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Photos – Hodgemoor Dressage 28 December 2025
Events
Hodgemoor Dressage 28 December 2025
Hodgemoor Dressage RESULTS
Sunday 28th December 2025, at Waylands Equestrian Centre
The festive spirit was in evidence today at Waylands for the second of two Hodgemoor Dressage competitions… riders, horses, team members and spectators came dressed for, and pre-disposed to, having a jolly time. Mulled wine and other hot drinks flowed, but only to help down the mince pies, marshmallows, biscuits and chocolates. The standard of riding was very high with six tests earning over 65% in marks attributed by the judge for both events (multi regional and national dressage event winner, Rob Waine Rob Waine Dressage https://www.robwainedressage.com/about-rob/).
WINNER. We congratulate the winners of each of the four classes, Annabelle Tripp, 13-year-old Isla French, 15-year-old Lily Hannigan and Louise Maeers and their horses. 16-years-and-under riders were classified alongside the adults and also in junior rankings for rosettes. You can see the full results in PDF at the link above.
CHRISTMAS CHAMPION. The prized horse statue trophy was awarded to Isla French , the champion across the two events, 7 and 28 December. The criteria were marks, achievement compared to previous, youth, Christmas dressing-up and entertainment value as accorded by Rob Waine, Susie Bicknell and Marcus Bicknell (secretary and chairman of the Hodgemoor Riding Association).
AWARDS CEREMONIES. The event was in memory of Geoff Gudgion, long-time treasurer of the Hodgemoor Riding Association, friend and rider at Waylands of the mare Ida who competed beautifully today with Juliet Booth. He died of cancer in the summer of 2025. His family, led by granddaughter Ruby Mayor, made several class presentations and the Christmas Champion award in the company of her sister, mother Sophie, father Bill Mayor and Sophie’s mum, Geoff’s widow Deborah Gudgion.
FUND-RAISING FOR CHARITY. The riders’ entry fees are being donated to Iain Rennie Hospice at Home (now part of Rennie Grove Peace Hospice Care) who were so marvellous to Geoff.
THE HOME TEAM. We thank Susie Bicknell who undertook the considerable task of organising the event including entries, Marcus her husband and Christopher their son (scoring). Lana Craker provided the excellent indoor venue at Waylands and her partner Frank, who has made the yard so functional and elegant, was on hand to help. We thank the judge Rob Waine, the reader Jane Braithwaite, and another scorer Judy Burns. Moya Merola was caterer-in-chief and others helped make teas and coffees, thank you all. So nice of the Gudgion family to brave the cold and to be with us on the day.
Dressage results 7 December 2025
For those of you who competed at the successful fund-raising dressage at Windmill Farm on 7 December, there is an added incentive to come to this 28 December event too… the prospect of winning the Golden Horse statuette for the champion across both events. The judges, the HRA Secretary and Chairman will discern the winner on the basis of marks, achievement compared to previous, youth, Christmas dressing-up and entertainment value. Anyone entering both events gets a special rosette. Geoff’s widow Deborah and daughter Sophie will be there on Dec 28 and have agreed Geoff’s grand-daughters will make the presentation... ten minutes after the last test. As Geoff would have liked, this will be a festive occasion, with mulled wine and other goodies and no doubt some impressive Christmas gear from entrants.
This is an open event, not just for Hodgemoor members, and there is parking for boxes and trailers available. Tests are Intro 1, Prelim 1, Novice 1 and PYO Novice 1 or Elementary 2. We can accept lead rein entries for Intro 1 (HC) even though it is not marked on the entry form. So before Christmas preparations take over, please get your entries in at https://hodgemoor.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/schedule_dressage_waylands_28_december_2025.docx
https://hodgemoor.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Dressage-7Dec2025-results.xlsx
Christmas Dressage at Waylands 28 Dec 2025
Hodgemoor Riding Association
In memory of Geoff Gudgion, who was based at Waylands with his horse Ida.
A Between-Christmas-and-New-Year Dressage
Waylands Equestrian Centre, Indoor Arena, Seer Green HP9 2RQ
Sunday 28 December 2025, from 9.30
The times for each competitor were published here at 13.00 on Boxing Day 26 December…
https://hodgemoor.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Dressage_times_WAYLANDS_27_December_2025.pdf
Download your entry form in MS Word here: schedule_dressage_waylands_28_december_2025
Download your entry form in jpeg here, details on the first page. You need the second page to fill out your entry:
Prizes for best Xmas or New Year’s Eve outfits! Photos will be taken on the day of any outfits (horse or rider or both) and posted on the Hodgemoor Facebook page. Prizes will be awarded on the number of Likes after a week and the judge’s assessment. However, dressing up is not obligatory, just correct dressage attire is fine. Mulled wine. Special Rosette and gift for those who take part and also at the Hodgemoor Dressage at Windmill Farm on 7 December (for which the entry procedure is via MyRidingLife.com not Susie, see poster below).
- Class 1: Intro 1
- Class 2: Prelim 1
- Class 3: Novice 1
- Class 4: PYO Novice 2 or Elementary 2
Young riders (two age groups; 11 years and under; 12 to 16 years on the day of the event) will be classified with the adults and also judged separately, so give your age on the entry form. Cost: £15 per class, £20 if you are not a member of the Hodgemoor Riding Association. Entries close: 8 p.m. Wednesday 24th December (extended by one day on 22nd December). Numbers will be limited.
