A DALE equestrian star has qualified for three of the country’s top events thanks to a horse she brought out of retirement.
Charlotte Merrigan-Martin, from Stainton, lost her eventing horse Volatis Diva to colic earlier this year and had to bring 15-year-old Solaris Dwenqua, out of retirement to compete.
Her mum Clare Martin said: “She had not competed since 2019 and also had a foal in 2021.
“In their first show in April, they qualified for the finals at The Veteran Horse Society National Championships.
“They then competed at Royal Windsor, where they won and qualified for The Royal International Horse Show.”
Mrs Martin said one of the Royal Windsor judges was Terry Pendry, the late Queen’s stud groom who held the Queen’s fell pony for the funeral procession on the Long Walk towards Windsor Castle.
Mrs Martin said: “He previously judged Charlotte and Dwenqua in 2016 when they won a £1,000 championship.
“It was lovely for Charlotte to be judged by him again. They were able to share memories and Mr Pendry told a few amusing stories to her about the late Queen when he presented her with the prizes.”
Miss Merrigan-Martin and her horse, which is affectionately known as Dwenks, then took part in the Hambleton Show, at the end of May, where they qualified for the SSADL Ridden Championship at The London International Horse Show (previously known as Olympia), which takes place just before Christmas. The pair will take part in two classes.
Beth Hutchinson also from Stainton Village, qualified on her horse Tamiros, for the in-hand championship, so it was a double celebration for the village.
The pair’s latest achievement was in the Scottish Horse Show earlier this month where they qualified for HOYS.
Mrs Martin said: “Never in our wildest dreams did we ever expect to qualify for HOYS again. Dwenqua was third there previously.
“It is a huge achievement to qualify for all three top shows in the country and even more so after the tragedy of losing her other champion horse, but also as Charlotte has had to undergo four procedures to her spine since October 2022, which also included being admitted to James Cook Hospital for 11 nights.”
The 22-year-old is currently completing an industrial placement at GSK, in Barnard Castle, but will be returning to Newcastle University later to complete a biomedical science degree.
Charlotte said: “It has been such a very sad time, losing Diva, my soul-mate, but Dwenqua is doing all she can to put a smile back on our faces, and every time I ride, Diva is with me in spirit.
“I couldn’t speak when being interviewed at Royal Windsor as I was so overwhelmed but I am so overjoyed to have qualified for the three most prestigious shows of the year, it is just amazing.”
