Hannah Esberger-Shepherd

Windy Weather not Fun at Winter Regionals for Hannah

Well what can I say - not the easiest of times was had at the regionals!  We set off on Wednesday and got issued a great little block of stables and were settled in by tea time - and then the gales came!  The two lorries we had taken rocked all night and I developed a sickness bug and was up being sick all night and all of the next day - which to top it all was my birthday!  Not such a happy birthday!  I had Dolce Vita (stable name Oona) and Vanita (Vinnie) in the Novice Open.  Oona was second to go in a big class and did a lovely test with only two mistakes to take 4th place.  Vinnie struggled to cope with all the gale noise and whilst he showed some fabulous paces in between the spooky bits - there were more spooky bits than fabulous paces and so he came nowhere.  It was a trial for me as I was still feeling so ill and being sick in between tests!

I was too ill to exercise Diva that day so she had to stay in her box.  The next day Oona was in the Elementary and second to go again.  She produced a lovely test of 69.79%, despite the gale getting worse - just as we passed the roller door to the school during our test it crashed so loud it spooked her - all very understandable in the circumstances.  She came 2nd and I was very pleased with her.

On Saturday it was the Music Classes.  Oona gave a beautiful performance but was first to go so we had a four hour wait for the result - but it was worth it - she won with 72.59%.  Diva felt a little fractious from being in her box too long.  She started beautifully then bucked and bronked all the long side and round the short side of the arena.  As this was a music class there was no way I could continue as we where nowhere near where we should have been in the arena to keep up with the music or the floor pattern!  Oh dear!

However, Diva redeemed herself in the Medium class where she was back to her sweet self and won with 72.23%.  I was so pleased with her - and forgave her naughtiness in the earlier class instantly!  Her last class was the next morning where again I was one of the first to go.  She scored a very credible 69.9% but came 3rd.

So Oona and Diva are dancing champions and are going to the Nationals.  As only winners were going through on the other classes we will have to hold our breath to see if any wild cards get issued. 

We all came home very cold and tired - except for Molly who was so good and was not phased by the weather at all, although I think she was pleased to get home and have space to play with her toys!

Hannah