A British team featuring new talent achieved fifth place in a close-fought Nations Cup team competition at the World Equestrian Festival CHIO Aachen in Germany (17 – 21 July 2019).

Before the vet inspection, team member Susan Pape was unfortunately forced to withdraw the magnificent Don Noblesse, as the stallion had a small infection, so the team didn’t run on the full complement of four. This aside, the trio, spearheaded by Charlotte Dujardin with the inexperienced Erlentanz, showing-turned-dressage star Louise Bell with Into The Blue, and young gun Charlotte Fry with her U25 European Championship Individual silver and Freestyle gold partner Dark Legend rode with supreme professionalism to hold their own in world class company.

Dujardin and Sonnar Murray-Brown’s Erlentanz (pictured), after only a handful of shows together, were so impressive. Trakehner gelding ‘Erly’ may not have many miles on the clock but this would be difficult to tell watching his Grand Prix on Thursday in the Deutsche Bank Stadium. Barring a little irregularity into the first piaffe and the final piaffe on the centre line, the test was beautiful – the pair earning 79.15% for third in the CDIO5* Grand Prix behind the home nation’s Isabell Werth and Bella Rose 2 (82.78%) and Dorothee Schneider and Showtime FRH (80.60%). In the Special, again the pair was superb, scoring a phenomenal 80% for third place with Werth and Schneider taking the two top spots.

Louise Bell and Into The Blue, on their second Nations Cup appearance, realised a dream to make 70% in Aachen. Louise was visibly emotional as she left the arena following her super Grand Prix on Thursday. Louise and ‘Dynamo’, who come from a showing background and together won a working hunter title at HOYS, have made an incredible transformation into an effective international dressage partnership. To be at Aachen and to make such a strong contribution to the British campaign is simply testament to the talent and drive of this popular lady from Oxfordshire. In the Special, Louise and Dynamo had costly errors in the one-tempis but even so, they scored plus-68%.

Everybody sat up to watch young star Charlotte Fry and Dark Legend. At only their fourth CDI Grand Prix appearance, 23-year-old Fry defied her youth with an intelligent and mature ride aboard 11-year-old Dark Legend who she co-owns with her employer Van Olst Horses. Seventy-four percent was their score putting them into twelfth place, and on Saturday their incredible Grand Prix Special was awarded with 75.12% to make the top ten – a very exciting achievement for any international rider, let alone someone so young.

The combined scores from the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special decided the team standings, with Germany, Denmark and the United States making the top three, and a photo finish between Sweden and Great Britain for fourth and fifth.


Glamourdale is glorious in Small Tour

Charlotte Fry piloted Van Olst Horses’ Glamourdale to two emphatic Small Tour victories.

Eleven months on from taking the seven year old title at the 2018 Longines FEI WBFSH World Breeding Championships, and in his first season at Small Tour, the Lord Leatherdale x Negro stallion and his British rider continue to show their undoubted potential. Unanimous winners of Wednesday’s Prix St Georges with 77.97% and Saturday’s Intermediate I with an astonishing 80.41%, they delivered two performances of unmatched class. Reminiscent of the 2016 performances of Michael Eilberg and Woodlander Farouche, they made an impression on the knowledgeable Aachen crowd as well as the jury.

Results of the British riders:

CDIO5* Grand Prix (Nations Cup)
1st Isabell Werth with Bella Rose 2, 82.783% (GER)
3rd Charlotte Dujardin with Erlentanz, 79.152% (GBR)
11th Charlotte Fry with Dark Legend, 74.435% (GBR)
23rd Louise Bell with Into The Blue, 70.043% (GBR)

CDIO5* Grand Prix Special (Nations Cup)
1st Isabell Werth with Bella Rose 2, 84.447% (GER)
3rd Charlotte Dujardin with Erlentanz, 80.277% (GBR)
10th Charlotte Fry with Dark Legend, 75.128% (GBR)
25th Louise Bell with Into The Blue, 68.851% (GBR)

Nations Cup - team result (CDIO5* Grand Prix and Special combined)
1st Germany, 489.477
2nd Denmark, 457.515
3rd United States of America, 450.775
4th Sweden, 447.953
5th Great Britain, 447.886
6th Ireland, 428.104
7th Spain, 423.588

CDIO5* Grand Prix Freestyle
1st Isabell Werth with Bella Rose 2, 90.450% (GER)
5th Charlotte Dujardin with Erlentanz, 83.995% (GBR)
15th Charlotte Fry with Dark Legend, 75.465% (GBR)

CDI4* Grand Prix
1st Sönke Rothenberger with Cosmo 59, 81.370% (GER)
9th Charlotte Fry with Everdale, 71.913% (GBR)

CDI4* Grand Prix Special
1st Sönke Rothenberger with Cosmo 59, 82.213% (GER)
7th Charlotte Fry with Everdale, 72.979% (GBR)

Prix St Georges
1st Charlotte Fry with Glamourdale, 77.971% (GBR)

Intermediate I
1st Charlotte Fry with Glamourdale, 80.412% (GBR)

Full results
Photo © DigiShots

As the 2019 Summer Regional Championship season approaches the halfway marker, last week attention was on Richmond Equestrian Centre in North Yorkshire for Regional Championship number four (19 – 21 July 2019).

The 29-strong Dodson & Horrell Novice Silver belonged to local lady Nicola Naprstek (pictured) with her 11 year old Don Henrico-sired gelding, Don Cru. Nicola, who runs a private yard in North Yorkshire, enjoyed considerable success as an under 21 rider and has kept her name in the game since. Now 41, she’s competed up to Inter I and qualified various horses for regional and national championships.

Amy Woodhead headed two classes with her rides, Branduardi and Don Cara M. With Branduardi she won the Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I Gold and with Don Cara M, the TopSpec Medium Gold.

Branduardi (Breitling W x Weltmeyer) and Amy, who are in the third year of their partnership, rode a test full of quality for owner Victoria Wright earning a mark of 68.29% to put them in front of Louise Davison with De Galles (67.89%) and Lisa Megginson on Breit Crusador (67.06%). Branduardi, whose career is balanced with life as a breeding stallion, is a reliable Small Tour partner for Amy who he’ll be appearing with at Stoneleigh for a third consecutive year.

Don Cara M impressed too with his plus-69% winning round in the TopSpec Medium Gold. Owned by Rowland Kinch, the 10 year old Dutch bred son of Don Jovi has been a resident at the Woodhead family home, Weelsby Park in Grimsby, since 2017.

Katie Owens, an apprentice rider at Moody Dressage, enjoyed a regionals to remember with a victory in the Equine Construction Advanced Medium Silver aboard her British bred mare Saffira (by Showmaker). Katie and ‘Stevie’, as Saffira is known at home, scored 69.43%.

“It was the best feeling this morning to wake up and remember that my beautiful girl Stevie and I are regional Advanced Medium champions and have our ticket to the Nationals! Can’t describe the love I have for this girl she is a dream come true,” said Katie on Facebook.

Becky Moody meanwhile took the Childéric Saddles Elementary Silver Gold with her six year old KWPN gelding Immerado BKO (by Desperado). Nicknamed Marvilicious in the famously inventive Moody style, Immerado is a gorgeous bay talent that many would wish to have in their stable. Seventy-three percent was the score on the board for the pair despite a blip in the rein back.

British Dressage thanks the team at Richmond as well as the National class sponsors for their generous support. Congratulations to all competitors and good luck to those heading to the LeMieux National Championships at Stoneleigh Park.

Buy your LeMieux National Championships tickets here.

The winners:

Friday 19 July
Class 1: Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges Gold
Rebecca Hughes with Ibisco, 69.21%

Class 2: Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I Gold
Amy Woodhead with Branduardi, 68.29%

Class 3: TopSpec Medium Silver
Steffi Tomlinson with Vivassa, 69.28%

Class 4: TopSpec Medium Gold
Amy Woodhead with Don Cara M, 69.28%

Class 5: Equine Construction Advanced Medium Silver
Katie Owens with Saffira, 69.43%

Class 6: Equine Construction Advanced Medium Gold
Emma Blundell with Mount St John Furstin Fugger, 70.39%

Saturday 20 July
Class 7: Dodson & Horrell Novice Gold
Victoria Maw with Benito Dorato, 74.14%

Class 8: Childéric Saddles Elementary Gold
Becky Moody with Immerado BKO, 73.49%

Class 9: Childéric Saddles Elementary Silver
Aimee Gascoigne with Mount St John Diva Dannebrog, 70.63%

Sunday 21 July
Class 10: Dodson & Horrell Novice Silver
Nicola Naprstek with Don Cru, 69.81%

Class 11: BackinAction Preliminary Silver
Fiona Boddy with Krafty Saratoga, 71.09%

Full results

For the next four days, all eyes will be on Hickstead for their feature competition which incorporates a CDIO3* which is the finale of the FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ Series, a CDI3*, CDI2* with Medium and Small Tour classes and CDI sections for u25, Young Rider, Junior and Ponies, 25 – 28 July 2019.

The iconic dressage event shares the showground with the Royal International Horse Show which features an array of show jumping and showing classes but the dressage side has plenty to watch with a range of food and shopping outlets.

Tickets are available on the gate and are £25 per head each day with a £10 car park charge. Entrance tickets also include a seat in the British Dressage Covered Grandstand so you can shelter from the sun or rain – whatever the weather decides to do!

There’s a huge British contingent entered to support as detailed below, alongside riders from the Netherlands, Australia, Germany, China, Italy, Norway, Brazil, Denmark, Finland, Hong Kong, Ireland, Poland, Portugal, Thailand, Czech Republic, Singapore and Slovenia. So there’ll be a great international flavour to the four days of top flight competition.

For the first time ever, the event will be live streamed via Horse and Country for subscribers only – you can join for just £5.99 a month which gives you access to the live stream and plenty of other great content.

Keep up to date via the Dressage at Hickstead website and their scoring pages– plus the Facebook page. BD will be onsite with social media coverage across our channels and daily reports.

Daily programme
Thursday 25 July
• 2* Small Tour PSG
• Juniors
• Young Riders
• Ponies
• Inter A

Friday 26 July
• CDIO Nations Cup Grand Prix 3*
• CDI3*Grand Prix
• Small Tour Inter I
• Young Riders
• Juniors
• Ponies

Saturday 27 July
• CDI3* GP Special
• CDIO Nations Cup Grand Prix Special
• Inter I Freestyle
• Inter B
• U25s Inter II
• Pony Freestyle
• Hickstead British Young Horse
• Dressage at Hickstead Summer BBQ Party

Sunday 28 July
• Nations Cup Grand Prix Freestyle
• CDI3* Grand Prix Freestyle
• Young Riders Freestyle
• Junior Freestyle
• U25s Grand Prix
• Hickstead British Young Horse

British entries: 

CDIO3* Nations Cup Team
Lara Butler from Gloucestershire with Wilfried Bechtolsheimer’s Rubin Al Asad (bay gelding, 17yrs, s. Rubin Royal ds. Wanderbursch II).
Emile Faurie from Oxfordshire with Hof Kasselmann’s Café’s Caletta (bay mare, 10yrs, s. Café au Lait ds. Calato).
Sara Gallop from Gloucestershire with her own Bandreo (bay stallion, 13yrs, s. Sandreo).
Hayley Watson-Greaves Gloucestershire with her own Rubins Nite (black gelding, 15yrs, s. Rubin Royal, ds. Limbo).

