Charlie Hutton and his talented grand prix prospect Don Dino enjoyed a double victory in the Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges and Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I, both with impressive percentages at Mount Ballan.

Previously owned by Talland client Penny Manning, Charlie (pictured) took the opportunity to buy the nine-year-old 17.1hh Hanovarian gelding by Don Vino a couple of years ago.

“I have ridden him since a five-year-old; we just clicked. I believe in him and he is everything I had hoped for. This was only his fourth show at small tour level. He’s done two Premier Leagues and a couple of local shows. He made mistakes in both tests, but the quality of his work bought the marks back up. I didn’t find out our scores until we got home in the evening and it was a lovely shock.”

“My goal with him is grand prix, so I’ve taken it quietly and carefully to give him a sense of security, but we will be starting the bigger shows now,” said Charlie, who trains with Carl Hester.

Julia Stockley and the nine-year-old Sambuca II scored the highest percentage of this regional with 73.33% in the Visualise Sportswear Preliminary, despite this being only their third show in three years. In 2010, Julia turned out the then six-year-old 17hh Shire/Hanoverian cross mare by Waterlands Dancing Satyr a week after having qualified for the winter championships at prelim and novice level.

Julia, who works full-time as a coach driver and beer taster, said: “My leg was crushed when somebody else’s horse rolled on it, so she became a broodmare just nine months after I bought her.

“We’ve had lots of hurdles to overcome since I brought her back into work in March. I had to have two weeks off after I had an operation to take the metal out of my leg, she got cast, then she lost her footing on the road and skinned her hocks, so had to have another couple of weeks off. She only did her first competition on the 21st June and her second on the 29th. I don’t know how we managed to squeeze in one lesson with Tessa Thorne.

“She’s nine going on five as she’s not had more than one year’s work in her life, but she was awesome at Mount Ballan,” says Julia, who schools her in an undulating field.

Visualise Sportswear Preliminary
Julia Stockley and Sambuca II (owner: Rider) 73.33%
Louise Magris and Holme Park Salcido (owner: Rider) 70.76%
Ondine King and Florienne (owner: Natalie Brown & Rider) 70.76%

Dodson & Horrell Novice Restricted
Georgia Herbert and Megastar (owner: Rider) 70.46%
Katharina Sievert and Samba Song (owner: Rider) 69.20%

Dodson & Horrell Novice Open
Lucy Pincus and Sheepcote Fiesta (owner: David Pincus) 70.11%
Jonathan Boswell and Centaur Commadore (owner: Rider) 69.66%
Helen Askey and Boston HS (owner: Rider) 69.08%

Stretch & Flex Elementary Restricted
Karen Beddows and Michael Angelo (owner: Rider) 69.06%
Caroline Horn and Narramore Musicman (owner: Rider) 67.81%

Stretch & Flex Elementary Open
Zoe Sleigh and Bequila (owner: Christine Sleigh) 71.35%
Alice Peternell and Supreme (owner: Debra Coessens) 70.73%
Lucy Pincus and Sheepcote Doncalisto (owner: David Pincus) 68.96%

Dressage Deluxe Medium Restricted
Elizabeth Charlotte Albon and Zidane (owner: Rider) 68.47%
Sara Squires and Irish Dream (owner: Linda Penfold) 68.02%

Dressage Deluxe Medium Open
Matt Hicks and Don Carissimo (owner: Anne Keen) 71.44%
Zoe Sleigh and Bequila (owner: Christine Sleigh) 68.11%
Georgia Stokes and SOS Talented Mr Ripley (owner: Rider) 67.75%

Suregrow Fertiliser Advanced Medium Restricted
Lucy Anne Baker and Llancloudy Phantom Menace (owner: Shirley Tibbs) 67.89%
Sophie Rowcliffe and Fairways Lord Of The Ring (owner: Rider) 65.44%

Suregrow Fertiliser Advanced Medium Open
Michael Garman and Ripple (owner: Rider) 68.60%
Lucy Straker and Farramir (owner: Rider) 68.51%
Clare Poole and Zero (owner: Rider) 67.72%
Deb Criddle and LJT Akilles (owner: Lady Joseph Trust) 67.54%

Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges
Charlie Hutton and Don Dino (owner: Rider) 71.32%

Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I
Charlie Hutton and Don Dino (owner: Rider) 72.94%

Following the seven Summer Regional Championships, we are pleased to advise competitors of the selected wild-card holders for this year's Espayo National Dressage Championships at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire, 19 - 22 September.

PLEASE NOTE – Close of entries date for wild cards is Tuesday 27th August 2013.

NO late entries will be accepted.

All Wild Card packs have been sent by 1st class post on 14 August 2013.

Please do NOT send your entry to the show secretary by email.To guarantee your entry please consider next day delivery.

Preliminary
Rebecca Ann Clack, Polos Discovery, 70.30%

Novice Restricted
Ruth Stevens, Flamenco II, 70.23%
Karen Martin, Playwrite, 69.08%
Amy Francis, Altogether Endeavour, 68.28%
Gemma Steele, Stardance, 68.28%
Alysia Matravers, Tiger Tim, 68.28%
Suzie Maunder, Camillus, 68.05%

Novice Open
Penny Brooks, Loriens Atomic, 72.18%
Richard Hayward, Royal Symphony, 70.57%
Laura Newton, Zilverstroom, 69.77%
Melissa Chapman, Disco Fever, 69.77%
Hannah Guild, Freckleton Maarifa, 69.66%
Darcas Lever, Negradite, 69.66%
Elizabeth Gammie, Champagne Bubbles, 69.43%
Amy Knight, Ardino, 69.43%

Elementary Restricted
Joseph Bright, Praxis, 70.52%
Imogen Ablett, River Valley –Amadeus, 69.79%
Cara Hayward, Rivameyer Blue, 69.69%
Chelie Lear, Zenith IV, 69.48%
Charlotte Gilder, Strathmore Apollo, 69.48%
Joanne Wilson, Kesters Mirabelle, 69.27%

Elementary Open
Lisa Marriott, Woodcroft Dancing Queen, 69.79%
Alice Peternell, Supernova V, 69.69%
Samantha Morrison, Balpare, 69.27%
Hannah Guild, Baltimore M, 69.27%
Kim Moloney, Donner Gold, 69.27%
Gail Wilson, Pipers Twist, 69.06%
Holly Browne, Sigurd, 68.96%
Carol Bennitt, Bonanza, 68.85%
Tahley Reeve-Smith, Luca 41, 68.44%
Kath Cunningham, Sanantonio, 68.33%
Claire Knowles, Pendragon of Independence, 68.33%

