Stretch & Flex Elementary Championships 2010

Stretch & Flex Elementary Restricted Championship.

Janine Jansen, a BBC Southwest news reporter, won the 2010 Stretch & Flex Elementary Restricted Championship riding Velocity IV (an eight-year-old Dutch-bred mare by Krunch De Breve). Janine scored 70% to seal the win. "I was nervous at the regional championships so I have been trying to tackle dressage as if it were part of a three day event, with the cross country phase to come. That way of thinking has helped to keep me relaxed" Janine explained.

Stretch and Flex Elementary Open Championship

Nottinghamshire rider Darryl Thickitt, who is trained by senior dressage team captain Richard Davison, won the 2010 Stretch and Flex Elementary Open Championship.

Riding Jennifer Charlesworth's seven year old Warlocks Charm, or "Baby Ted" as he is better known, Darryl Thickitt scored an impressive 74% at the championships. Darryl said of "Baby Ted" that "He's a really super talented horse. Everything is just so natural, he doesn't look it but he's very sensitive and he's needed time to grow up and relax. He felt consistent and had superb energy, the simple changes really came off. He's been stabled here for the whole event so he's had time to settle, even when the crowd in the next arena gave a loud applause he retained his focus."

The winner of the Elementary Open Class received the Equilibrium Therapy Massage Pad, of which owner Jennifer Charlesworth says "it allows "Baby Ted" to relax into the treatment: you can see his mind and body unwind leaving him noticeably looser and mentally ready for training".