CDI3* Big Tour
Henriette Andersen from Oxfordshire with her own Flavio (bay gelding, 14yrs, s. Florencio ds. Glueckspilz).
Louise Bell from Oxfordshire with her own and Tonya Wood's Into the Blue (roan gelding, 16.2hh, 13yrs, Ublesco x Calvaro Z)
Lara Butler with Wilfried Bechtolsheimer’s Kristjan (bay gelding, 14yrs, s. Polarion ds. Napoleon Quatre).
Liz Diegutis from Hampshire with her own Saskia Hit (bay mare, 14yrs, s. Sandro Hit).
Maria Eilberg from Worcestershire with her own and Hermione Black’s Royal Concert (grey gelding, 16yrs, s. Royal Diamond, ds. Continue).
Emile Faurie from Oxfordshire with Niina Nilosaari’s Quentano 2 (brown mare, 11yrs, s. Quaterback ds. Dartagnan).
Tom Goode from Oxfordshire with Samantha Geddes’ Dior III (chestnut stallion, 11yrs, s. Gribaldi ds. Goodtimes).
Daniel Greenwood from Gloucestershire with Juliet Leighton’s Chevalier-O (bay gelding, 12yrs, s. Lord Leatherdale).
Willow Kemp from London with her own Dragon Heart (chestnut gelding, 16yrs, s. Dresemann).
Keith Robertson from Hertfordshire with his own Boheme Af Sulstead (chestnut gelding, 15yrs, s, Bernstein).
Vicky Thompson-Winfield from West Sussex with Samantha Francis’ Artist (palomino gelding, 11yrs, s. Abanos) and Samantha Francis’ Mango Jacaro (bay stallion, 14yrs, s. Rondeño IX).
Laura Tomlinson from Gloucestershire with her own and Wilfried Bechtolsheimer’s Duval’s Capri Sonne Jr (black stallion, 12yrs, s. Rhodium ds. San Remo).

CDI2* Small Tour
Katie Bailey with Leslie Forlee’s Boccelli 6 (liver chestnut gelding, 12yrs, s. Belissimo M ds. Riccione).
Immogen Chant from Hampshire with Susan Chant’s Dirty Dancing 29 (dark bay gelding, 13yrs, s. Don Frederico ds. Rodgau).
Kate Cowell from Worcestershire with Helen Illes’ Sirocco (brown gelding, 13yrs, s. Sandro Hit).
Dylan Deutrom from Berkshire with Matt Hicks and Sarah Warry’s Sunlit Uplands (chestnut gelding, 11yrs, s. Don Henrico).
Jessica Dunn from Lancashire with Jennifer Whittaker’s Alicante Valley (liver chestnut gelding, 14yrs, s. Caricello).
Paul Friday from Warwickshire with Sarah Overson’s Hawtins Horatio (bay gelding, 10yrs, s. Hotline).
Andrew Gould from West Sussex with Terry and Joan Barnett-Knott’s Blue Hors Dexter (black gelding, 12yrs, s. Don Schufro ds. Blue Hors Cavan).
Daniel Greenwood from Gloucestershire with Diana Louvain-Miller’s Exige M (grey gelding, 10yrs, s. Samarant).
Pammy Hutton from Gloucestershire with her own Armagnac (bay gelding, 14yrs, s. Krack C) and her own Belmondo (bay gelding, 18yrs, s. Bernstein).
Nathalie Kayal from Buckinghamshire with her own Cleverboy (bay gelding, 12yrs, s. Sandreo) and her own Homerun (bay gelding, 14yrs, s. Hochadel ds. Mooiman).
Elder Klatzko from Somerset with Little Richard (bay gelding, 18yrs, s. Longchamp).
Kate Lister from Warwickshire with her own World Exclusive (chestnut gelding, 13yrs, s. World of Dreams ds. Rohdiamant).
Kirsty Mepham from East Sussex with Anne Baldock’s Minain (brown mare, 16yrs, s. Idocus ds. Michellino).
Alice Oppenheimer from Hampshire with Sarah Oppenheimer’s Headmore Davina (chestnut mare, 9ys, s. Dimaggio ds. Rubinstein) and Caroline Dibden’s Headmore Difinnity (dun gelding, 9yrs, s. Dimaggio).
Jezz Palmer from Hampshire with Samantha Dyer’s Dutch Class (chestnut gelding, 11yrs, s. Jazz).
Tahley Reeve-Smith from Hertfordshire with her own Special (brown gelding, 17yrs, s. Sandro Hit).
Cara Shardlow from North Yorkshire with her own Detonator (bay gelding, 13yrs, s. Demonstrator).
Zoe Sleigh from Worcestershire with Christine Sleigh’s Finero (brown gelding, 10yrs, s. Fidertanz).
Vicky Thompson-Winfield from West Sussex with Angela Jones’ Esquire (bay stallion, 10yrs, s. Valeron).

CDIU25
Isabelle Chaplin from Kent with Coral Ingham’s Vincente II (dark bay stallion, 17yrs, s. Gribaldi).
Megan Ingham from Berkshire with Coral Ingham’s Wanadoo (chestnut gelding, 18yrs, Wolkenstein II x Cavalier).
Ellie McCarthy from Hampshire with Bridget Mccarthy’s Belafonte (chestnut gelding, 15yrs, Belissimo M x Wendekreis).
Amy Schiessl from Wiltshire with her own Mr Mercury (skewbald gelding, 18yrs, s. Mars).
Tamsin Vaughan from Hampshire with her own Casse Cou (bay gelding, 17yrs, s. Carpaccio).

CDIYR
Angus Corrie-Dean from Wiltshire with his own Tiny Tempur (bay gelding, 14yrs, s. Raikano).
Millie Gover from West Sussex with Phillip Gover’s Kamil T (bay gelding, 9rs, s. Thunder van de Zuuthoveve).
Jasmine Harding-Heitzmann from Berkshire with her own Deco (dark bay gelding, 11yrs, s. Valeron).
Ruth Hole from Suffolk with Dr Rachel Murray’s Easy VZ (dark bay gelding, 10yrs, s. Maestro).
Bethany-Rose Horobin from Suffolk with her own Cachet II (bay gelding, 12yrs, Vivaldi x Nourejev).
Lara Kuropatwa from Wiltshire with Sian Kuropatwa’s For Season (liver chestnut gelding, 9yrs, Fifty Cent 2 x Voltaire).

CDIJ
Harriet Brick from Herefordshire with her own World Dancer (chestnut gelding, 20yrs, s. Wolkentanz II).
Caitlin Burgess from Devon with her own Chocotof (dark brown gelding, 12yrs, s. Lord Leatherdale).
Anna Dalrymple from West Sussex with Oliver Weston’s Ibis II (chestnut gelding, 11yrs, s. Calderon).
Maddy Frewin from Oxfordshire with Christine Kirk’s Woodlander Rhythm N Blues (dark bay gelding, 12yrs, s. Woodlander Rockstar).
Clare Hole from Suffolk with Dr Rachel Murray’s Winnetou G.E.P. (black gelding, 16yrs, Gribaldi x Donnerhall).
Jessie Kirby from Oxfordshire with her own Belle Amie (black mare, 13yrs, s. Ronaldo).
Avery Maude from Kent with her own Double Agent (chestnut mare, 12yrs, s. Donnersohn).
Sophie Morgan Rodda with her own Zanthos (bay gelding, 15yrs, s. Negro).
Chloe Naylor from Derbyshire with her own Karisma (chestnut, gelding, 12yrs, s. Holme Grove Prokofiev).
Soraya Rogers from Surrey with Dr Deborah Kamal’s Evita I (black mare, 10yrs, s. Jazz).
Charlotte Snape from East Yorkshire with her own Camelot III (bay gelding, 17yrs, s. Carbas).
Samantha Willson from Hampshire with Jacqueline Willson’s Delhurens Sunshire (dark bay mare, 10yrs, s. Deans San Ciro Hit).
Olivia Wrennall from Buckinghamshire with Tessa Thorne’s Disneyland (liver chestnut gelding, 10yrs, s. Diamond Hit).

CDIP
Caitlin Clancy from Somerset with Katy Price’s Browbank Jacob Black (black gelding, 9yrs, Foryd Dafydd Ddu x Sydenham Dragon).
Claudia Davis from Essex with her own Rubinia 37 (bay mare, 13yrs, s.Constantin).
Myles Graham from Wiltshire with Caron Roberts’ Harnells Erasmus (dun mare, 9yrs).
Scarlett John from Devon with her own BKS Grand Design (bay gelding, 11yrs, s. FS Golden Moonlight).
Olivia Langley from Leicestershire with Bathleyhills Sea Wurzel (grey gelding, 12yrs, s. Caesar 171).
Emilia Nelson from Berkshire with Sarah Steggall’s WFS Top Red (chestnut stallion, 11yrs, Top Yellow x Pilgrims Red).
Betsy Smetham from Kent with her own Amber V (palomino gelding, 9rys, s. Orchard Limb-Lopper).
Olivia Whitelaw from Nottinghamshire with Brouwershaven’s Vicerory (bay gelding, 10yrs, s. Jurjen H).
Mollie Whitham from South Yorkshire with her own DZL Royal Sunrise (chestnut gelding, 8yrs, Domingos Golden Sunrise x Brockwell Prince Charming).

It’s been nothing short of scorching on day one at this year’s Hickstead International. With temperatures forecasted break the highest ever recorded, plenty of provision was made on the show ground to keep horses, riders, officials and supporters well watered and cool and everyone rode appropriately for the conditions.

The FEI Pony Team test which got the action underway this morning and two of the Dutch riders lead the way. Nina Van Bakel was the only rider to break the 70% barrier with Mastro’s Night and Day to claim the class on 70.14%. Compatriot Syrah van de Rovaart was just behind on 69.28% with Donna Daria 8 while the Best Brit accolade went to South Yorkshire rider Mollie Witham with DZL Royal Sunrise with a score of 68.42%.

Germany lead the way in the Junior ranks with Emely van Loon and FBW Depereaux putting up a stylish performance to go 72.42% but Clare Hole with Rachel Murray’s Winnetou G.E.P. gave them a close run with 70.65% for second. Maddy Frewin completed the podium for Britain with Christine Kirk’s Woodlander Rhythm n Blues, just shy of 70% on 69.78%.

In the Young Rider section there was an emphatic win for Jasmine Harding-Heitzman with her own Valeron sired Deco with a great 68.18%. Just behind were Angus Corrie-Dean and Tiny Tempur on 67.5% and Norwegian visitor Kaja Tharaldsen Olsen was just .45% adrift in third with Solhoej’s Lord Falcor.

British based Aussie Warwick McLean (pictured) was the winner in the first test of the Middle Tour competition, the Inter A, with Hendrix II on 67.73. In her first international competition for over four years, Pammy Hutton was a popular second with her loyal partner Belmondo on 66.82% and she was also fourth with Armagnac – quite a day for a rider in her ‘fifth decade’ of competing. Alice Oppenheimer was third with Caroline Dibden’s impressive dun Headmore Diffinity; a mistake in the twos just held the score to 66.32% in his first start at the level.

A sizable Prix St Georges got the CDI Small Tour under way and it was a familiar name at the top of the leaderboard. Luis Principe and R.S. Raphael are enjoying a great run of form having taken the Inter I and Freestyle at Hartpury earlier this month and today they showed that winning way with a convincing victory scoring 73.47%, the highest mark of the day. Dutch rider Lynne Maas, who sported a stunning hat/tail coat combo featuring rose gold accents, occupied second with Fantastiqe on 72% even. Katie Bailey made sure the Union flag appeared on the podium with a polished performance on Leslie Forlee’s Boccelli 6 to score 71.23%.

It was a mammoth performance by everyone involved – riders, grooms, owners, spectators, officials, judges - at Hickstead to battle the conditions but congratulations to all who kept their cool, put horse welfare to the fore and worked to keep everything on track in tough temperatures. It’s set to cool down tomorrow so it promises to be a great day – and with two Grand Prix classes, the action will be as hot as the weather!