Medium Restricted
Jane Morris, Really Relevant, 68.20%
Charlotte Jackson, Saab, 68.11%
Jonathon Boswell, Centaurs Commadore, 67.75%
Sarah Ansty, Woodhams Debutante, 67.75%
Keri-Ann Rockingham Smith, Sundance, 67.57%
Tamsin Addison, Don Proviano, 67.39%
Jonathon Boswell, Dacapo, 67.39%
Zoe Viner, Fun Time Fiasco, 67.21%

Medium Open
Julie Hugo, Alivia II, 70.63%
Daniel Greenwood, Val Rubilah, 70.18%
Lesley Peyton-Gilbert, World Exclusive, 70.18%
Paul Hayler, F J Adonis, 70.09%
Harriet Woodcock, Gideon, 69.19%
Beth Bainbridge, Ulia, 69.19%
Paul Friday, Columbus Himself, 69.01%

Advanced Medium Restricted
Ben Martin, Dimaggik, 67.54%
Darren Crowe, Monterey MM, 66.93%

Advanced Medium Open
Julie Yardley, Die Fee, 69.12%
Michelle Nichols, Classical Destiny, 68.95%
Lisa Hopkins, Coole Contender, 68.86%
Kate Lewis, DHI Tarantella, 68.51%
Becky Moody, Madams Miss Maria, 68.42%
Lucy Fallen, Cruise, 68.33%
Nicky Patrick, Supersonic, 68.16%
Victoria Glasgow, Wilumait, 68.07%
Paul Friday, Columbus Himself, 68.07%
Kate Lewis, Tirsa, 68.07%

The Initial allocation of Wild Cards for the PSG and Intermediate I is done to make up approximately 30% of the Nationals places from the Regionals and approximately 70% from Premier Leagues as per Rule 142 b) ii

Prix St Georges
Regional Combinations:
Matt Frost, Romaniero, 70.66%
Richard Barrett, Kocaine, 70.22%
Olivia Oakeley, Donna Summer, 69.47%

Premier League Combinations:
Nicky Patrick, Abbey Tiron, 73.51%
Michel Assouline, Dolchino, 72.50%
Daniel Greenwood, Lennox, 72.41%
Matt Hicks, Excalibur, 72.11%
Lara Griffith, Rubin Al Asad, 71.62%
Alex Hardwick, Donauwein, 71.58%

Intermediate I
Regional Combinations:
Sara Gallop, Summerhouse Zelham, 70.70%
Ryan Todd, Charlex Eskebjerg, 70.22%
Jane Green, W-Valentine, 70.09%
Georgina Swinglehurst, Giddy, 69.52%
Sara-Jane Lanning, Try Me Once, 69.12%

Premier League Combinations:
Matt Hicks, Excalibur, 76.62%
Alex Hardwick, Calvin G, 74.56%
Vicky Thompson-Winfield, Diego Negro, 74.04%
Alex Hardwick, Donauwein, 73.77%
Zoe Sleigh, Fantastic Light, 73.55%
Nicola Buchanan, Zidyllic-S, 73.29%
Hayley Watson-Greaves, WG Rubinsnite, 72.46%

Intermediate II
Matt Frost, Fidelity 11, 70.18%
Ruth Hurst, Latin Lover, 70.00%
Jacky Stolper, Der Schufro, 69.39%
Henry Boswell, Urban, 69.08%
Clare Harwood, Alley Baba, 66.97%
Roger Gregory, Comanche Wodan, 66.80%
Lesley Peyton-Gilbert, Woodcroft Garuda K, 66.62%
Beverley Brightman, De Delux, 66.14%
Henrietta Cheetham, Danenkonig, 65.88%
Hazel Bailey, Ustrona, 65.83%

Grand Prix
Andrew Gould, DW Bellissimo, 71.09%
Lara Griffith, Andretti H, 70.34%
Steph Croxford, Mr President, 69.57%

Unfortunately Mistral Hojris, ridden by Laura Tomlinson (neé Bechtolsheimer), has sustained a slight injury and it has been decided not to risk his health and wellbeing by taking him to the European Championships in Denmark, which begin next week.

Reserve Gareth Hughes with Mrs Jane Brewin’s DV Stenkjers Nadonna will now join Charlotte, Carl and Michael in Herning.

World Class Dressage Programme Manager, Richard Waygood commented; “We are hugely disappointed not to have Alf [Mistral Hojris] out at the Championships. We feel he has been the most amazing servant to the British team and British Dressage and that he owes us nothing and we owe him everything; we wish him a speedy recovery. We welcome Gareth onto the team, for what will be his senior Championship debut.”

Equestrian Performance Director, Will Connell, commented; “Mistral Hojris has been at the forefront of British dressage and for GB. All within Great Britain owe Laura, Mistral Hojris and the Bechtolsheimer’s a huge debt of gratitude and this decision has been made with the welfare of the horse in mind. We welcome Gareth to the team and look forward to the competition in Denmark”.

ECCO FEI European Championship website - click here

Peter Storr and Sarah Pigeley have successfully completed their FEI training and exams to become 3* International dressage judges. Both are current British Dressage list one judges and are now eligible to preside over up to 3* level CDI competitions. They travelled to Belgium to take the exam which involved practical, written and oral examinations as well as a final evaluation.

Peter will continue to juggle competing and training, including the British Pony Team, with his judging commitments. Sarah made her judging career a priority in recent years along-side breeding and ownership so this is a great reward for her hard work.

Congratulations to you both and we look forward to seeing your names on results sheets soon!
 

The thirteenth year of Sheepgate’s Under 25’s Championships got off to a cracking start yesterday with classes including Medium and the FEI Pony Preliminary Test, all the way through to a Prix St Georges, which was won by 22 year old Kent based Georgina Swinglehurst and her ride Giddy.

It was well worth the long trip for 20 year Jade Struthers who travelled two hundred and sixty miles from Scotland to take both first and second place in the Young Rider Preliminary Test.

