British qualifier for the FEI World Reining Masters Series

The Garden Of England International Show held at Court Lodge Farm, Bodiam, East Sussex over the weekend of July 30th and August 1st was one of the highlights of the Western riding show season in Britain. The main highlight of the show was the first FEI approved CRI reining class held in Britain.

Britain's CRI class attracted 14 entries with well known International riders and British Team members along with newcomers to the sport. The class attracted a huge audience of spectators and the standard of competition was very high. Winning the class was British team member and professional trainer, Doug Allen aboard the six year old mare, Really Smart Jay. This mare was a half sister to Doug's WEG horse, Jays Master Copy, both of whom were bred by Sterling Quarter Horses. Tying for second were the FEI Individual Silver medalists from last years FEI European Championships, Rosanne Sternberg and 15 year old Nijomi Sonny Reb and this years NRHA Affiliate Non-Pro Champions, Smart A Little and Francesca Sternberg. Doug Allen also rode three other horses to money earning places. The competition saw other previous British team members Mark How and David Deptford competing along with up and coming riders Shane Borland and David Gray and Non-Pro rider Viviane Hamilton Carroll. Judges were Alain Calbrix of France and Maik Bartman from Germany, who commented on the high standard of the class.

To this date 15 countries have planned to organize one or more qualifying CRI events and Teams that made the finals at the 2002 WEG may submit two entries while all other countries may submit one. At the FEI World Reining Masters Finals, contestants do not need to compete on horses with which they qualified and no ownership restrictions will apply.