For times and results – click here

Remember you can watch the International arena live via Horse & Country TV on subscription– just £5.99 per month which give you access to lots of great content and live streams.

Photo copyright www.kevinsparrow.co.uk

After yesterday’s competitive Prix St Georges, it was Jess Dunn who triumphed today in the Inter I with Jennifer Whittaker’s Alicante Valley. Drawn early at fifth to go at 8:30 this morning, Jess put together a polished test with ‘Chello’ to set the early pace 73.23% in their sixth international of 2019 together. They went in the peak of the heat yesterday but thankfully it clouded over to give a bit of relief. Jess admitted to being a bit worried what yesterday may have taken out of the big moving Caricello 14 year old but she needn’t have as, in her words, ‘he came out fresh as a daisy’.

Her biggest threat was yesterday’s winner, Luis Principe but R.S. Raphael was a bit on the spooky side today to pin their marks back to 71.42%, normally enough to win many a class, but today it was Jess and Chello’s day. “He was awesome!” proudly declared Jess who’s had a remarkable season internationally so far. “I struggle with his power at times so I’ve made a few changes at home. He was wild at Hartpury…and I heard a comment on the livestream which said he was a bit fat so he’s been on a strict diet. I’ve forced myself to work more on the trot too as I admit I avoided it. But 101 transitions later and we’re improving! He’s been super this week, really on it, and I’m dead proud of him today."

The CDI3* got underway with a strong Grand Prix class which was hard to call a favourite for the win from the long list of entries. Vicky Thompson Winfield set the early pace with the ever popular Mango Jacaro, owned by Samantha Francis, on a strong 68.89% with some fabulous piaffe/passage. The next contender was Laura Tomlinson with the powerful black Rhodium sired stallion Duval’s Capri Sonne Jr. ‘Cas’ as Laura calls him at home put up an impressive performance at Hartpury but a lapse in concentration marred a high score but today, with the help of trainer Klaus Balkenhol, he looked focussed and excelled in what went wrong at Hartpury but it was the tempi changes which eluded him today. Such is his the power of each change that he just doesn’t have enough room. Laura was brave as ever to ride a powerful extended canter but again, there was so much power, he changed before asked as she couldn’t collect in time. The quality was there to merit 70.15% so when it all comes right for the duo, the scores will be impressive.

However, the top honours went to a rider who earned her senior flag here at Hickstead exactly a year ago and what a 12 months it’s been for the show rider turned dressage star. Fresh from a crowd pleasing performance at Aachen last weekend, Louise Bell and Tonya Wood’s Into the Blue just oozed quality today – in fact if anything, ‘Dynamo’ was a bit on his toes – cheeky really. It was relatively mistake free, just a few unrequired one time changes at the end of the line of twos were the only blips. The final aggregate score was 70.3% and it wasn’t a unanimous win – two of the five judges had the duo first and others ranged down to fifth.

It will take a while for her first international win to sink in; after hearing the final result, Louise chatted and told us; “He was totally full of energy in the warm up which was NOT what I expected after Aachen. I was extremely lucky to have Carl [Hester] here to help me warm up this morning and we kept him very entertained! He gave me exercises to help with the flying changes as I had trouble in Aachen including changes on a circle. It helped as they felt great but in the two I had nine perfect ones and then he took matters into his own hands and slipped in a couple ones! His piaffe and passage felt epic today! He’s certainly not the finished article either which is so exciting. We’re get the reward for what he does well and the rest we’ll carry on working on. It just makes me so happy to have a horse so happy in his work!”

Amazing to think the bubbly roan gelding last won here as a six year old when he and Louise galloped round the main ring iconic Hicstead jumping arena as supreme working hunter champions. What a journey they’ve had in seven years.

The finale of the FEI Dressage Nations Cup series started with the Grand Prix and on the eve of selection, new mum Lara Butler made a last minute case for her inclusion in the Rotterdam team with a win with the Bechtolsheimer’s Rubin al Asad. They rode a strong ‘clear round’ and ‘Rufus’ belied his 17 years, looking as fresh as ever. 73.76% was the score with the judges largely agreeing on his score although there were two 75% plus marks amongst the five. Hayley Watson-Greaves and Rubins Nite were next best Brits in fifth on 71.17%. ‘Squeaks’ looked a picture as ever today but he had his mind set on a gremlin he decided was living in the K marker which caused him to miss a one time change on the diagonal headed to K which was followed by a loss of rhythm at the end of the line. Ever the professional, Hayley got him back and rode her final extended trot towards the dreaded K marker on full power with Squeaks showing his trademark trot with controlled power to everyone’s delight.

Sara Gallop was the team pathfinder with Bandreo and they showed some great work today but he was another feeling fresh for some momentary concentration lapses for some errors. They posted 68.5% which left them ninth overall.
Emile Faurie and Hof Kasselmann’s Café’s Caletta are continuing to develop their partnership and the mare is really developing into a strong Grand Prix contenders but today wasn’t their top performance. There was some inconsistencies in the piaffe and an unfortunate loss of canter in the first pirouette which then impacted the centre line flying change. But the changes are much stronger and her work more secure, 65.67% was their final score.

The strongest showing of the day was from the Portugese team with all four riders partnering Lusitanos. Lara may have won but their counting riders finished in second, third and seventh which leaves them on a score of 12 and leaders overnight. Britain is second 15, the Netherlands third with 23 and Ireland are fourth with 30. So it’s close at the top with the Grand Prix Special to come tomorrow. Emile and Sara are our nominated riders with Lara and Hayley in the Freestyle on Sunday.

After the prize giving Lara said; “Finally…a mistake free test! He was super but he still tests me. I seem to leave it to the last minute to peak as it was all right today. He just keeps carrying on getting better and better but with that extra sparkle. It’s great to do well at a ‘home’ international and even though it only my third show since coming back, our average is better this year. I feel the break gave me time to refresh and refocus which has made me more determined than ever.”

In the u21 sections it was Individual test day. In the Young Rider ranks it was a rise from the third of yesterday to a win today for Norway’s Kaja Tharaldsen Olsen with Solhoej’s Lord Falcor on 68.67% and Ruth Hole was the best Brit in second with Easy VZ, who events for fun, with 67.69%. Emely van Loon continued her winning streak for Germany in the Juniors with FBW Despereaux with all three judges declaring her the winner on an overall score of 71.37%. Jessie Kriby was second and best of the home side with Belle Amie on 69.6%. Olivia Whitelaw topped the podium for Britain with Brouwershavens’s Viceroy on 69.14% in the Pony ranks.

For full results and start times – click here

The action continues with a full day tomorrow and remember you can watch the International arena live via Horse & Country TV on subscription – just £5.99 per month which give you access to lots of great content and live streams.

Photo copyright www.kevinsparrow.co.uk

It was Grand Prix Special day for the FEI Nations Cup competitors and a one-two for the Portugese further extended their lead ahead over the home team in the standings. Joao Miguel Torrao and Coudelaria Monte Velho’s Equador have won a legion of fans in the six weeks they’ve been based in Britain with Carl Hester and today they won their first Grand Prix level competition and with a personal best score of 75.78% to boot when last to go. Compatriot Durate Nogueira was second some four marks adrift on Beirao on 72.85%. It was a picture in the prize giving with the two bay Lusitano stallions proudly representing their breed and country.

26 year old João was emotional after his win as he’s trained the horse for the last five years and they’ve worked up the grades together. They’ve been impressive in their first year at Grand Prix and, on their first Nations Cup appearance for their country, today they cemented their credentials for a place on the Portuguese team for Rotterdam.

“It’s all been a dream come true. I always said one day I’d score 75% in a Grand Prix and today I’ve done it. Equador is amazing, he always tries is hardest and today I had a really good feeling. His frame was good and he was in front of my leg – a small mistake in the half pass was our only problem. He has such a kind heart and is such a fighter; he’s frightened of nothing. He makes me emotional as he’s my teacher – I’ve learned everything with him, he’s amazing.”

The Brits were competitive but off the pace a little today. Sara Gallop rode a strong test with Bandreo who’s ever improving – today’s piaffe passage tour and final centre line was one of the best we’ve seen from ‘Chippy’ for a 68.12%. Emile Faurie was first to go with Hof Kasselmann’s Café’s Caletta and they had a tricky ride. Their start was delayed by an AWOL when they were ready to start and then a restless crowd caused the mare to spook during her extended walk so the score 66.8%. So our Freestyle riders have a bit to do tomorrow to take the top honours but Hayley and Lara are two very capable riders sat on two of the best dancing horses around.

British based Finnish rider Mikaela Soratie showed that no matter how low things may feel, never give up. Just weeks ago she finished on 60% at Hartpury and didn’t qualify for the Special, today she backed up her Grand Prix fourth place from yesterday with a close win in the CDI3* Grand Prix Special riding her own Dacor on 68.51%. Just 0.02% behind was Emile Faurie with Niina Nilosaari’s Quentano 2 who rode a test full of promise on the impressive nine year old contesting his first Special. Emile has high hopes for him. “He’s world class but just needs more competition exposure,” he said.

A job with Katja Kustila lured Mikaela to British shores after a two year stint in Germany and she now makes West Sussex her home. She’s had Dacor since he was four and this is their first year at Grand Prix. She was delighted with today’s performance, her first international win; “The Special really suits him as there’s plenty of extended trot which is his highlight. I’ve really struggled with him this season, it’s been up and down but it was great today to show what I know he can do. I only hope we can keep this level of work and the scores!”

Mikaela trains with Gareth Hughes and is currently longlisted for the Finnish team for a place at the Rotterdam Euros. She and Dacor travel to the Netherlands this week for team training and will shortly find out their selection fate. The win today will certainly have brought that coveted team place a step closer.

In the Hickstead five year old Young Horse Championship, it was a resounding with for Dan Greenwood and the Danish-bred SJL Backs Zacco (Zack x Don Romantic) on 82.4% from a masterfully presented test. Runner up was Jayne Turney with Lindsey Roberts’s Fred Astaire (s. Fiderbach) on 79.6%.

Owner Sara Lucas purchased him as a three year old from Brightwells and regular rider Antonia Brown has produced him at home where he’s gone from strength to strength. Dan partnered him to third place last year as a four year old in the Shearwater Young Horse Championships and this year as well as qualifying for the Hickstead final, he’s Stoneleigh bound once again as he and Dan won their Shearwater semi-final at Port Royal.

 “I’d say that’s his best test to date and really showed his ability to close and open. He has an outstanding temperament and just gets on with it; he has an amazing hind leg. He’s tall at 18hh but has amazing balance and while he’s not flash, he’s a slow burner and with time will really come on. We’ve had a bespoke saddle for him as he may be leggy but he’s very short in the back and it’s made such a difference.

“Toni has done a great job; she does the hard work and qualifying and I just get to ride the nice bits! She’ll be sad to have missed it as she’s laid up at home with back trouble but this will be news to cheer her up!” said Dan.

It’s a busy few weeks ahead for Dan and Zacco as they are set to contest the Summer Regionals at Novice and Elementary in search of more tickets for Stoneleigh.

Jezz Palmer kept up his winning Hickstead Young Horse record with victory in the six year old class riding Steph Taylor’s classy mare WGS Inanda by Rock for Ever with a score of 82.4%. Just 0.4% behind was Hannah Biggs with David Johnson’s Freeman in second.

A happy Jezz said; “You never really know what young horses are going to do here, it’s such a big atmosphere. Today, she really rose to the occasion; I was pleased with her walk and canter but her trot wasn’t quite what I can get at home. Plus, I did my walks the wrong way round so got a two mark deduction – I’d have been cross with myself if I’d have lost because of that!”

