorting around the arena wearing two stuffed horses!
All
the riders did a fabulous job of producing wonderful displays of dancing to music
and the winner, Matt Frost rode a first class test with the 16 year old stallion
Donnersong.
The winner was chosen by the audience in true 'X factor' style
which kept everyone in suspense right until the very end of the night.
 
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In
second place was local rider Sophie Rant on her loyal ex eventer Poachers Pocket
who performed fantastically for what was their first performance to music. Other
riders who all kept the audience enthralled were Andrea Sexton riding Dahlia and
Aderro Monaco, Rhegan White on Percival II, Debbie Criddle on Pompidou II, Fiona
Foy on the Spanish stallion Chico and a wonderful performance by the Exmoor Pony
Muscial Ride.To end the evening the audience were delighted
to watch a Masterclass performance by Ferdi & Maria Eilberg which helped on
unravel the mystery behind some of the movements that had been ridden throughout
the evening. The Auction of Promises which was conducted
by Tim Warren from Hunstrete and Nick Davies squeezed some wonderful prices out
of the audience and in all contributed just under £1,500 to the fund.
The
organisers would like to say an enormous thank you to Nick Davies, all the riders,
Jennie Loriston-Clarke and everyone who so generously gave prizes for the auction
and raffle, not to mention the audience for braving the cold on a dark November
night. There are great plans already afoot
for next year… the final total paid into Children In Need after this years
performance was just under £7,300.
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