CUMBRIAN-BASED WCF Country Centres has committed itself to supporting two major new affiliated dressage championships at novice and elementary levels.

The Northern winter novice championship and the Northern winter elementary championship qualifiers were hosted recently at New Moors equestrian centre in County Durham.

Among the qualifiers were Emma Cox of Coatham Mundeville, Darlington on Goulton Oska, Kirstie Semple from Stokesley on Chase The Ace, Linda Davis from Witton-le-Wear with Sebastian of Highgarth and Mary Kay from Hutton Moor, Ripon on Ali Marshall.

Other venues hosting qualifiers include Ettrick Forest in the Scottish Borders, Myerscough College in Lancashire and in Cumbria, Kingwater equestrian centre and Blackdyke Farm.

WCF Country Centres operate a chain of 17 specialist outlets and a national mail order catalogue of equestrian and country clothing.

The company has committed generous prizes and support to the winter series with prizes up to tenth place, plus additional awards.

Regional advisor for British Dressage, Sue Stewart, said: "I think this is one of the most important things to have happened to dressage in the north for a while. It's great for the competitors and the centres involved.