‘Indy’ was purchased from Holland via Rebecca Dudley of RD Sport Horses and Jezz says the mare ‘has been everything Rebecca said she was’. Jezz, who runs JLP Dressage with partner Lucy Pye, paid tribute to his trainer Paul Fielder. “He’s great, he’s really my mentor and is always at the end of the phone and has helped me so much. Jezz faces the agonising wait to see if he has a wild card with Indy for the Nationals having just missed out at their recent Regional.

Almost exactly a year to the day Nottinghamshire’s Olivia Whitelaw once again found herself in the winner’s position in the CDIP Freestyle class. Last year it was on her International debut with Brouwershaves’s Viceroy but a year on and the duo have progressed leaps and bounds to the point they were long listed for this year’s Team NAF Pony squad for the Europeans. Sadly they weren’t selected as one of the four but today’s win, on the back of victory yesterday in the Individual test, will go some way as a consolation.

Olivia has had the Dutch bred ‘Leo’ since he was five and has taken him from a novice right up to producing him as an international winner with help from trainers Andrew Fletcher, Daryl Thickitt and Clive Halsall.

Their performance was magical today with great music which grabs the attention and a brave start in walk to the spine tingling theme of the hit TV show Victoria. A mistake strike off into canter instead of trot was quickly left behind them for a polished test to score 71.61%.

Afterwards, Olivia said; “He has a bit heart and tries so hard! Julie Geraghty from Equivisions did the music but I wanted to do my own floorplan. My friend Maddie Frewin helped me. We wanted something regal to match Leo and I thought it’d be different to start in walk and we enter to the theme from Victoria my trot music is Road to Victory and canter is Empire of Angels.

For full results and start times – click here

Photo c www.kevinsparrow.co.uk

Victory in the CDIO FEI Dressage Nations Cup final leg was emphatically claimed by the all-male quartet each riding Lusitano stallion today when their two Freestyle riders got the necessary results today at Hickstead. Rodrigo Torres posted 74.62% with the grey Fogoso to a grand Pink Floyd routine but the class victory went to Britain. It was Lara Butler who posted a career best with the Bechtolsheimer’s Rubin Al Asad of 78.26% who took the spoils.

‘Rufus’ may be 17 this year but the enforced break while Lara took a few weeks out when baby Jack arrived has invigorated both of them and he looked better than ever. Their trademark Dire Straits routine was executed perfectly – mistake free and some great passage and truly impressive canter pirouettes. “He was awesome!” declared Lara. “The power was there, the concentration was there and he’s the best condition wise I’ve ever had him. He tried so hard and today we really showed our partnership.”

Hayley Watson-Greaves completed the podium with a spritely Rubins Nite. They didn’t get off to the best start when their music didn’t start and then ‘Squeaks’ had a shy at a speaker which put them off their first tricky line but then the gorgeous black gelding switch off to the surroundings and on to his pilot and the marks began to flow for a final score of 73.24%. “Once I got him back there was some really good quality work and I was happy with the mark. That’s just him…that’s just horses.”

This is the first season for some time that Hayley has competed him in acoustic ears following an incident at Doha which saw them miss a few months and today maybe was a case to try them again. “I’m keeping the ears off. He has much more about him without them, I just need to learn how to ride him without,” she explained.

So after the three stages, Portugal reigned supreme on a score of 17, Britain finished on an overall score of 23, the Netherlands completed the podium on 36 while Ireland scored 51. With this final result in, Sweden are the overall winners of the series.

The day ended on a massive high with a popular victory for Louise Bell in the CDI3* Grand Prix Freestyle. If her inaugural win on Friday wasn’t enough emotion, today she scored a new PB with the eternally cheeky Into the Blue of 76.05% much to the delight of the crowd and supporters. They danced to their now trademark country routine featuring Sweet Home Alabama and Desposito and it was the cleanest performance of the floor plan so far.

“He’s really busy – so very saucy normally – but today I went in and he almost felt tired so I thought to myself, let’s just go through it and enjoy it, we know exactly what we’re doing. I just wanted to ride him nicely and the judges obviously liked what they saw. He gave me such a harmonious feel. I’m so proud; he’s got to be the happiest horse in dressage!” she exclaimed.
Second went to Vicky Thompson Winfield and reigning MCI champion Mango Jacaro, owned by Samantha Francis who were super in their James Bond/Mission Impossible routine which showed high levels of difficulty to demonstrate the stallion’s great manouverability. They scored 74.05%.

Third was British resident Dane Ulrik Moelgaard and Michigan, another veteran horse showing you’re never too old, with 71.1%

Amy Schiessel and Mr Mercury completed an U25 CDI double by taking today’s Grand Prix by a two percent margin and showed that age is no barrier with the 18 year old looking fresh as a daisy to score 67.38%. “It was pretty much mistake free and his changes were good. The sun came out just as we were about to go in and it got hot but I couldn’t have asked for more. He’ll have a little break now and I’m hoping for a Nationals invite but he’ll resume his grandpa duties on the yard to my three year olds!” she joked.

Kaja Tharaldsen Olsen was another rider to top a great week with a win in the Freestyle, this time in the Young Rider division for Norway. Riding Solhoej’s Lord Falcor, she posted 70.34% to take the spoils in her first ever CDI. The duo have been together for three and a half years and have moved up the levels together before travelling to Britain to spend time with the Eilbergs training.

Kaja said; “It’s been an amazing week! It’s my first international and the atmosphere here is really good. My horse has been fresh and had great energy – he’s been so fun to ride. This year he’s really grown up so next year is exciting.”
Kaja and Falcor will journey home to Norway for their National Championships before coming back to resume her training with the Eilbergs.

In second was World Class Podium Pathway rider Angus Corrie-Dean riding Tiny Tempur to…you guessed it…Tiny Tempur music put together by Ros Emery-Kay. Afterwards Angus said; “He was quite physically tired today – it’s a long week and with the heat of Thursday – but he really tried,” said Angus.

German 17 year old Emely Van Loon made it a Junior hat-trick with a resounding win the CDIJ Freestyle on her first trip to British shores. Riding FBW Desperaux, a ten year old the Van Loon family have owned from a two and half year old, Emely posted her third 70% plus score of the week when last to go. The judges all had her to win with a final score of 75.96%, a new personal best for the duo.

Emely said; “He did a super good job today! He has a very good trot and we focus on that in my floorplan and also his extended canter is like flying! I was happy with my test and I expected a good score.”

The duo have been part of a winning German Junior Nations Cup team but this week is her first individual international win – and she’s achieved three in one week! Emily and Deseraux are considering competing at Exloo this seadson before the move up to Young Riders next year and the young talent has progressing on to the German u25 squad in her sights.

Emely is hoping to make riding her career and is current looking for a professional stable to join when she finishes school.

Second and best of the Brits was Catlin Burgess from Devon with her Dutch bred Chocotof, by Lord Leatherdale. They scored 71.26% with a revised Inter I floorplan borrowed from the Huttons at Talland where she trains. “Charlie did the music, Pippa the floorplan and Pammy is my trainer,” declared Catlin. “I’m really happy with him today; it’s only our third Freestyle and this our third International together, I couldn’t have asked any more of him today,” she concluded.

In the Hickstead British Five Year Old International Young Horse class it was a win for Mark Forest and Sandy Senior’s GF Sezuki with a score of 80.6%. The elegant Sezuan mare competed in the National class yesterday but upped her performance to overtake Sara Lucas’s SJL Baks Zacco ridden by Dan Greenwood for the top honours.

“She was much better than yesterday, the work really came off,” explained Mark. “We had a small error in the counter canter section but we corrected quickly and she was so brave. She’s very consistent and seems to get better the mores he does; she’s as cool as anything and is a real trier.”

Sandy, who runs Glossoms Farm Stud just north of Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire bought the mare as a foal from breeder Christian Heinrich as she wanted to get Sezuan’s bloodlines into her breeding programme. Indeed GF Sezuki has an ET foal due next season.

The Hickstead British Six Year Old International Young Horse  title went to Olivia Oakeley and Rock Diva but it was again a tight battle with yesterday’s winners, Jezz Palmer and WGS Inanda with the winning margin just 0.2%. Olivia has produced ‘Rocky’, by Rock Forever, from an unbroken youngster and was delighted with today’s win on 75.6%.

“Today she was on good form. She’s really noise sensitive and when I saw there were Freestyle competitions in the other ring I was worried but she was great. I got my changes, the walk wasn’t great but I could really feel the strength in her. I really feel she’ll be a Grand Prix horse in the future,” she said. “It’s so exciting to have a horse that enjoys her job so much; she just loves to work and is the most trainable horse I’ve ever had.”

Congratulations to the Dressage at Hickstead team who've put on a great week with a typical mix of British weather but they always kept smiling and friendly to make sure the competitors and their horses were never left wanting. There's been to top competition, worthy winners and a great spirit throughout the show - so thank you to all involved.

Full results - click here

Photo c www.kevinsparrow.co.uk

The following horses and riders have been selected to represent Great Britain this week at the Longines FEI WBFSH Dressage World Breeding Championships for Young Horses in Ermelo, the Netherlands, 1 – 4 August 2019:

Five year olds
Lucinda Elliott (24) from Gloucestershire with Judith Davis’s Hawtins Lirica (chestnut mare, s. Lemony’s Nicket, ds. Dimaggio, BHHS).
Susan Pape (56) from Hemmoor, Germany with her own Harmony’s V Plus (black stallion, s. Vivaldi, ds. Fürst Romancier, OLDBG).

Six year olds
Charlotte Fry (23) from North Yorkshire but based in the Netherlands with Anne Van Olst’s Inclusive (bay stallion, s. Everdale, ds. Uptown, KWPN) - pictured.

Seven year olds
Elizabeth Allen (26) from Somerset with her own Heraldik (bay gelding, s. Uphill, ds. Silvano N, KWPN).
Leah Beckett (38) from Berkshire with Günther Schulz’s Merlot Royal (black gelding, s. Millenium, ds. Rubin Royal, OLDBG).

Timetable

Thursday 1 August
Main Arena
10:00 (09:00 BST) – Qualification for five-year-old dressage horses

Friday 2 August
Main Arena
08:00 (07:00 BST) – Qualification six-year-old dressage horses
14:30 (13:30 BST) – Qualification seven-year-old dressage horses

Arena 2
09:00 (08:00 BST) – Small Final five-year-old dressage horses

Saturday 3 August
Main Arena
09:00 (08:00 BST) – Small Final six-year-old dressage horses
16:30 (15:30 BST) – LONGINES Final for five-year-old dressage horses

Arena 2
13:00 (12:00 BST) – Small Final seven-year-old dressage horses

Sunday 4 August
Main Arena
09.30 (08:30 BST) – LONGINES Final for six-year-old dressage horses
15:00 (14:00 BST) – LONGINES Final for seven-year-old dressage horses

Event website
Live stream

Photo © Kevin Sparrow

The British Equestrian Federation and British Dressage have today, 30 July 2019, announced the UK Sport National Lottery funded para-equestrian dressage squad which will compete at the FEI Longines European Championships in Rotterdam, Holland (21–25 August 2019).

This year’s team includes three combinations who will be contesting their first senior championships, while Sophie Wells and C Fatal Attraction will be out to defend their Freestyle gold medal from the European Championships in 2017.

In alphabetical order, the selected squad has been named by British Dressage selectors as:

• Mari Durward-Akhurst (Grade I) with Glesni Owen’s Sky O’Hara(brown, gelding, 16.2hh, 20yo, Welt Hit II x Lector). Mari commented;“I am really excited to be competing at my first Senior Championships. It’s so nice to be recognised by the selectors after our hard work over the last couple of years – dreams do come true. Thank you to everyone who has supported me, my amazing home team and my trainer Rob Waine. I also have to thank my wonderful equine partner, Sky O’Hara, who continues to improve with age, and his owner, Glesni Owen, who has given me the opportunity to build such a special partnership with him. I hope that Sky and I will do everyone proud.”

