Quest-X: Elana to represent Ayr at Windsor

Update: well sadly Elana and Willow didn't make it through to the last 15, but did great coming in the last 25 + recieved some great training while down there.

Update: Elana has made it through the Wednesday selection day, which cut out 80% of the competitors. During the day Elana had Dressage, SJ and XC phases and an interview as part of the competition and despite a buck in the dressage Willow and Elana went well to reach the last 25!

They are have now been put into 5 teams of 5 - and Elanas team have 2 days training with Richard Waygood, being observed along the way by the judges and having an occasional test before the judges and audience vote on Friday evening to reduce the 25 down to 15!

 

Ayr Riding Club is being represented at the brand new Quest-X competition at Windsor Horse Trials.

In future years there will be a branch qualifier for the competition, but we couldn't run one this year due to the late announcement of the competition. Elana was the only rider in Ayr RC who expressed interest in the competition and will be going to represent the Club.

Elana has also applied for and been allocated funding from the riding club to help cover some of her expenses for the competition (click here for summarised version of Elana's CV from application).

Elana would like to thank in advance Lady Amanda Fergusson who is travelling to Windsor to help and support her for the week, and Linda Barnes who is helping her on the Wednesday.

Watch out for updates during the week!

 

What Is Quest-X?

Quest-X is a competition to find an eventing star of the future, but is not just an eventing competition - also testing leadership, personality and tenacity... and "a bit of 'X'!"

The competition starts on Wednesday 25th May with around 100 competitors, then there are several stages of competition - each removing a few more competitors from the competition until the Sunday final, where only 5 will remain!
An outline of the 5 days of competition are listed on this page

Throughout the week the competitors will have training and guidance from several top riders and trainers:

• Clayton Fredericks: successful CCI**** event rider Clayton is an Australian who has ridden for his country at the Open Europeans. A top 20 performer at Blenheim and Burghley, Clayton has also won titles at Melbourne and Fairbridge.
• Nick Turner: currently on the shortlist to train the British Team, Nick was winner of the 1999 Intermediate Horse Trials Championships at Gatcombe and is a regular competitor at the Badminton and Burghley CCI**** events.
• Richard Waygood: Richard is a Captain in the Life Guards and Riding Master of The Household Cavalry. Richard is a vastly experienced CCI**** rider who has been placed at Blenheim and is a top 20 performer at Badminton.
• Monica Durrant: Monica is not only a successful rider at all levels, but also a vastly experienced accredited BE trainer. Monica has trained many riders to compete at top levels and continues to develop new talent for the sport; one of her protege's, Joy Dawes, will be competing in the CCI** at Windsor.
• Lucinda Fredericks: The first winner of Blenheim (and placed there an impressive 15 out of 16 times) and a top 20 performer at Badminton, Lucinda is at the top of CCI**** eventing and another immensely experienced rider. Lucinda is also a Grand Prix level Dressage rider.

And will be judged by an equally impressive line-up:

• HRH The Princess Royal, Barbara Cassani, Sarah Cutteridge and Yogi Breisner
  (click for more details)
• And the audience in the final !

The winner of the competition will get a weeks training with Pippa Funnell, to attend many large BE events and social occasions and £1000 for their Club.