For first place Jade rode the aptly named Far Afield, a 15 year old gelding owned by Gaynor Hill, and followed this up by taking the second spot on her own gelding Knighthawk.

Maisie Scruton also had a good day, with wins in both the Medium and the Junior Team Test.

For the Medium, Maisie rode her black 14.1hh stallion Rembrandt DDH, with whom she was a member of the British team at the 2011 and 2012 European Pony Championships. A mere 0.61% separated them and the jointly second placed Lucy Pincus (Sheepcote Don Calisto) and Beth Barnett (Zantino II). In the Junior Team Test Maisie took first place on 68.78% with her Junior European Championship partner, the flashy dark bay mare ‘Hot Chocolate.’

Today see’s Pony, Junior and Young Rider Individual Tests as well as the crowd favourite Freestyle to Music, as well as three Medium and one PSG class.

Running throughout the fixture is the Sheepgate Tack & Togs Team Competiton which will see Regional squads from across the Nation compete for the team title in Prelim, Novice, Elementary and Medium plus sections.

Yesterday saw Lucy Pincus and her mother's 11 year old homebred gelding Sheepcote Sandmartin with the highest individual score in the Tack & Togs team class (Medium and above) on a score of 68.97%. 

This year the competition has a total prize fund in excess of £10,000 up for grabs, thanks to the generosity of 2013 sponsors.

You can keep up to date with live results via Sheepgate’s website here.

Plus, don’t forget to like their Facebook page for all the latest updates, and plenty of pictures, from the six day competition.

Results for Monday 19 August

Dengie Horse Feeds Medium 69
1st Maisie Scruton & Rembrandt DDH, 74.85%
2nd (joint) Lucy Pincus (Sheepcote Don Calisto) & Beth Barnett (Zantino II), 74.24%

The Sheepgate Tack and Togs Team Competition
1st Lucy Pincus & Sheepcote Sandmartin , 68.97%
2nd Zara Myers & Steadhall Renaissance, 67.59%
3rd Samantha Gualtieri & Sandros Dancer, 67.24%

KBIS Prix St Georges
1st Georgina Swinglehurst and Giddy, 68.82%
2nd Emma Corbett & Furst Diamantino, 68.75%
3rd Olivia Oakeley & Donna Summer, 68.36%

KBIS FEI Pony Preliminary Test
1st Louise Crutcher & Rosewater I Claudius, 66%
2nd Angus Corrie – Deane & Grayswood Orlando, 64.50%

KBIS FEI Junior Preliminary Test
1st Jessica Blackmore & Don Romeo, 70%

KBIS FEI Young Rider Preliminary Test
1st Jade Struthers & Far Afield, 63.33%
2nd Jade Struthers & Knighthawk, 61.67%
3rd Deborah Christie & Ravallo Tanesia, 56.64%

The BDSC FEI Pony Team Test
1st Lara Kuropatwa & Don Joshi, 70.08%
2nd Amber Barton & Doctor Little, 68.85%
3rd Angus Corrie – Deane & Grayswood Orlando, 67.05%

Wolds Exclusive Bling FEI Junior Team Test
1st Maisie Scruton & Hot Chocolate 43, 68.78%
2nd Emily Hedger & O'Donner, 67.70%
3rd Philippa Corbett & Saphire VH Overwater, 67.03%

Equetech FEI Young Rider Team Test
1st Jessica Knapton & Di Spirito, 71.71%
2nd Eilidh Grant & Comanche Crumble, 70.53%
3rd Emma Jablonski & Cor IV Z, 67.24%

Senots Rosettes Advanced Medium 98
1st Catrina Leckie & Adventure, 70.26%
2nd Victoria Glasow & Wilumait, 69.56%
3rd Kirsty Mellor & Widor, 69.56%

David Hunter, World Class Performance Manager for Para-Equestrian Dressage, has today announced the four riders who will contest the team competition at the ECCO FEI European Championships for Great Britain
.
The selected team contains three riders from last year’s British Paralympic team. The named team is:

• Sophie Christiansen (Grade Ia) riding her own Janeiro 6
• Anne Dunham (Grade Ia) riding the Lady Joseph Trust’s LJT Lucas Normark
• Natasha Baker (Grade II) riding Mr & Mrs P Baker and Mr C Landolt’s Cabral
• Sophie Wells (Grade IV) riding her own Valerius

Grade Ib rider Ricky Balshaw with the Lady Joseph Trust’s LJT Engaards Solitaire will ride as an Individual.

David Hunter commented; “We’ve had a very good start to the competition, I’m very grateful to all involved in getting the team out here; the logistics went like clockwork. The venue in Herning is great, with excellent facilities and it promises to be an exciting competition. We are all looking forward to competing over the coming week, alongside the dressage and showjumping riders.”

 Running order and results - click here.

Photo © Kit Houghton

The running order of Great Britain’s dressage quartet for team competition at the ECCO FEI European Championships has now been confirmed.

The team were drawn second to go and the order of riders will be: Gareth Hughes (DV Stenjkers Nadonna), Michael Eilberg (Half Moon Delphi), Carl Hester (Uthopia) and Charlotte Dujardin (Valegro).

The team competition, which gets underway tomorrow with the first round of the team test, sees both Gareth and Michael take to the arena to make their senior Championship team debuts.

World Class Dressage Programme Manager, Richard Waygood, commented; “This year is very exciting, it’s a great opportunity for Michael and Gareth at their first senior Championships. I’m very pleased with how the horses are going, we’ve been drawn early but we’ve not got to worry about everyone else, just ourselves and we can’t wait to get the competition underway.”

Gareth Hughes, who was called up after the withdrawal of Laura Bechtolsheimer and Mistral Hojris, commented; “The build ups been really good – but very short! It’s been a bit of a whirlwind, as just 24 hours after I heard we were going we had left the UK but we’re here and it’s really great.”

All the British horses, across the three disciplines (dressage, jumping and para-equestrian dressage), passed the trot up out in Herning.

Times for Wednesday 21 August:

Gareth - 13.39
Michael - 16.48

Times for Thursday 22 August

Carl - 07.18
Charlotte - 09.34

Times given are BST.

Follow the results - click here

You can watch on subscription on www.feitv.org

It was a day of doubles yesterday at the British Dressage Sheepgate Under 25’s Championships as Georgina Swinglehurst, Lucy Pincus, Maisie Scruton and Jessica Knapton all won classes two days on the trot.

