29 September 2009 Report: Wessex Area Awards
by Brian & Gill Armstrong
CHARLOTTE TIZZARD: receives her trophy from David Ingle
The 2009 Wessex Point-to-Point Area Championship Trophies, sponsored by Vixen Horsefeeds, were presented by David Ingle from Weatherbys Chase at Friday evening's Annual Dinner & Dance held at The Haselbury Mill, near Crewkerne.
Droop-based Sam Allwood took the Gentleman Riders' Championship, and Charlotte Tizzard from Milborne Port received the Ladies' trophy. Matt Griffiths, stable amateur at Philip Hobbs' yard, travelled from Minehead to accept the Novice Riders' Award. There were joint winners - Peter and Sandra Maltby with Rye Brook and Kevin and Marina Snook (Tyneham) - of the Owners' Championship, which is awarded on a points basis for individual horses.
Several other presentations were made during the evening. Peter and Sandra Maltby accepted the Leading Homebred Horse Trophy won by Rye Brook, and Jack and Richard Barber (owner-rider and trainer of Thisthatandtother) took the Leading Family Owner/Trainer/Rider Trophy. Sam Allwood was back to accept two more awards - the Dick and Sue Woodhouse Memorial Cup for Leading Rider at Badbury Rings, presented by Dick and Sue's daughter, Jackie Abbott, and the Hector Tanner Memorial Trophy (for the Area's most successful Under-23 rider) from Len and Rose Vickery.
There were two Achievement Awards for special contributions to Point-to-Pointing over a number of years. Cynthia Higgon presented her own National Award to Alfie Sherrin, who commentated at West Country Point-to-Points for almost 50 years. Alfie then reversed roles to present the Area Achievement Award to Gerald and Daisy Spratt.