• Nicky Greenhill (Grade IV) with her own and Gary Greenhill’s Betty Boo(black, mare, 16.3hh, 10yo, Benetton Dream x Londonderry). Nicky commented; “I was obviously incredibly shocked to receive the news, but now feel very proud and honoured to be able to represent my country.”

• Sophie Wells (Grade V) with Charlotte Hogg’s C Fatal Attraction(dark brown, gelding, 16.1hh, 12yo, Fidertanz x Olivi). Sophie commented; “It’s a massive honour to be selected to represent Team GBR again with C Fatal Attraction, and I’m also really pleased to have my pupil, Georgia Wilson, on the squad with me. This is an exciting time for British Dressage ahead of the Paralympic Games in Tokyo next year, with such a broad range of talented horses and riders for the selectors to call upon. I’d like to thank C Fatal Attraction’s owner, Charlotte Hogg, for her support and my home team for all their hard work – without them, this selection wouldn’t have been possible.”

• Georgia Wilson (Grade II) with her own and Geoff and Julie Wilson’s Midnight(brown, mare, 15.3hh, 10yo, Hilkens Black Delight x Cassander). Georgia commented; “I’m excited but nervous at the same time because this is my first major championships but I’m really looking forward to it.”

Nicky and Sophie have also been selected with direct reserve horses, Nicky with Gary Greenhill and her own King Edward I and Sophie with her own Diadeem.

Performance Manager Georgina Sharples said “Many congratulations to all the selected combinations, their owners and support teams. It is wonderful to see three first-time championship athletes included in this selection – they’ll have the chance to experience a championship environment as part of the build up to Tokyo 2020. Also representing Great Britain in her eleventh major championships, Paralympic, World and European multi-medallist Sophie Wells, will bring a wealth of experience as will a highly committed and knowledgeable support Team.”

Jason Brautigam, British Dressage Chief Executive, commented; “It’s fantastic to see three new names getting the call-up to the team this year, alongside the extensive Championship experience of Sophie Wells. With qualification for next year’s Paralympics already assured, it’s great to provide opportunities for new combinations to make their mark on the international stage. Competition for places has been fierce this year, with a number of riders in line for selection, which shows the fantastic depth we have in the programme just one year out from Tokyo. Congratulations to the chosen four and we look forward to cheering you on in Rotterdam.”

The British senior teams are supported by the BEF’s UK Sport National Lottery funded World Class Programme.

In line with the British Equestrian Federation Articles of Association, British Dressage is entitled to nominate a Director to sit on the BEF Board. The current Nominated Director, Lotte Olsen, completes her first term at the end of this year and has indicated that she would like to stand for a second term. However, we are also opening this up to other nominations from the British Dressage membership, for anyone who would like to put their name forward to work with the BEF Board to help develop the future direction of the Federation and implement the new five-year strategic plan.

All applicants will need to meet the specified knowledge, experience and competencies required for a Board Director, in accordance with the defined Terms of Reference. Anyone wishing to submit a nomination should download and complete a nomination paper and declaration of interests form (see links below). In addition, candidates will need to provide a full curriculum vitae, together with a supporting statement detailing how they meet the role requirements by midday on Friday 30 August. All applications will then be reviewed by the BD Nominations Committee in September, before a recommendation is put forward to the BEF Nominations Committee for final ratification.

Download:

• BEF Board Director Terms of Reference
• Nomination form
• Declaration of Interests form

For further information, please contact Angela Green, HR & Office Manager, by email or call 0247 669 8844.

The British contingent of Youth riders rode with professionalism and cool in the heat of the FEI Junior and Young Rider European Championships at San Giovanni in Marignano, near Rimini in Italy (24 – 28 July 2019).

The Team NAF Young Riders gained invaluable championship experience and showed much potential in the face of soaring temperatures at the fabulous Horses Riviera Resort, whilst our Juniors, competing as individuals, each admirably achieved placings amongst the top ranked riders.

Young Riders gain valuable mileage
Team NAF’s Young Rider trio showed much promise despite not quite achieving the ‘clear rounds’ they’d hoped for. Team pathfinder Rebecca Bell and the gorgeous British bred Nibeley Union Hit delivered a solid 66.61% on day one of the Team competition, even though they had some costly mistakes. They went on to score 66.08% in their Individual test which showed more power in the trot but with a couple of miscommunications in the canter section keeping their score in check.

Alex Hellings and Uvender V had a challenging start to the week with an uncharacteristic 64.38% in the Team competition. The warm up went well for Alex and ‘Uvi’ but tension crept into their test, affecting the way of going. Alex and the evergreen Uvi (18) showed what a great team they are by bouncing back with a super 67.58% to finish 41st in the Individual and best of the Brits. Hellings and Bell have a collection of Pony Europeans medals between them and were on the same silver medal-winning team in 2014, so are championship riders who will only build on this experience.

Championship debutant Rebecca Swain presented strong highlights with Bon Jovi. Mistakes in the Team competition were expensive, resulting in an uncharacteristic 63.11%. However they showed character to come back with a 67.41%-earning Individual. Rebecca and ‘Bobby’, who this year achieved wins at Compiègne and Keysoe CDIs, have heaps of ability which, combined with this championship experience, gives them a very bright future to look forward to.

Germany headed the team competition, spearheaded by Semmieke Rothenberger and the black 12 year old mare Dissertation (Don Crusador x Glückspilz) who earned a phenomenal 77.55%. The German star was unbeatable all week, winning the Individual with 78.94% and the Freestyle on 78.05%.

Juniors make their mark
Great Britain’s Junior representatives for Team NAF, Jessica McConkey and Charlotte McDowall, enjoyed an awesome European Championships at San Giovanni in Marignano. Jessica rode the test of her career so far with the beautiful mare Lady Gaga (Quaterback x Solos Landwind) for a personal best score of 71.587% and 13th out of 78 in the Team competition. They then scored an admirable 68.08% in the Individual.

Charlotte McDowall and Alivia meanwhile, scaled the ranks from 57th in the Team test due to a couple of mistakes, to 16th in in the Individual with plus-70% securing them a coveted place in the Freestyle final. The elegant partnership of just 12 months posted a victory at Keysoe CDIJ earlier this year with their tried and tested freestyle routine, and this time, under Italian skies, impressed again. The panel of Oliver Smeets (BEL) at E, Elke Ebert (GER) at H, Barbara Ardu (ITA) at C, Clive Halsall (GBR) at M and Hans-Christian Matthieson (DEN) at B awarded the Brit 70.425% to finish in the top 15.

“I have had the most incredible time at the Europeans here in Italy,” said Charlotte. “‘Liv’ has been an absolute star all week and after a couple of mistakes on my part in the team test, I am still in complete shock that we managed to score 70.3% in the individual yesterday to place 16th (out of 77!) and qualify for the freestyle. It was a dream come true to be able to ride it here and despite a pretty tired Liv, we managed to score 70.4% to finish 15th.”

It was a clean sweep for Germany as they added the Junior team title to their haul, with Jana Schrödter claiming Individual and Freestyle Gold with Der Erbe, an 11 year old Oldenburg stallion son of Dimaggio.

Looking forward
The 2019 FEI Junior and Young Rider Europeans has been another great Championship for Team NAF, both for some promising individual achievements and also the opportunity it’s given riders to compete against the very best in Europe. British Dressage thanks team supporters NAF, equestrian kit suppliers LeMieux, and all the support teams behind our Championship representatives including Team Trainer Paul Fielder, Team Vet Robert Oulton, Stable Manager Liz Walsh, Chef d’Equipe Nina Boex and the panel of selectors.

Congratulations to the team at Horses Riviera Resort for delivering a world class championships for Juniors, Young Riders, U25s and Children on Horses.

Results
Young Rider Team
1st Semmieke Rothenberger with Dissertation, 77.559% (GER)
30th Rebecca Bell with Nibeley Union Hit, 66.618% (GBR)
45th Alexandra Hellings with Uvender V, 64.382% (GBR)
52nd Rebecca Swain with Bon Jovi, 63.118% (GBR)

Team rankings
1st Germany, 74.745
2nd The Netherlands, 73.030
3rd Sweden, 69.687

Young Rider Individual
1st Semmieke Rothenberger with Dissertation, 78.941% (GER)
41st Alexandra Hellings with Uvender V, 67.588% (GBR)
43rd Rebecca Swain with Bon Jovi, 67.412% (GBR)
49th Rebecca Bell with Nibeley Union Hit, 66.088% (GBR)

Junior Team
1st Valentina Pistner with Flamboyant OLD, 76.940% (GER)
13th Jessica McConkey with Lady Gaga, 71.576% (GBR)
57th Charlotte McDowall with Alivia, 66.879% (GBR)

Team rankings
1st Germany, 76.081
2nd The Netherlands, 73.485
3rd Denmark, 71.959

Junior Individual
1st Jana Schrödter with Der Erbe, 77.971% (GER)
16th Charlotte McDowall with Alivia, 70.353% (GBR)
39th Jessica McConkey with Lady Gaga, 68.088% (GBR)

Junior Freestyle
1st Jana Schrödter with Der Erbe, 78.440% (GER)
15th Charlotte McDowall with Alivia, 70.425% (GBR)

For full results click here.

Visit the BD Youth page for daily photos and stories from the event, click here.

The British Equestrian Federation and British Dressage have today, 1 August 2019, announced the UK Sport National Lottery funded dressage squad which will compete at the FEI Longines European Championships in Rotterdam, Holland (21–25 August 2019).

Team GBR stalwarts Charlotte Dujardin and Carl Hester will be looking to build on the team and individual bronze medals they earned in Tryon at last year’s World Equestrian Games, while Gareth Hughes and Charlotte (Lottie) Fry are capitalising on some successful Nations Cups results this season. This will be Lottie’s first senior championships, although she and Dark Legend achieved Individual silver and Freestyle gold at the European Under 25 Championships in 2018.

In alphabetical order, the selected squad has been named by the British Dressage selectors as:

• Charlotte Dujardin CBE with Emma and Jill Blundell’s Mount St John Freestyle (bay, mare, 10yo, 16.2hh, Fidermark x Donnerhall. Grooms – Alan Davies and Lucy Scudamore) Charlotte commented: “It’s a real privilege to be riding on the team – and such an exciting team too! I’m really looking forward to returning to Rotterdam where I first rode for Britain at the European Championships in 2011 with Valegro, it’ll feel special to be back there.”

• Charlotte Fry with van Olst Horses and her own Dark Legend (bay, gelding, 11yo, 17hh, Zucchero x Tango. Groom – Claire James) Charlotte commented; “I am super excited and so thankful for the whole team around me and my horses for making this possible. And I'm honoured that in my first year of competing at seniors, I've been given this amazing opportunity.”

• Carl Hester MBE with Lady Anne Evans, Ann Cory and his own Hawtins Delicato(bay, gelding, 11yo, 16.2hh, Diamond Hit x Regazzoni - Grooms – Alan Davies and Lucy Scudamore). Carl commented; “I’m delighted to be part of such an exciting team heading to Rotterdam for the European Championships. It’s wonderful that we’ve got our Olympic qualification secured so that we can just enjoy it and ride to our best in search of a medal.”