Georgina came up trumps after winning the KIBIS Inter I class with Carol Parson’s 17 year old mare Giddy when just the day before, the pair had clinched first place in the Prix St Georges class.

Tuesday saw them take the top spot in the Inter I on a score of 67.57%, ahead of Olivia Oakeley (Donna Summer) and Emma Jablonski (Cor IV Z) who finished in second and third place respectively.

Herefordshire based Lucy Pincus also had a second win on the trot, this time in the Sheepgate Tack & Togs Team Competition class with her homebred pony gelding Sheepcote Sandmartin. The pair had won the very same class the day before, but this time managed to better their own score by nearly three percent, finishing on 71.52%.

In the FEI youth tests both Maisie Scruton and Jessica Knapton had second wins; Maisie in the Junior Individual with her fiery mare Hot Chocolate and Jessica in the Young Rider Individual on her Dimaggio gelding Di Spirito. The day before both girls had won their respective sections in the FEI youth Team Tests.

The ever popular freestyle to music classes also took place across the FEI youth sections, with Angus Corrie-Deane, Hariette Williams and Eilidh Grant all coming in for a top spot.

You can keep up to date with live results via Sheepgate’s website here.

Plus, don’t forget to like their Facebook page for all the latest updates, and plenty of pictures, from the six day competition.

Results for Tuesday 20 August

KBIS Inter I
1^st Georgina Swinglehurst & Giddy, 67.57%
2^nd Olivia Oakeley & Donna Summer, 66.92%
3^rd Emma Jablonski & Cor IV Z, 65.39%

Dengie Horse Feeds Advanced Medium
1^st Beth Barnett & Sheepcote Delight, 70%
2^nd Amy Blount & Gkar, 68.24%   
3^rd Georgie Wheeler & Don Camillo II, 68.18%      

The Sheepgate Tack & Togs Team Competition
1^st Lucy Pincus & Sheepcote Sandmartin, 71.52%
2^nd Samantha Gualtieri & Sandros Dancer, 67.09%
3^rd Zara Myers & Steadhall Renaissance, 66.67%

The BDSC FEI Pony Individual Test
1^st Amber Barton & Doctor Little, 67.93%
2^nd Angus Corrie – Deane & Grayswood Orlando, 67.80%
3^rd Lara Kuropatwa & Don Joshi, 66.40%

Wolds Exclusive Bling FEI Junior Individual Test
1^st Maisie Scruton & Hot Chocolate 43, 67.63%
2^nd Jessica Blackmore & Don Romeo, 65.53%
3^rd Philippa Corbett & Saphire VH Overwater, 64.74%

Equetech FEI Young Rider Individual Test
1^st Jessica Knapton & Di Spirito, 70.99%
2^nd Eilidh Grant & Comanche Crumble, 70.33%
3^rd Emma Corbett & Furst Diamantino, 69.61%

Cavallo U25’s Medium Championship
1^stMaisie Scruton & Rembrandt DDH, 71.47%
2^nd Beth Barnett & Zantino II, 70.78%
3^rd Deborah Christie & Lemiroff, 70.29%

FEI Pony Freestyle to Music
1^st Angus Corrie - Deane & Grayswood Orlando, 70.50%
2^nd Alexandra Rowe & Ferrari, 69.50%     

FEI Junior Freestyle to Music
1^st Harriette Williams & Diamondez, 72%
2^nd Emily Bradshaw & Jamaraki, 68%

FEI Young Rider Freestyle to Music
1^st Eilidh Grant & Comanche Crumble, 73%
2^nd Jessica Knapton & Di Spirito, 70%
3^rd Catrina Leckie & Donatello, 68%

Three British riders, plus two British bred horses, competed at the FEI World Breeding Dressage Championships for Young Horses held in Verden, Germany, 6 -11 August.

Together, FEI and WBFSH have organized the World Breeding Championships for Sport Horses (WBCSH) in Dressage, Jumping, and Eventing since 1992, and this year the Dressage Championships attracted a field of 84 talented young horses from 21 countries. Almost 42 percent of the entries were German-born, with 15 competing for the nation of their birth and 20 competing for other countries.

British riders Tom Goode and Susan Pape contested in the 5 year old classes while Emile Faurie rode Patricia Vaughan’s Dimaggio sired Duke Ellington in the 6 year old sections. Duke Ellington is registered under the British Hanoverian Horse Society and was born in the UK in 2007.

Alongside Duke Ellington in the 6 year old classes was the British bred gelding Duke of Britain who was ridden by his co-owner, Germany’s Victoria Michalke (pictured above).

Germany’s Eva Moller and the six year old Sa Coeur stole the show when they became one of an elite group of double champions by adding the Six-Year-Old title to last year’s victory in the Five-Year-Old category.

The Oldenburg Sa Coeur was bred by Gestut Lewitz and originally owned by Hof Kasselmann but sold at last year’s PSI auction for a staggering €2.3m. The gelding’s new Russian owner returned Sa Coeur to Moller so that he would contest the World Championships once again as a six-year-old, and the faith shown in his rider was well-rewarded.

With scores of 9.2 for trot, 9.2 for walk, 8.9 for canter, 8.7 for submissiveness and 9.2 for general impression, the overall mark of 9.04 left the pair (picured right) clear winners.

Lena Stegmann and Scara Boa topped the Five-Year-Old division by earning an overall score of 9.6 including a perfect 10 for submissiveness.

Lena has been riding the German bred mare for less than a year, and the 30-year-old German rider achieved 9.5 for trot, 9.0 for canter, 9.7 for walk, a full 10 for submissiveness along with 9.8 for general impression. She admitted to being suprised by her wonderful result - “we were already happy when it became evident that we qualified for the Championships - I would never have imagined to win!” she said.