Download your entry form here: schedule_dressage_waylands_28_december_2025
CHRISTMAS CHAMPION. This solid gold / Cartier jewel-encrusted / much loved / previously owned / life size / patina of ages (delete whichever inapplicable) horse trophy will be awarded by the Secretary and Chairman to the champion across the two events. Criteria considered will be marks, achievement compared to previous, youth, Christmas dressing-up and entertainment value.
STOP PRESS 7 December: We are delighted to announce that Geoff’s family, led by granddaughter Ruby, will make the presentation at the end of the dressage tests on Sunday 28 December at Waylands probably at 2pm, to be confirmed, and we express our thanks to them
Visit the Roman Road in Hodgemoor 27 July
Those of you who attended Nigel Rothwell’s talk in Seer Green on the Roman Road between Verulamium (St Albans) and Silchester in April may be interested to know that he will be leading walks around Hodgemoor Woods, including visiting the road, on 27th July. This is part of the Council for British Archaeology’s Festival of Archaeology and is in conjunction with the Buckinghamshire Archaeological Society. Booking is essential as the number of attendees is restricted. However, the walks are open to the public and can be booked either from the Festival website at https://www.archaeologyuk.org/festival/festival-event-listing/hodgemoor-woods-heritage-and-wellbeing-walk.html, or directly with Buckinghamshire Archaeological Society at https://bas1.org.uk/bas-outings-july-2025. There is a small charge for non-BAS members of £5 – cash or card (assuming the technology doesn’t let us down).
The walks are 3.5 km and 3 hours, on woodland paths. All information is also all provided at the Festival booking site.
Hodgemoor donation to Thames Valley Air Ambulance
On Saturday 10th May the Thames Valley Air Ambulance, at their Stokenchurch HQ open day, received a donation for £500 from the Hodgemoor Riding Association, Frank Everest, Susie and Marcus Bicknell. Our photo shows, Nicola Bishop (Community Fundraising Manager) and Ruth Dunkin (Head of Community & Events) of the Thames Valley Air Ambulance with Marcus Bicknell (chairman) and Susie Bicknell (secretary) of the Hodgemoor Riding Association. £300 of the donation was from Frank Everest whose fee for maintenance work in Hodgemoor Woods he wanted to give to charity. Frank at Waylands Equestrian is a great support to the riding community. £200 was from Susie and Marcus.
We can strongly recommend you attend one of the open days of the Thames Valley Air Ambulance (Open Days 15 Aug & 12 Dec https://www.tvairambulance.org.uk/hq-open-days) where you can get to understand the extraordinarily high medical skills deployed by the organisation across Berkshire Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire on an average 9 times a day by helicopter and by car. Their objective and specialisation now is to co complete as much treatment as possible on the scene of the incident including surgical operations, setting wound fractures and administrating advanced drugs. Of their 3000 interventions per year 65 are equestrian related. We horse riders remain grateful for the knowledge that they can come to help if required.
The charity is totally funded by the community it serves, receiving no government or lottery funding – there are lots of way you can support from making a donation, taking part in an event or even leaving a gift in your will. In addition volunteering is a huge help to the charity, whether as a one-off or more regularly. The team would love to hear from you to discuss any of the above further and can be reached via fundraising@tvairambulance.org.uk
The Hodgemoor Riding Association has raised over £300,000 since 2000 to encourage horse-riders away from busy traffic and into the woods and horse trails in the Seer Green, Jordans and Chalfont area. www.hodgemoor.org.uk
Look at the media release or forward it in pdf: Thames Valley Air Ambulance Hodgemoor donation 10May2025
AGM minutes and accounts
The minutes of the AGM of our Association 6 November 2024 are published on our Downloads page.
https://hodgemoor.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/agm2024.pdf
The Treasurer’s report is at https://hodgemoor.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/treasurer_report_2024.pdf
AGM agenda 2024
The agenda for the AGM of 6 November is available here:
Anna Martin talks at our AGM: fitting the bit
We’re looking forward to hearing Anna Martin talk on having your horse’s bit fitted… just as important as saddle fitting. Wednesday 6th November at 7.30 for 8.oo p.m. at The Reading Room, High St, Chalfont Saint Giles HP8 4QH.
HODGEMOOR TREC: NOW SUNDAY 21 APRIL 2024
NEW DATE FOR THE HODGEMOOR TREC: SUNDAY 21 APRIL 2024
After consulting with entrants and members, we’ve homed in on 21 April. People seem busy for the May dates and, although 8 and 9 June were possible, 21 April suits us better as by June our hayfield will be growing like mad, and holding the Trec in it would be a bit disruptive. And it was wise to postpone from Easter Saturday because our field, as at 23 March, is still a bog with more rain to come.
So do hope lots of you will come to this new date! Takes place at Homefarm Orchard, Chalfont St Giles HP8 4FF. Competitors enter singly but can go round with a friend. There is a
choice of either 2 or 3 phases, the 3rd phase including an orienteering route in and around Hodgemoor Woods. The obstacle course (1st and 2nd phases) will be emailed to entrants so they can learn the course which saves time on the day.
Entries close Wednesday, 17 April in the evening. Note that numbers are limited, first come first served; your entry form must be accompanied by payment to establish your entry.
Please download the entry form in MS Word here.