• Gareth Hughes with Rebecca Hughes, Julia Hornig and his own Classic Briolinca(bay, mare, 13yo, 16.2hh, Trento B x Royal Dance. Groom – Steph Sharples) Gareth commented: “There is no greater honour than to represent your country. I’m very proud to be riding Classic Briolinca because Rebecca and myself, along with our long-time friend and supporter Julia Hornig, have owned her since she was three or four years old. Steph Sharples, my travelling groom and Head Girl, has looked after Briolinca throughout her career, so it will be exciting and emotional for all of us to be there. It’s great to be back on the team with Charlotte and Carl, and to have Lottie with us – she has been one of the most exciting stars this year. We have a very strong team and it will be an exciting championship.”

Charlotte Dujardin has also been selected with a direct reserve horse, Sonnar Murray-Brown’s Erlentanz.

In addition, two reserve combinations have been selected:

First reserve: Richard Davison with Gwendolyn Meyer and his own Bubblingh
Second reserve: Lara Butler with Wilfred and Ursula Bechtolsheimer’s Rubin Al Asad

Performance Manager Caroline Griffith said “I am absolutely thrilled to be working with such a fantastic team this year. All the combinations have had phenomenal results in preparation including several personal bests and scores which evidence they are amongst the best in the world. The selectors have included young horses, older horses, young riders and more experienced riders, combined it has all the ingredients of an amazing recipe for success. I feel honoured and privileged to be working with the riders, owners and grooms all of whom play such a major part in making this happen and I have absolutely no doubt that we head to the Championships excited by the opportunity to show our capabilities to the full. The riders have asked me to thank everyone for their support, they are keen now to get on with the job and make Team GBR proud.”

Jason Brautigam, British Dressage Chief Executive, commented; “It’s great to have a new addition to the team in Lottie Fry and, with the experience of Carl, Charlotte and Gareth, it makes for a very strong squad. Lottie has made such a strong impression in the last 12 months since winning gold at the European U25 Championships, while Carl and Charlotte obviously impressed us all with their exciting young horses last year at the World Equestrian Games. All four riders can use Rotterdam as an important stepping stone towards the Olympics in 2020, so hopefully Team GBR will be able to make a strong statement of intent a yearout from Tokyo.”

The British senior teams are supported by the BEF’s UK Sport National Lottery-funded World Class Programme.

Scottish team, Scotland Macbeth, won a thriller of a competition at the BD Youth Home International, held last week at Arena UK in Lincolnshire (26 – 28 July 2019).

The quartet of Rose Foley, Carmen Gammie, Matilda Haley and Eilidh Roberts took an early lead on day one, with two riders impressively breaking through the 70% benchmark - Eilidh Roberts from Berwickshire with her black Irish gelding Flashy Rocko competing in the Novice, and Elementary combination Matilda Haley from Aberdeenshire and her KWPN gelding Go.

In pole position overnight, hopes were high on Sunday morning for the Macbeth four, however last year’s winners, and winners of the 2019 BD Youth Inter Regional - South West Donald Ducks - were not going to release their grip of the trophy easily. Just two percent off the leaders overnight, the South West challengers made up ground on day two, but it wasn’t enough to dislodge the Scottish challengers from the podium.

Maintaining their focus, Aberdeenshire’s Carmen Gammie and her Welsh pony Champagne Bubbles (17) posted a super 72.06% in the Medium, Matilda and Go. 70.49% in the Elementary, whilst Dumfries and Galloway’s Rose Foley with Shona Leckie’s Cordici K earned 68.14% in the Elementary, and Eilidh and Flashy Rocko scored 69.95% at Novice to bolster the team total.

“It was a fantastic competition!” said Scotland RDO Emma Stewart, reflecting on the success of her young riders. “Ending day one in the lead by a narrow margin meant a nail biting day two but all the team were outstanding to hold their nerve and put in excellent individual performances. I’m so proud of the whole squad for supporting each other throughout the competition and making the weekend a great experience for everyone.”

Individual honours
Riders from north of the border featured highly on the winners’ roster of the individual championship titles. Matilda Haley and Go, an eight year old son of Carosso VDL, took the Elementary with a score average of 71.42%, and Carmen Gammie with the evergreen Champagne Bubbles (17) made the Medium honours theirs with 70.22%.

The Novice belonged to North West’s Sophia Marston with her British bred mare Solitaire II (San Amour x Hotline). The combination which is trained by Michael Eilberg won on a percentage average of 71.19 over the two days of competition. Sophia who’s from Meriden, a stone’s throw from BDHQ, also claimed Saturday’s Children on Horses class.

Jessica Whitehead did the Southern region proud with a win in the FEI Junior Championship partnered by her 12 year old German son of Samarant, The Amazing Spiderman, and the FEI Pony Championship went the Northern Region, thanks to two solid performances by Meghan Anderson. Meghan, from County Durham, and 16 year old Berlioz (by Benetton S) who is owned by Sean Anderson, achieved an average of 63.34% over the two days.

British Dressage thanks the team at Arena UK for putting on a fantastic event. Congratulations to all the prize-winning teams and individuals and to everyone who took part.

BD Youth is open to every young person under the age of 25 who would like to be involved in regional training, competitions and camps. It is also a great way to meet new friends and learn more about the sport. To find out more visit www.britishdressage.co.uk/under_25s


Team results
1st - Scotland Macbeth – 425.16
Rose Foley with Cordici K (Elem)
Carmen Gammie with Champagne Bubbles (Med)
Matilda Haley with Go. (Elem)
Eilidh Roberts with Flashy Rocko (Nov)

2nd - South West Donald Ducks – 421.35
Chloe Dawes with Femme Lijbra (Med)
Florence Human with Flugencio (Med)
Tom O’Bryan with DHI de Rouet (Elem)
Alexa Palmer with Global Super Nova (Nov)

3rd – North West Guinevere – 413.77
Amy Charlton with Vanabyt van het Kleuterhof (Nov)
Danielle Marshall with Galant IV (Elem)
Sophia Marston with Solitaire II (Nov)

Overall individual winners
Novice – Sophia Marston with Solitaire II (North West), 71.19%
Elementary – Matilda Haley with Go. (Scotland), 71.42%
Medium – Carmen Gammie with Champagne Bubbles (Scotland), 70.22%

FEI Test winners
Pony - Meghan Anderson with Berlioz (Northern), 63.34%
Junior – Jessica Whitehead with The Amazing Spiderman (Southern), 66.53%
Young Riders - awaiting results
Children on Horses – Sophia Marston with Solitaire II (North West), 68.63%

Photo left to right: Carmen Gammie, Matilda Haley, Rose Foley, Eilidh Roberts

A highlight in the calendar of any dressage enthusiast, this year’s FEI World Breeding Dressage Championships for Young Horses didn’t disappoint with spectators treated to four days of world class competition as the stars of tomorrow did battle for the prestigious accolades.

Five talented British combinations headed to Ermelo, the Netherlands, with each putting in a promising performance for the future, gaining valuable mileage and proving their perspective against some of the most outstanding breeding stallions and sport horses in Europe.

Five year old Hawtins Lirica, bred by Judith Davis of Hawtins Stud, has enjoyed a winning streak on the national scene with skillful jockey Lucinda Elliot producing the standout mare to a Shearwater four year old title in 2018 amongst numerous other victories. In Ermelo, a touch of tension in the preliminary qualification round just kept the top marks at bay for the bright chestnut mare by Lemony’s Nicket, however an improved test the following day resulted in a superb ninth place in the small final for five year old horses. Proud breeder Judith commented, “Well that was an amazing day! Lucinda and Hawtins Lirica finished ninth out of thirty in the small final with an overall score of 8.12! Lyra was much more relaxed today so it was great that she got super scores for her paces and also really lovely comments from the judges in the commentary after the test. Thank you to the rest of Team GB for their great support! A big thank you especially to Serena Pincus for her invaluable training and support as always.”

Susan Pape brought forward the Vivaldi sired Harmony’s V-Plus to the five year old competition and achieved 20th in the Preliminary round with 8.02, followed by 14th in the small final on another encouraging mark of 7.82. The American owned V-Plus was bred at Lewitz Stud in Germany and changed hands to Leslie Malone of Harmony Sport Horses at the 2018 PSI Auction.

2019 Senior European Championships team rider Charlotte Fry continued a busy summer with an appearance in the six year old championship on board Van Olst Horses’ Inclusive. The eye-catching bay (Everdale x Uptown) impressed in the preliminary competition, scoring well with the judges panel of Annette Fransen-Iacobaeus (SWE), Christoph Hess (GER), Susan Barrup (DEN) and Isobel Wessels (GBR), with his trot the highlight earning 8.8.

Leah Beckett and Gunther Schulz’s Merlot Royal will be ones to watch for the future, they scored 69.38% and 67.99% in their two seven year old tests. “An amazing accomplishment to ride down this centre line and so proud of how Merlot rose to the challenge. Green moments in the canter work will not take away from his future, he’s such a dude! Thank you to all the support crew, incredible owners Johanna-Sophie Schulz and Gûnther Schulz, Sune Hansen and all at home” Leah said reflecting on the experience on social media.

UKCCL3 and BHSI Elizabeth Allen took time out of her busy schedule at Collective Equestrian to campaign the Uphill gelding Heraldik alongside Leah in the seven year old class. Two solid scores in the mid-sixties were the reward for a great home team effort and top quality riding.

Congratulations to the winners of each FEI World Championship and to all British riders, breeders and their support teams.

Winners and results of the British combinations

Qualification for five year old horses
1st Jessica Lynn Thomas with Secret (Sezuan x St Moritz) – SWE – 9.54
20th Susan Pape with Harmony’s V-Plus (Vivaldi x Furst Romancier) – GBR – 8.02
32nd Lucinda Elliot with Hawtins Lirica (Lemony’s Nicket x Dimaggio) – GBR – 7.40

Qualification for six year old horses
1st Frederic Wandres with Zucchero OLD (Zonik NOP x Prince Thatch XX) – GER – 9.46
18th Charlotte Fry with Inclusive (Everdale x Uptown) – GBR – 7.80

Qualification for seven year old horses
1st Severo Jurado Loez with d’Avie (Don Juan de Hus x Londonderry) – ESP – 85.04%
33rd Leah Beckett with Merlot Royal (Millennium x Rubin Royale) – GBR – 69.38%
39th Elizabeth Allen with Heraldik (Uphill x Silvano N) – GBR – 63.50%

Small final for five year old horses
1st Eva Moller with Espe (Escolar x Dimaggio) – GER – 8.72
9th Lucinda Elliot with Hawtins Lirica (Lemony’s Nicket x Dimaggio) – GBR – 8.12
14th Susan Pape with Harmony’s V-Plus (Vivaldi x Furst Romancier) – GBR – 7.82

Small final for six year old horses
1st Yvonne Osterholm with Ironman H (Bordeaux x Rousseau) – FIN – 8.96
9th Charlotte Fry with Inclusive (Everdale x Uptown) – GBR – 8.02

CH-M-D YH Final for five year old horses
1st Andreas Helgstrand with Jovian (Apache x Tango) – DEN – 9.66
2nd Jessica Lynn Thomas with Secret (Sezuan x St Moritz) – SWE – 9.64
3rd Andreas Helgstrand with Queensparks Wendy (Sezuan x Blue Hors Soprano) – DEN – 9.42

Small final for seven year old horses
1st Jeanna Hogberg with Astoria (Sir Donnerhall II OLD x Quaterback) – SWE – 79.60%
23rd Leah Beckett with Merlot Royal (Millennium x Rubin Royale) – GBR – 67.99%
26th Elizabeth Allen with Heraldik (Uphill x Silvano N) – GBR – 66.92%

CH-M-D YH Final for six year old horses
1st Frederic Wandres with Zucchero OLD (Zonik NOP x Prince Thatch XX) – GER – 9.66
2nd Andreas Helgstrand with Revolution (Rocky Lee x Rouletto) – DEN – 9.44
3rd Andreas Helgstrand with Zhaplin Langholt (Zonik NOP x Stedinger) – DEN – 9.34

CH-M-D YH Final for seven year old horses
1st Severo Jurado Lopez with d’Avie (Don Juan de Hus x Londonderry) – ESP – 85.10%
2nd Jan Moller Christensen with Hesselhoej Donkey Boy (Era Dancing Hit x Milan) – DEN – 85.02%
3rd Isabel Freese with Total Hope OLD (Totilas x Blue Horse Don Schufro) – NOR – 84.25%

Watch the highlights from the FEI WBFSH Championships.  
Full results. 