British results as follows (including results for Duke of Britain)

5 Year Old Classes
Tom Goode
Horse: Dior
Year of birth: 2008
Sex: Stallion
Breeding: Gribaldi/Hann
Country of birth: NED
Owner: S. Geddes

Class 1. 24th – 7.44
Class 2. 14th – 7.12

Susan Pape
Horse: Quassar du Charry
Year of birth: 2008
Sex: Stallion
Breeding: Quaterback/Hann
Country of birth: GER
Owner: Dr H Hereth

Class 1. 25th – 7.43
Class 2. 11th – 7.34

6 Year Old Classes
Emile Faurie
Horse: Duke Ellington
Year of birth: 2007
Sex: Gelding
Breeding: Dimaggio/BHHS
Country of birth: UK
Owner: P. Vaughan

Class 4. 33rd – 6.66
Class 5. 16th – 6.90

Victoria Michalke
Horse: Duke of Britain
Year of birth: 2007
Sex: Gelding
Breeding: Dimaggio/BHHS
Country of birth: UK
Owners: V. Michalke & KG Hoff Kasselmann

Class 4. 10th – 8.22
Class 6. 4th – 8.60

Images @ FEI 2013
 

Grade IV rider Sophie Wells got the British Para Team off to a solid start with a stunning mark of 74.31% to win with nearly 4% advantage at the ECCO FEI European Championships in Herning, Denmark. Riding her own powerful Flemmingh-sired Valerius, she produced a relaxed but powerful test with some moments of bold riding; despite Sophie saying he felt ‘tired’ from the journey to Denmark from her base in Nottinghamshire.

 

It was a day of mixed fortunes for Britain’s two debutantes in the ECCO FEI European Dressage Championships in Herning, Denmark.  First to go for us and second of the competition was Gareth Hughes with Jane Brewin’s DV Stenjkers Nadonna (pictured right) for their first appearance in British team colours.  The chestnut mare by Donnerschlag can be fiery but her recent Nations Cup team appearances at Rotterdam and Hickstead with strong scores clearly showed that she was the one to step into the gap left after the withdrawal of Laura Tomlinson and Mistral Hojris.

‘Donna’ warmed up well but on entering the imposing MCH stadium, the atmosphere and sense of occasion got to her. Gareth used all his experience to ride as sympathetically as possible but the disappointment was clear even before his final mark of 60.866% was announced.

Gareth commented; “That was the worst test she’s done for three years.  We’ve had a great year, she’s just gone better and better and we’ve had two amazing Nations Cup performances so hopes were high but the tension just got to her.  I couldn’t get any relaxation from her which ruins the transitions and she wouldn’t walk, when it’s like that, there’s little you can do.  At least my score is bad enough that people will realise something went wrong.  She’s a beautiful mare and she did try her hardest but it all got the better of her today.  It was a catastrophe but I’ll put it down to experience – welcome to the GB Squad!”

The score then put added pressure on our second rider to keep Britain amongst the leaders.  With Jon and Julie Deverill’s Half Moon Delphi, Michael Eilberg (below) was certainly thrown in at the deep end today and answered every question and coped brilliantly with the mammoth task.   A score of 72.264% put the combination in the mix and in turn Britain’s team hopes back on track.  There was some disagreement amongst the judges when three had ‘Maggie’ in first place and one in tenth after their ride, some ten percent difference in the scores, much to the surprise of the crowd. 

A delighted Michael said; “I arrived hoping to match my personal best of 73% (at Hartpury CDI3* in July this year) which I suppose is a big ask at your first Championship so I’m happy with my score.  I went in not knowing how hard to push after Gareth’s test with the risk that my mare could boil over too.  I had to think of the team as it was a big atmosphere in there so rode conservatively to start and as our confidence grew, she began to enjoy it – we both did.  Afterwards, dad didn’t talk to me in German so I knew instantly it wasn’t too bad!  I’m chuffed to bits with how she coped and we put down a good marker for the team; I really love that mare and I can be braver with her next time.  Now Carl and Charlotte have got to fly!”

The duo end day one in fourth place individually with Germany in the ascendancy as veteran maestro Isabel Werth leads on 75.213% with Don Johnson FRH  and Fabienne Lutkemeir and D’Agostino 5 second on 73.237%.  Andreas Helgstrand flew the home flag for Denmark with 72.72% aboard Akeem Foldager for third spot.  After two riders, the leaders in the team competition are Germany with hosts Denmark in second and The Netherlands in third.

Tomorrow is the all-important day and Carl Hester goes early at 07.18 with Uthopia which will prove pivotal for Britain’s medal chances.  All eyes will then be on double Olympic gold medallists Charlotte Dujardin and Carl Hester and Roly Luard’s Valegro at 09.34 (all times are BST).

Pictures © www.kevinsparrow.co.uk

An unexpected win for a UK Junior rider made up for a somewhat disappointing experience abroad for Senior Brits at Kapellen CDI3*, 8 – 11 August.

17 year old Jessica Gale won the Individual Junior test on a score of 67.658% and came third in the Junior team test behind two European youth riders with her ten year old gelding Rebellski (pictured here with Jess and her dad at Kapellen), who she has produced from Preliminary to Inter II level herself since early 2010.

Jess’s mum Lynn said ‘It was all a bit of a whirl wind. Originally we were taking Jess’s main ride, Umbro S, but he needed treatment for a sore shoulder at the last minute and we didn’t want to take any chances.

‘We decided not to waste the opportunity and to see if we could change the entry and take Rebel instead, so at six o clock Karen in the BD office was organising the change of horse and by six the next morning we were on our way to Kapellen. This win has surpassed all of our wildest dreams.’

Jess travelled to the show with her trainer Matt Hicks who was to compete at the small tour classes on his ride Talent III, alongside Lesley Peyton-Gilbert with Woodcroft Garuda K and Kay Maxted on Privaldi, who was there for the big tour.

But the senior riders accompanying Jess were not to have such a great time.

Matt and Talent made 21^st out of a class of 35 in the PSG which would normally have been enough to secure them a place for the Inter 1 Freestyle, but a last minute change of format left them without a ticket - despite two lower placed combinations from the qualifying PSG having made it through to the Inter I.

Lesley Peyton-Gilbert and her ride Woodcroft Garuda K didn’t even make it to the PSG after the 12 year old chestnut stallion developed an allergic cough after being on site for 24 hours. Lesley made the difficult decision to withdraw, despite a long journey to the venue, as Garuda ‘was uncomfortable, and just not happy.’

In the big tour classes, Kay Maxted and her 16 year old gelding Privaldi made it through to the Grand Prix Special to finish eighth on 63.083%.

All four combinations are now home and Jess is busy looking to a future with her eyes firmly set on the Grand Prix circuit.

