Hannah Bown is Crowned Novice Restricted National Winter Champion

Hannah Bown is Crowned Novice Restricted National Winter Champion

Hannah Bown, and her seven-year-old gelding, Sandro’s Storm, are riding high after being crowned Novice Restricted National Champions at the Winter Dressage Championships held at Hartpury College in Gloucestershire.

Hannah, who qualified on a wildcard at Merrist Wood, also took fourth in the Novice Restricted Music Freestyle on the first day of the championships before going on to win the Novice Restricted Championship with a score of 71.09%.

Said Hannah: “This is unbelievable, it’s completely unexpected. It’s the best Stanley has ever gone and the biggest mark he’s got at this level. I really only went to the championships for the experience, but he was brilliant. He gave me everything.”

Stanley has been totally home produced by Hannah with help from his breeder Sarah Ansty and trainer Sara-Jane Lanning. Having been started late as a very immature five-year-old, Hannah has had to take training slowly and be very patient.

 

Hannah is aiming for Stanley to complete his first Medium test by the end of the year and now has her sights set firmly on the future.

Hannah is sponsored by Speedi-Beet: “He has changed so much in the last year since we started feeding Fibre-Beet, he has been transformed from an ugly duckling into a beautiful swan. Before, he would lose weight during his growth spurts and he lacked condition and muscle tone.

“Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think that a year later he would be developed enough and be strong enough in his work to qualify for the British Dressage Winter Championships let alone become champion! It has been a big journey and I am so very grateful for everyone’s support.”