The second British Dressage Bronze Championships proved a massive hit with the competitors who all judged new venue Sheepgate Eqestrian ‘well worth the journey’ after two days of battle across Prelim to Advanced Medium.

The Prelim title is headed to Wales, Carmarthenshire to be exact, as 12 year old Bryley Llewelyn took the championship with her own eye catching skewbald Cwmtyysswg Will (pictured right), who she lovingly refers to as Will I Am, in homage to the star judge on The Voice, a favourite in her music collection. Bryley has had Will for two years and has produced him herself. They enjoy doing a bit of everything and compete with the Pony Club as well as their BD career.

Bryley and Will were the overnight leaders after a fantastic day one score of 70.27% but it was tight on Sunday when Rebecca Lock and Brickell Mr Pickwick pushed them hard and won the test on 68.79%. However, the Welsh duo’s 68.05% was enough to secure the win, but by just 0.85%.

After her win, Bryley said; “He felt a little tired today so I did have to use my legs a bit more but yesterday’s test felt perfect!”
Bryley enjoys maths and art at school – two great subjects to help with any budding dressage rider!

A duo taking some time out from eventing claimed a dominant victory in the Novice division. Gloucestershire rider Steph Woolley and the British bred Freckleton Matador, by Monte Carlo, topped the leaderboard on both days with two great scores. Saturday it was 70.75% and on Sunday, they cruised to a 72.31% which gave them a clear victory over Grace Lynch and Jara H. All of this on top of winning Friday’s Petplan Equine Novice Bronze Area Festival at Sheepgate!

Steph has had the now 11 year old since he was two when she bought him from breeder Penny Roots at the small Wawickshire stud whose prefix his name bears and this is their first full season with BD.

“He’s just fab, I love him to bits. He’s not always been the most straightforward though. We evented together but at the moment he’s just lost his love for the cross country so I decided to focus on our dressage this year,” said Steph. “I have to say a huge thanks to Rob Barker who we’ve started having lessons with and he’s made a huge difference.”

Far from resting on their laurels, the duo has a busy few weeks to come with the Riding Club Championships at Lincoln, an Area Festival Final at Fieldhouse, Riding Club Dressage to Music Championships and they’re hoping for selection to represent her region at the Home International at Wellington.

The Elementary crown went to another horse and rider combination who’ve moved their focus to dressage from eventing. Dutch-born rider Hente Dorhout-Meers returned to riding after taking a long break for university, getting married and having children. In her teen years, she worked in a dressage yard but then her life’s focus changed. Once children were older and riding horses themselves she rediscovered her love of riding and purchased Troef van de Vive la Vie as an eventing schoolmaster.

‘Doodle’ was bred to show jump but went on to event to advanced level before Hente got him but veterinary issues have now forced a focus on dressage – and the change has clearly suited them both. The rich chestnut was a winner on both days, scoring 70.75% on Saturday which was followed by 69.43% on Sunday.

Hente said; “The first day he was really good; calm and rideable but today he was more himself and just a bit stressy. We’re lucky he’s here really as we nearly lost him to kidney failure last year and he’s had a few bone chips which means he can’t jump or gallop anymore so dressage is his new job. I just adore this horse!”

So what are the plans for the future? “We’ve done one Medium and would like to do more next year so perhaps work towards the Regionals at Elementary and Area Festivals at Medium,” Hente added.

The win was special…but came at a cost! “I said that if I won, I’d buy my daughter a new tailcoat she spotted so we’re off to pay Tack and Togs a visit!” laughed Hente.

Runners up were Hampshire’s Deanne Courtnadge and the Ace of Spaces on a total of 137.70.

It was a worthwhile journey from Kent for Roberta Collyer and her talented Jazz son Fiasco II when they claimed the Medium title. Roberta, who runs RC Equine Bodyworks, started riding as a child but made dressage her choice aged 14.

She and Fiasco dominated the Medium ranks over the weekend, winning on both days. A great 68.91% got their campaign underway on day one and this was followed with an impressive 71.06% on Sunday which gave them the coveted winner’s sash and rosette by over 6% ahead of nearest rivals, Sophie Bennett riding Vallon du Rock.

“We’ve really loved it here! It’s a six hour journey but has been worth it,” enthused Roberta.

“I’ve had the ride on him for three years but bought him outright this year. He was a very hot youngster, a typical Jazz but everything is just now clicking into play. Getting to these championships was a goal for the season so to win is amazing,” she added.

And she’s got high hopes for Fiasco, “I’d really love to get him to Grand Prix – I hope he’s got it in him! We’ve just started the changes which can be exciting but whatever I ask, he always tries his heart out,” she ended.

The final section, Advanced Medium, was a popular win for local rider Alice Elliott and her lovable British bred Chatsworth Chieftain, who live just 17 miles away from Sheepgate and are regulars at the centre. They’ve been together for seven years and have risen up the ranks from Prelim and they’ve made a few attempts at Prix St Georges. Alice has competed a horse every year with British Dressage since 1999 but this is the first horse she’s got to this level.

Saturday’s Advanced Medium was claimed by Tyler Bradshaw and Igor VIII but they couldn’t hold their advantage on day two, allowing Alice and ‘Murph’ to take the title after they topped the class having been second on Saturday. Abi Uden pulled up with Rain Dance to be reserve champions.

“I’ve had an absolutely fantastic couple of days. He’s a shire cross and gives you everything he can. He’s taken me to places I never dreamed I’d get to! We’ve done a couple of PSGs but that’s as far as I’ll take him. I’m looking at getting a youngster – even a my age!” quipped Alice.

Thanks to everyone who made these championships possible! The Sheepgate team pulled out all the stops on the back of a busy Petplan Equine Area Festival show to make sure everyone was welcome and the competition ran like clockwork. All weekend there was a tremendous atmosphere with a huge sense of camaraderie – so well done to our riders, officials and volunteers.

Championship podiums:

Prelim
1. Bryley Llewelyn and Cwmtysswg Will, 138.31
2. Rebecca Lock Brickell and Mr Pickwick, 137.46
3. Lauren Crowe and Scout, 135.22

Novice
1. Steph Woolley and Freckleton Matador, 143.06
2. Grace Lynch and Jara H, 140.94
3. Amy Hamilton and Zico II, 138.66

Elementary
1. Hente Dorhout Mees and Troef van de Vive la Vie, 140.17
2. Deanne Courtnadge and The Ace of Spades, 137.70
3. Hilary Janion and Sir Wilhelm, 137.13

Medium
1. Roberta Collyer and Fiasco II, 139.97
2. Sophie Bennett and Vallon du Rock, 133.69
3. Annabel Whittet and Ballynoe Hallo, 133.66

Advanced Medium
1. Alice Elliot and Chatsworth Chieftain, 134.61
2. Abi Uden and Rain Dance, 132.34
3. Nicola North and Damons Gold, 131.55

Full results – click here. 

In line with the British Equestrian Federation Articles of Association, British Dressage is entitled to nominate a Director to sit on the BEF Board. The current Nominated Director, Lotte Olsen, completes her first term at the end of this year and has indicated that she would like to stand for a second term. However, we are also opening this up to other nominations from the British Dressage membership, for anyone who would like to put their name forward to work with the BEF Board to help develop the future direction of the Federation and implement the new five-year strategic plan.

All applicants will need to meet the specified knowledge, experience and competencies required for a Board Director, in accordance with the defined Terms of Reference. Anyone wishing to submit a nomination should download and complete a nomination paper and declaration of interests form (see links below). In addition, candidates will need to provide a full curriculum vitae, together with a supporting statement detailing how they meet the role requirements by midday on Friday 30 August. All applications will then be reviewed by the BD Nominations Committee in September, before a recommendation is put forward to the BEF Nominations Committee for final ratification.

Download:

• BEF Board Director Terms of Reference
• Nomination form
• Declaration of Interests form

For further information, please contact Angela Green, HR & Office Manager, by email or call 0247 669 8844.

Following a recent meeting with the Equine Department and Curriculum Head at Pencoed College, it has been agreed that the British Dressage competitions will be reinstated at the venue and outsourced to a new organiser, Zoe Mann.

As an unaffiliated dressage judge, mother of a BD Youth rider and Pencoed livery owner, Zoe has extensive knowledge of British Dressage competitions and is keen to run the shows as a new project.

Vanessa Archer, Wales RDO commented;”Pencoed College’s last British Dressage show was in June 2018 so there has been a gap for competitions in the area for quite some time. The College has always been popular for competitions and other BD activities so we didn’t want to lose the venue altogether. It has also hosted the Petplan Area Festival in the past so the venue has great capacity for prestigious events”.

The new organiser Zoe Mann expressed her enthusiasm about the show allocation; “I am really excited about getting the shows back at Pencoed College, it’s an excellent venue and everyone is so helpful! Fingers crossed it’s a huge success!”

Vanessa added; “I’ve known Zoe for a number of years and I know that she will take ownership of the British Dressage competitions. I am looking forward to the months ahead”.

Whilst welcoming Zoe, the competitions also say farewell to Jenna Capel, the previous organiser; “Jenna did a fantastic job of running the shows at Pencoed. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Jenna for all her hard work and I know she will be very helpful to Zoe during this transition,” said Vanessa.

Three initial show dates have been scheduled for next year. Zoe will host her first show at Pencoed College on Saturday 28th March 2020 with core Summer and Autumn dates of Saturday 4th July and Saturday 10th October to follow. British Dressage Wales will also offer evening training clinics prior to each of these dates.

Zoe would welcome any help and support with these shows so if you would like to offer your services as a writer or steward then please get in touch, Zoe Mann.

As always the Summer Regionals at Mount Ballan didn’t disappoint, with three days of riveting competition.
Although there were withdrawals from some top names like Charlotte Dujardin, Henriette Andersen and Paul Friday, there were plenty of exciting combinations making their mark.

The highest scorer of the competition was Laura Wollen who travelled from Herefordshire with Anne Seifert-Cohn’s lovely six-year-old, Ivan Carlos (Ampere x Jazz). The pair notched up 75.26% to win the Childeric Elementary Gold. ‘Blackie’ is also known as ‘Mr Consistent” and will be off to his first summer National Championships.

“He’s a clever horse who we’ve not had to push much and is such a delight to ride,” enthused Laura. “We didn’t have a great start to the test as he stumbled into the halt but then he trotted away and did his job. His simple changes were brilliant and he got four nines for them.”

Blackie was also fourth in the Top Spec Medium Gold so fingers crossed for a wild card.

The Childeric Elementary Silver title went to Louise Berry and Woodcroft Daisy Duke, ahead of Cath Creemer and Floris. They scored 70.89%, very close to their personal best. Louise has owned the Don Frederico eight-year-old since he was three and Louise believes, “She’s the most accident prone creature on the planet!” Accidents in the field, getting her leg through a stable partition and jumping over the stable door are just some of her antics. Fortunately, she seems to have put these ways behind her and has been consistently in work since February 2018.