For her the win must have been somewhat bittersweet, as since returning Rebel has been sold and is due to make his way to a new life in the next couple of days.

‘He’s going to be a schoolmaster with a lovely family, said Lynn ‘it was a difficult decision but Jess had to look to the future. She only has another year left in Juniors and so she will have to look for a young horse to train all the way to Grand Prix. It wasn’t easy, they’ve made it to where they are now together, but it was the right decision, and he’s going to a lovely home where he will make a lot of people very happy.’

Britain’s Grade Ia riders continued the standard set by yesterday’s combinations (in the grade Ib and IV classes) as they took the top two spots in the Team test at the ECCO FEI European Championships in Herning, Denmark. Sophie Christiansen got the Brits off to a great start posting a massive 76.391% to take the win ahead of her teammate Anne Dunham, who finished a close second on a superb score of 75.435%.

Sophie produced a fluid test aboard her London 2012 Paralympic Games partner Janeiro 6, scoring particularly highly in her medium walk and transitions. She commented after her test; “The test felt good, not quite as good as my London standard as I played it a little bit safe but I’m really pleased with how he did and I felt that I rode the best I could on the day.

“I love that we’re competing here with dressage and jumping; there’s a lot more of an atmosphere and the camaraderie with the support from the other teams is great. I bought Rio from the Eilberg’s two years ago, so it really shows how good their training is – with a horse in the dressage and para-equestrian dressage teams”.

Anne with the Lady Joseph Trust’s LJT Lucas Normark, who made his Championship debut today on home soil (Anne’s horse is Danish born), was delighted with her performance commenting; “I had a really good time out there and he enjoyed being there and was very attentive throughout his test. The arena rode well and there was a very good buzz in the air. Once I’m in there all I think about is me and the horse but there was so much support it was fantastic.

“The whole show has a really good atmosphere and I’m enjoying the size of the event, I think he’s responding really well to it and I’m looking forward to the next few days”.

Britain’s final team rider, Natasha Baker, had a tough time in the Grade II competition with her and Christian Landolt’s Cabral. The JYSK Arena had become quite ‘buzzy’; the crowds were assembling for the evening’s pivotal team showjumping final competition and the Arena is situated in the bustling tradestand area.  This made preparing for the test tricky and some horses reacted strongly, including Dutch and Danish rides and Natasha’s ‘JP’.

They started the test well but then the atmosphere got the better of JP (Cabral) and his normal cool manner abandoned him.  Natasha, in her first ever Team ride, managed to get him back after the walk but then movement in the crowd set him off again.  The final score of 69.765% was a respectable one and enough for second spot.

A disappointed Natasha commented; “The Dutch horse really set ‘JP’ off and put him on edge.  I managed to get him back in the walk and he felt good – he took a breath and relaxed.  But then people got up and walked out of the stands which set him off again which I’m a bit angry about; yesterday there were stewards controlling it but not today.  All the hard work you put in is undone.  I think in the main stadium, he’d have coped easily but our stadium is very spooky and there’s a walkway along behind the judges boxes. It’s amazing to be included here (with the other disciplines) but safety has to be top of the list!”

All three riders have a rest day before competing in their respective Individual Championship tests on Saturday; after which the Individual Championship and Team medals will be decided.

Tomorrow the Grade IV (Sophie Wells) and Ib (Ricky Balshaw) riders return to the arena to contest for their first Individual medals.  For their times and results plus today's full scores in each grade - click here.

Photo © Kit Houghton

It was an exciting end to the dressage team competition at the ECCO FEI European Championships in Herning, Denmark when four of the sport’s heavyweights battled it out for the team medals.  After the third rider for each nation had gone, there was a change in the standings and Britain moved up the leader board into medal contention following an expert performance by Carl Hester with his and Sasha Stewart’s Uthopia to score 75.334%. With a medal in our grasp, Charlotte Dujardin entered into the MCH Arena on the indefatigable Valegro brimming with confidence.  The crowd were captivated for seven minutes of harmonious genius which the judges rewarded with 85.942%, a new world record score for grand prix.

The showground was then buzzing with talk of who would win which medal.  The final Danish rider, Nathalie zu Sayn-Wittgenstein couldn’t quite match Valegro with her final Championship ride on Digby and their 76.003% ensured Britain had a medal.  It was then down to the final Dutch and German riders to battle it out with Britain breathing down their necks.  Adelinde Cornelissen and Jerich Parzival showed their class but some time out of the ring told and they scored 80.851% which was enough to relegate Britain.  Helen Langehanenberg and Damon Hill NRW knew they needed a big score to ensure gold and they answered with a beautiful flowing test for 84.377% to give gold to Germany, silver to the Netherlands and a bronze for Great Britain.

It hasn’t been an ideal Championship build-up for the Metall-sired stallion Uthopia as Carl only took the ride back six weeks ago having let Charlotte campaign him for much of the summer.  A single competitive run at Hickstead CDIO in early August and two weeks of fine tuning were their only preparation but Carl knows him well having produced him from just four years old.  ‘Uti’ is renowned for his exuberant extended trot and the test features it twice early on.  Most judges awarded nines; there was even a ten from one, which got them off to a great start.  A few piaffe issues followed and then an error in the two time canter changes proved costly.

Carl commented; “He was a bit clever in there.  As a stallion he knows and he just switched off on me in the piaffe and normally his twos are a highlight but not today.  His pirouettes felt brilliant and they are double marks so I’m pleased with that.  I’ve had six weeks with him and we’ve done one show together; he’s not a horse you ‘sort out’ and he never feels in the warm up how he feels in the test.  I rode confidently and did the best I could with the amount of time I had.”

Charlotte’s performance with Carl Hester and Roly Luard’s Valegro left the crowd spellbound; some claimed it was the best grand prix performance they’d ever witnessed.  Some 17 perfect 10s were dished out, including two for Charlotte’s riding.  It was hard to pick out a mistake, but there was one moment up the final centre line when there was a slight waiver in the passage which we later found out was an overwhelming emotional wave felt by Charlotte when the reality of a truly special performance began to hit.

“When I was getting on, Carl said ‘you’d better ride for everything’ and so I did.  Hickstead did me the world of good; the mistakes gave me just the wake-up call I needed.  The last two weeks have been hell as Carl has done nothing but shout at me which has been brilliant.  I was in my comfort zone which is not good enough; I have to push for better marks.  I felt (after Hickstead) that I couldn’t do it anymore, I had no confidence but Carl got us back.  Plus he’s been fantastic since he arrived and I had a great ride yesterday which gave me the confidence to go for it today,” said Charlotte.

