Shane Munro (pictured right), who is an Oaklands equine student, returned to the College as the
National Champion in dressage. Riding Parys, he won the class an amazing six percent clear of his rivals. He also won the competition for best turned out, out of an outstanding 200 other competitors, with Annabel Montgomery as Groom.
Naomi Block, a Landmark 2nd year student was National Champion in the countryside challenge. This included a 'walk in the country' where she had to negotiate twelve obstacles steering the horse accurately through each one. Not only did Naomi come out top in this category, she also won her dressage class and her combined class and to round off her success was placed in the best turned out category. Naomi rode Oakland's horse Bob.
Modern apprentice equine student Claire Filmer (pictured left) came a very credible 2nd with horse Parys in the high walk, trot, canter dressage category, only being beaten at the very end of the class by a GB team rider. Claire also came 3rd in the best turned out class.
Rebecca Shaw, another 2nd Year Landmark student, came 6th in her dressage class riding a pony donated by St Albans Lions, Lady Leo. This was a first time win for horse and rider. Equine student, Emma Shale, came 6th in the high level dressage riding Bob and put in a great performance. Faye Medcalfe, a first year landmark student came 5th in her Countryside Challenge, 6th in dressage and 5th overall.
All learners took part in the horse knowledge and gained distinctions averaging a fantastic 94%.
Oaklands College Senior Advanced Skills Practitioner Sarah Moreland said: “This is a truly amazing success, considering this is Oaklands first year as an official RDA centre. This will ensure that the College’s equine courses and facilities are recognised as having top training for riders on well schooled horses.”
As well as being an official RDA recognised centre, Oaklands College is an established British Horse Society (BHS) examination centre and an approved ‘Where to Train’ centre and competition venue. Earlier this year the Equestrian Centre was selected to be an official Olympic training camp for the help London 2012 Olympics. The facilities will help visiting international teams prepare in the run up to the games.