Louise, who is an instructor at Summerhouse EC, trains with Tessa Thorne, with whose help the pair are learning changes in anticipation of moving on to advanced medium. “The elementary test felt fantastic, she felt like she loved it,” said Louise who admitted to having a little cry when she won. “It’s our first ever sash!”

“At the winter regionals I forgot my test so my whole goal was to remember it this time!” said Louise.
Melissa O’Brien Shawcross followed up an elementary win at Moreton Morrell Petplan Equine Area Festival in July by taking the Dodson & Horrell Novice Silver title on Rubatino ML. In the gold section, international young rider Lucy Pincus was victorious with Johnson homebred, Sheepcote Just Daisy.

Although she’s seven, Daisy is only lightly competed and this was her first regional and first stay-away show. “I wasn’t quite sure how she would cope but she behaved really well,” said Lucy. “She’s quite a brave mare, with lovely energy.” Lucy and Daisy scored 73.02% - not surprising when you look at her record; she’s won 11 out of her 12 starts.

Male riders took all the sashes in the Top Spec Medium and Advanced Equine Construction Medium classes. Welsh rider Brendan Tegg had to contend with Sarah Davies’ breeding stallion Sunset Boulevard’s testosterone levels. ‘Springers’ took his mind off the ladies long enough to squeak into the Top Spec Medium Silver title position in front of Maisie Hodge and Garant H.

“It’s not the easiest time of year for us,” said Brendan. “He took a little bit of riding but he’s a kind horse who says ‘yes’. He’s getting more established and his rhythm stayed good. It was a clean test. Hopefully I’ll be able to ask for more pizazz at the Nationals in September when the testosterone levels are lower!”

Rob Barker was the only double winner at the show. He won the Top Spec Medium Gold on Christine Kirk’s Hamlet and Equine Construction Advanced Medium Silver on Alison Haste’s Woodlander Romance.
Rob won the Dodson & Horrell Novice Silver national summer title on Hamlet (Uthopia x Jazz) in 2017 and he was sixth in the
Elementary Silver at the 2018 winter championships. Sonnar Murray-Brown, Rob’s partner, took over the ride, notching up a fifth in elementary gold at last year’s summer championships. When Sonny broke his leg in February this year, the ride reverted to Rob, who’s very enthusiastic about the seven-year-old.

“He’s a really good horse – very powerful and talented,” said Rob. “He can get hot in the bigger atmospheres (at shows) but he was very rideable in the test. I was able to braver in the mediums and still able to collect for the simple changes. He was able to travel up and down the gears.”

Woodlander Romance has been Rob’s ride since the seven-year-old Rousseau mare was four. He reported on social media that they had some miscommunication issues in the Medium which led to an eventual seventh place but these were ironed out by the time of the Advanced Medium championship. “She’s still very green at the level,” commented Rob. “But she gave it her all. She tries very hard in training and at shows and is always thinking ‘what’s next?’. She just needs to get stronger and more confident.”

They won the class ahead of another Woodlander horse, Woodlander Rhythm ‘n’ Blues, ridden by Maddy Frewin.

Two out of the three judges gave Calum Whitworth and Fernando (pictured) 74% and that was enough to win them the Equine Construction Advanced Medium Gold victory ahead of Abi Lyle and Suspension Giraldo. The United x Special D nine-year-old, owned by Sue and Rob Fearis, has been winning Premier Leagues at PSG so was stepping down a level at Mount Ballan.

“You never quite know what you’re going to get with him,” said Calum, “but he seemed to like it in Wales and we had a calm day. He did a really nice consistent test and felt confident in all the work.” Fernando is also heading to the Nationals to contest the Fairfax PSG class.

A mark of 71.45% from one judge was enough to win Debbie Childs the Saracen Horse Feeds Inter I title and give her 13-year-old Stedinger gelding his first regional win. “I was thrilled as I didn’t expect it,” said Debbie whose goal is Grand Prix. “He’s been improving all year and it’s the icing on the cake to be going to the Nationals. I’ve been working all year trying to get his tests clean and correct – and this test was. Now I need to work on getting more power and expression. I’ve been training with Roland Tong for a couple of years and he’s really turned us round.”

Hannah Dovey’s Eagle Nouvelle has also been improving all year with Katie Bailey. Their Fairfax PSG Gold win follows a win at Magic PSG freestyle at the Winter Championships and placing fourth in the straight PSG. Eighteen combinations went down the centre line and judges Richard Baldwin, Christian Landolt and Carol Thornton were unanimous in picking Katie and ‘Eddie’ for their champions with a super score of 73.29%.

“His trot work was some of the best I’ve had in a test,” Katie said afterwards. “He was a little bit tight in the changes but in the main the test was free-flowing with no major mistakes. He’s been getting more confident in the arena since we started working on the Grand Prix movements at home. He’s a very sweet horse and tries his hardest.”

BackinAction Prelim Silver champion Katie Byam-Cook rode her Dimaggio mare, Diminutive, into the lead with 71.95%, just ahead of Katie Robotham and My Lady Myfanwy. The seven-year-old is British-bred by UK Hanoverians.

British Dressage thanks the team at Mount Ballan as well as the National class sponsors for their generous support. Congratulations to all competitors and good luck to those heading to the LeMieux National Championships at Stoneleigh Park.

Regional champions:

Backinaction Preliminary Silver
Katie Byam-Cook with DiMinutive 71.95%

Dodson & Horrell Novice Silver
Melissa O’Brien Shawcross with Rubatino ML 71.89

Dodson & Horrell Novice Gold
Lucy Pincus with Sheepcote Just Daisy 73.02%

Childéric Saddles Elementary Silver
Louise Berry with Woodcroft Daisy Duke 70.89

Childéric Saddles Elementary Gold
Laura Wollen with Ivan Carlos 75.26%

TopSpec Medium Silver
Brendan Tegg with Sunset Boulevard 69.91

TopSpec Medium Gold
Rob Barker with Hamlet 71.62%

Equine Construction Advanced Medium Silver
Rob Barker with Woodlander Romance 71.75

Equine Construction Advanced Medium Gold
Calum Whitworth with Fernando 73.73

Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges Gold
Katie Bailey with Eagle-Nouvelle 73.29

Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I Gold
Debbie Childs with Berrifield Stuntman 68.29.

The most northerly summer regional saw some fierce competition with Jo Barry on fighting form, taking home three titles while Robyn Smith dominated the Small Tour classes.

Jo Barry and Hidalgo II and Nicky Heale and Furstinclaire went head to head in the Childeric Elementary and Top Spec Medium Gold championships. In the event, Jo won both, but the combinations were only separated by one collective mark in the elementary.

Hidalgo (Humphrey) is by Rousseau and is owned by Jo and Lady Hope. He’s a half-brother to her very successful horse, Vivaldi V. His dam was bought with him in vitro and he was born at Jo’s yard. “He hasn’t stopped growing – I’m afraid to put a measuring stick on him,” said Jo. “Fortunately he’s not hugely wide so I survive riding him!

“He was fairly wild in the Elementary class so I had to do a bit of damage limitation,” confessed Jo. “He has so much energy and power, sometimes he doesn’t know what to do with it. That power will help in the future but at the moment it can be a bit too much.

“He was much more on-side in the Medium class. He kept a lid on it. He’s starting to co-ordinate his body, it’s just takes time to find the strength.”

Goofy La Perle (Belissimo x Jazz) made a few mistakes in the Equine Construction Advanced Medium Gold but still managed a 70%+ score to take the title. The eight-year-old was bought for Jo two years ago by Gordon Grainger of the Kingfisher Group. He was Elementary Gold champion at the LeMieux Nationals last year and won three titles at the Scottish Championships 2018.

“He’s made good progress through each stage and has developed strength and balance,” said Jo. “He was very chilled about learning his changes.”

With the lovely Retanach Request, her12-year-old Welsh Section D, Nicky Heale threw off the ‘seconditis’ and won the Equine Construction Advanced Medium Silver championship. Nicky is a full time paramedic and she and Rocco have been to six consecutive Winter Championships at every level from Novice to PSG, and the National Championships at Medium and Advanced Medium. They’re currently competing at Inter I and will soon aim for Inter II and GP.

Both small tour classes were won by Robyn Smith and her 11-year-old Florencio stallion, Francesco 77. In their Saracen Horse Feeds Inter I test, they were almost 4% ahead of their nearest rival. Robyn has been working hard all year on improving Frank’s performance so was thrilled when it all came off on the day.

She explained that on his way down to the arena he was very bright and wanted to say hello to everybody but 10 steps into the arena he transformed. “He just said ‘Yeah, I can do this’,” said Robyn who competed him at his first internationals at Bolesworth and Hartpury recently. “For the last few weeks we’ve been going back to basics to try and resolve any issues. I’ve been working on the canter pirouettes as he hasn’t always wanted to sit enough and we got some eights for them this weekend. I bought him in
Germany when he was a small gangly stallion and thankfully nobody else wanted him.”

Jade Whitelaw had her 19th birthday the day before she won the Childeric Elementary Silver with Dauphin III, the first time she’s qualified for the summer Nationals. “My trainer Jennifer Johnston helped me warm up and I was very pleased with the test, we had no major mistakes. He’s a really easy safe horse and very trainable. He’s not a super flashy mover but he’s very elegant and judges seem to like him.”

The pair was restricted Prelim and Novice champions at the 2015 Winters.

When Teresa Smith bought her 12-year-old Costa Rica II four years ago she thought of it “as an alternative to going to the gym.” However it wasn’t long before she got hooked on dressage and the pair are now the new Dodson & Horell Novice Silver regional champions.

“The more he does and the harder he works, the happier he is,” said Teresa who is another of Jennifer Johnston’s pupils and also has help from Pammy Hutton. “He’s not been the most straightforward horse. Balance is an issue as he has a massive stride and it’s taken him time to develop enough strength.” No doubt all the hard work will feel worthwhile when they trot down the centre line at Stoneleigh.

Charlotte Lutener and Ab Barroco will be attending their first summer National Championships together after winning the Top Spec Medium Silver title. Charlotte bought the nine-year-old Bellissimo gelding two years ago and has been competing him since last summer.

“In the last few months we’ve come together as a team,” explained Charlotte. “Bertie is completely different to my previous horse. He has so much power and is quick to learn.”

Charlotte finished her A levels last year and has spent time since training her horses with the help of Jess Dunn. Jess also went back to Burnley with a title – she won the Dodson & Horrell Novice Gold on Charlotte’s four-year-old mare, MSJ Furstin Florida. Florida has only ever been to three shows before her regional appearance and has won four out of the five classes she’s entered.

British Dressage thanks the team at The Cabin as well as the National class sponsors for their generous support. Congratulations to all competitors and good luck to those heading to the LeMieux National Championships at Stoneleigh Park.

Regional champions:

Backinaction Preliminary Silver
Abigail Gray with Glynoch Red Rascal, 69.83%

Dodson & Horrell Novice Silver
Teresa Smith with Costa Rica II, 70.25%

Dodson & Horrell Novice Gold
Jessica Dunn with MSJ Furstin Florida, 72.9%

Childéric Saddles Elementary Silver
Jade Whitelaw with Dauphon III, 71.09%

Childéric Saddles Elementary Gold
Jo Barry with Hidalgo II, 71.35%

TopSpec Medium Silver
Charlotte Lutener with Ab Barroco, 70.09%

TopSpec Medium Gold
Jo Barry with Hidalgo II, 71.17 %

Equine Construction Advanced Medium Silver
Nicky Heale with Retanach Request, 68.42%

Equine Construction Advanced Medium Gold
Jo Barry with Goofy La Perle, 70.57%

Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges Gold
Robyn Smith with Francesco 77, 70.88%

Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I Gold
Robyn Smith with Francesco, 72.06%