She continued; “He’s such an amazing horse, it’s only our third show together this year and he can still go and produce that.  It was an emotional performance; I started crying half way down the final centre line which almost cost me as I nearly stopped!  He tries his hardest and always wants to do his best – I’m so lucky to ride him.”

It was a great competition for the sport with the medals being separated by just over a single percent.  Britain won a medal with two debutantes in the team and a great deal of pressure as reigning European and Olympic champions, plus the unsettling experience of Laura Tomlinson and Mistral Hojris, stalwarts of the team, withdrawing just 24 hours before the horses set off for Denmark. 

Day one was a day of mixed emotions, with Gareth Hughes and Jane Brewin’s DV Stenkjers Nadonna having a difficult time, followed by a great debut by Michael Eilberg with Jon and Julie Deverill’s Half Moon Delphi. The achievement is testament to the strength and quality of riders and horses we have in Britain now.

British team Chef de Mission, Will Connell, summed the competition up; “We are absolutely thrilled with how the team as a whole have performed. Gareth did a fabulous job to contain a hot horse; Michael has demonstrated yet again that he’s cool under pressure at the very highest levels of the sport. Carl who’s only competed once this year on Uthopia produced a masterclass throughout his test, whilst Charlotte has again raised the bar in dressage. We are very aware that there are discussions online regarding the marking of Michael Eilberg’s test; we fully accept the view of all the judges and dressage is a judged sport. Our focus now is the Grand Prix Special and Freestyle tests. We are extremely appreciative of the time and dedication that top level dressage judges give to the sport.”

Gold – Germany 234.651%
Silver – Netherlands 233.967%
Bronze – Great Britain 233.540%

Tomorrow, Friday 23 August, will be the Grand Prix Special where the first individual medals will be decided.  Carl, Charlotte and Michael have all qualified by finishing in the top 30.  Times are:  Michael Eilberg/Half Moon Delphi 10.36, Carl Hester/Uthopia 12.03 and Charlotte Dujardin/Valegro 12.54 (all times given BST).

Photos © www.kevinsparrow.co.uk

Last chance to apply for the 2013 – 2015 BEF England Excel Talent Programme

Applications will soon close for the British Equestrian Federation’s England Excel Talent Programme. The Programme has been developed to extend the rider talent pathway below the UK Sport funded World Class Programme, to identify and nurture up and coming riders who demonstrate the potential to go on and win medals in the future.

Young riders with ambitions to reach the top as dressage or para-equestrian dressage rider should complete and submit their applications before the closing date of August 31st. Details of the application process can be found on the BEF website – www.bef.co.uk

The Excel Talent Programme, which has been set up via funding from Sport England, offers a high level of support and guidance for up and coming riders on a tailored pathway to support them in their quest for future sporting success. The Programme provides riders with the opportunity to access top equestrian specialists including coaches, physiotherapists, vets and nutritionists via a series of high quality rider performance camps.

Applications close on August 31st and riders should be between 16 and 24 years old on first application.

Details can be found at www.bef.co.uk.

Applications are being accepted via post and electronically via email.
 

The North West Region reigned victorious at this year’s BYRDS Home International competition when they took both the Champion and Reserve Champion titles over two days competition at The College at Keysoe, Bedfordshire, 30 – 31 July.

Heidi Fellows, Bridget Tate, Ellie Jolleys and Sarah Brookes from Team Rumba came in on top ahead of second placed Team Samba; Will Blackshaw, Maddie Whelan, Holly Lucas & Amy Blount.

Central Team Versace were placed third.

Over the two day competition teams of four from across the UK regions gathered to battle it out for the title.

Rules stated that each team had to put forward at least one rider from each section; Pony, Junior and Young Rider, and that each team must compete in at least one Novice, one Elementary and one Medium class.

Riders also competed as individuals, their scores being combined to give a team result, with the lowest score out of the four team members being dropped.

BYRDS rep for the North West, Moira Lafferty, said ‘The North West squad were amazing over the two days competition. They all worked together, and the individual teams really supported one another.

The Home International is the flagship event of the BYRDS calendar and so to come home with both Champion and Reserve Champion titles is just amazing for our young people. The atmosphere was truly fabulous, and made even more special by the opening and closing ceremonies, with competitors riding underneath the England flag.”

BYRDS is the British Young Riders Dressage scheme, and 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 learn more about the sport.

To find out more visit http://www.britishdressage.co.uk/under_25s

Team results as follows:

1st place – Team Rumba, North West Region
Heidi Fellows & Tillian Van Broederlust
Bridget Tate & Cilgeraint Donny's Boy
Ellie Jolleys & DPUK Boo2u2
Sarah Brookes & Diamond Ascher

2nd place –Team Samba, North West Region
Will Blackshaw & An Absolute Snip
Maddie Whelan & Mighty Max II
Holly Lucas & Abby
Amy Blount & Gkar

3rd place – Team Versace, Central Region
Emma Wood & Achilles
Holly Browne & Siguard
Vicky Povey & Machno Rembrant
Shannon Rule & Disco Diamond

Individual results as follows:

Novice Pony
1st Gemma Owen & Daphne II, Wales
2nd Alice Beauchamp & Rayid Heartbreaker, Central
3rd Bridget Tate Cilgeraint & Donny's Boy, North West

Novice Junior
1st Ellie Jolleys & DPUK Boo2u2, North West
2nd Hannah Grummett & Quivantos, North West
3rd Holly Lucas & Abby, North West

Novice Young Rider
1st Daisy Powell & C No Limit, Northern
2nd Holly Browne & Siguard, Central
3rd Megan Page & Atlants II, Eastern

Elementary Pony
1st Imogen Ablett & Dance of Joy, Eastern
2nd Izzy Palmer & Gregonne Coco Chanel, Northern
3rd Megan Roberts & Siglan Edward, Wales

Elementary Junior
1st Will Blackshaw & An Absolute Snip, North West
2nd Imogen Elliott & Fools Gold, Southern
3rd Emma Wood & Achilles, Central

