The final round of the Conister Bank Arena Eventing series took place at Kennaa Riding Club last weekend.

A record 74 rounds were jumped, tackling a course made up of a mixture of show jumps and simulated cross-country fences.

There was a notable victory for Sammy Cattle who won all five 80cm senior classes throughout the series on her grey mare Rockmount Kallie. Cattle was a clear 15 points ahead of reserve champion Claire Jackson riding Riffeylands Playboy.

Taking three championship titles and two reserve titles was 18-year-old Lola-Bea Bryce who set the bar early on in the series by winning the first two rounds in the 1m open on her own horse, Eragon Von Der Held.

Throughout the series, Bryce produced consistent performances across the classes and a battle for the 90cm junior (riding Blakeney Palomino) resulted in equal points with class rival Lola Bass. Their tied finish on 19 points each was a country mile ahead of the rest of the field.

Bass, aged 14, was another consistent winner across the series riding multiple ponies. On William, she seized two championships (80cm junior and equal 90cm junior) and racked up seven class wins at 80, 90 and 100cm heights on Rosscon Ace of Spades and Landslow Melody Maker.

In the 70cm senior it was anybody’s for the taking, with five riders all scoring high. But in the end it was the experienced Garfield V, who at 22 years of age led rider Marie Hainge to championship victory.

Racking up three wins, last year’s champion Stephanie Gardiner (Tullabrick Bouncer) had missed the third round and this ultimately could have cost her from retaining the title. She took reserve champion only three points behind Hainge.

There were five different winners over the five rounds in the 70cm junior. Going into the final round, there were only three points separating Isabel Ennett (Mr Darcy) and Lindsay Collister (Benaughlin Rambo).

But entering only the final round, George Hotchkiss stormed to victory riding his sister Amelia’s Downdstown Emerald, giving Ennett a second place which was enough to clinch the championship for the latter and Collister took reserve.

Overall the 70cm junior contains a number of potential future champions with Grace Wolstencroft, Milly Duncan, Kenzie Steele and Jemima Mylchreest all putting in consistent performances across the championship.

It was a guaranteed championship win for Barbara Eyres (Carnsdale Trendsetter) going into the final round of the 60cm open as no other rider had competed in all of the previous four rounds.

The battle was on for the reserve champion, with Claire Hawley-Scott (Charlton’s Honey Wonder) and Jemima Mylchreest (Conrhenny Golden Premier) having everything to play for.

A refusal at fence 14 proved costly for Mylchreest and no doubt played a part in relegating her to ninth in the class and third overall. Hawley-Scott won the class and with it taking reserve champion.

Aside from the arena regulars, there were a number of newcomers to the discipline. Dressage regular Lily-Jo Hampton (12), Libby Shimmin (8), Zara Benham (13), Darcey Sutton (10), Chloe Hurst (12), Lauren McKinley and Vicki Kaighin all experienced arena eventing for the first time.

The series now takes a break until next August, while Kennaa Riding Club’s attention will be focused on the winter dressage and show jumping series.

Results:

60cm open, champion - Barbara Eyres (Carnsdale Trendsetter); Reserve - Claire Hawley-Scott (Charltons Honey Wonder).70cm junior, champion - Isabel Ennett (Mr Darcey); Reserve - Lindsey Collister (Benaughlin Rambo). 70cm senior, champion - Marie Hainge (Garfield V); Reserve - Stephanie Gardiner (Tullabrick Bouncer). 80cm junior, champion - Lola Bass (William); Reserve - Lola-Bea Bryce (Blakeney Palomino). 80cm senior, champion - Sammy Cattle (Rockmount Kallie); Reserve - Claire Jackson (Riffeylands Playboy). 90cm junior, joint champions - Lola Bass (William) and Lola-Bea Bryce (Blakeney Palomino). 90cm senior, champion - Sammy Cattle (Rockmount Kallie); Reserve - Claire Jackson (Riffeylands Playboy). 1m open, champion - Lola-Bea Bryce (Eragon Von Der Held); joint reserves - Lola-Bea Bryce (Blakeney Palomino) and Amelia Hotchkiss (Downdstown Emerald). 1.05/1.10 open, champion - Lola-Bea Bryce (Eragon Von Der Held); Reserve - Amelia Hotchkiss (Downdstown Emerald).