Elementary Young Rider
1st Domencia Dryer & Captain Crunchie, Central
2nd Katie Knight & Astero, Wales
3rd Jess Viney & Sheepcote Well to Do, North West

Medium Pony
1st Angus Corrie-Dean & Grayswood Orlando, South West
2nd Maddie Whelan & Mighty Max II, North West
3rd Megan Roberts & Machno Countryman, Wales

Medium Junior
1st Alex Chick & SOS Montevideo, Northern
2nd Emily Hedger & O'Donner, Northern
3rd Alice Wotton & Just Stanley, Eastern

Medium Young Rider
1st Sarah Brookes & Diamond Ascher, North West
2nd Shannon Rule & Disco Diamond, Central
3rd Zara Myers & Steadhall Rennaisance, North West

Today Charlotte Dujardin became Britain’s first ever European Championship gold medallist when she won the the Grand Prix Special today at the ECCO FEI European Championships in Herning, Denmark. An unprecedented battle for gold amazingly featured four of the top riders going wrong in their tests, including the three medallists.

Charlotte with Carl Hester and Roly Luard’s Valegro were drawn after their main rivals, Germany’s Helen Langehanenberg and the stallion Damon Hill NRW who threw down the gauntlet score of 84.33%. Her test was soft, fluent and a joy to watch and was almost foot perfect until her final extended trot when she expertly guided the horse round the corner to set sail across the diagonal only for the bell to ring as it should have been down the long side.  The German glanced skyward in desperation as she knew it was a costly error; two marks deducted from each of the seven judges.

Charlotte entered the MCH Arena to a buzzy atmosphere as the crowd was clearly unsettled from what they had just seen but she and the Negro-sired gelding were oblivious and rode a near perfect centreline.  The scoreboard was up in the high 80’s up until three quarters through the test, when Charlotte didn’t perform the correct movement (which asks for right canter half pass but the rider started two time changes).  The gasp from the crowd told Charlotte almost before the judge rang the bell that she’d gone wrong.   She quickly corrected the mistake but the pressure was piled on as any further mistakes and it would be elimination.  However she rode with amazing composure and finished with gusto to record 85.699% to take the lead and a new European Championship record.

The remaining threat came from the Dutch in the form of Charlotte’s London 2012 rivals Adelinde Cornelissen and the maestro Edward Gal.  Staggeringly, Adelinde made exactly the same mistake as Charlotte and the crowd were again stunned but a final score of 81.548% moved her into the bronze medal position.  Edward Gal is a master of pulling amazing performances off when it matters most and he rode a hot Glock’s Undercover with extreme finesse but the horse lacked the softness and harmony of the highest scorers and 79.479% left them fourth which meant Charlotte was European Champion.

Charlotte commented; “I’m just delighted. I can’t moan about him today – he puts up with me riding like a muppet!  It was a case of pat the horse, slap the rider! Warming up outside I was really struggling with my ones so after I’d gone wrong, I was panicking that I’d fluff those and that would be it but I also knew I had to kick on for gold.  In the end, my line of ones were a delight as well as his passage, and I was happy with piaffe.”

Earlier in the day, British team debutante Michael Eilberg won further praise for his riding ability aboard Jon and Julie Deverill’s British bred Half Moon Delphi, as the combination scored well for their passage and canter pirouettes.  There was a slight miscommunication in the one-time changes when Michael relaxed after feeling they were going so well which ‘Maggie’ took to mean the movement was finished. Their score of 72.857% looked enough to secure a place in Sunday’s Freestyle but only time would tell and in the end 14^th place ensured their spot.

Michael said afterwards; “I’m disappointed with my mistake in the ones but her pirouettes and extended trot were super.  I’ve been so pleased with her way of going over the two tests; not spooky or tense and with a great attitude to work so I couldn’t be more happy with her.  In some ways, she’s still raw and there’s lots more to come but I think the horse is going to get better and better, I really do."

The second British rider to go was Carl Hester with his and Sasha Stewart’s pocket rocket, Uthopia.  Carl had already declared that today he was going to through caution into the wind and ride for everything; and he didn’t disappoint. The Grand Prix Special test is ideally suited to the horse, with lots of shortening and lengthening including his trademark extended trot.  The duo looked to enjoy every moment of their test and in perfect harmony together.  There was one worrying moment in the first piaffe when it looked like the previous day’s issues would return, but the remaining two were much better. Their mark was 78.497% which ensured qualification for Sunday’s freestyle and sixth place overall.

“He felt amazing today – back to his old self.  His extensions were like riding on Concorde.  I came here to ride for the team and wanted a medal, any medal which we achieved so today is a bonus.  Plus, today you can ride for yourself so you can afford to take a few more risks and it paid off,” said a delighted Carl before heading off to prepare Charlotte for her test.

Charlotte’s gold combines with the team gold won by the Showjumping quartet, the Bronze by the dressage team and individual gold and silver from the Grade IV and Grade Ib para-equestrian dressage riders Sophie Wells and Ricky Balshaw, to bring our tally to an impressive five. 

Michael, Carl and Charlotte will all be in action in Sunday’s Freestyle when the final medals of this year’s ECCO FEI European Championships will be decided in front of a predicted capacity crowd.

The British equestrian teams are supported at their respective Championships by the UK Sport Lottery funded World Class Programme. 

Riding ‘Sid’, a horse he’s had since the start of December, Ricky produced a well-executed test to finish on a superb score of 73.586%, just behind the Paralympic Freestyle Grade Ib champion, Pepo Puch from Austria; with Denmark’s Stinna Kaastrup taking the bronze.

Ricky commented on the result; “He couldn’t have done any more today. It’s the first major Championships I’ve competed at since I broke my back in 2011 and I’m absolutely buzzing, I really want to get straight back in and do my freestyle now!

“Sid is gorgeous and absolutely fantastic and I’m so lucky that the Lady Joseph Trust bought him for me to ride. I’m just really, really pleased and I just couldn’t have asked for any more.”

The second session of the day brought even more delight for the British contingent as Sophie Wells produced a stunning performance to take the Gold medal on a score of 75.643%, nearly 4% ahead of The Netherlands’ Frank Hosmar, whilst the host nation’s Line Kongensgaard finished third.

Sophie commented after her test; “I’m so happy with that performance, he was so on form and was really with me and listened all the way. I exposed him as much as possible to the audience in the warm-up to get him used to the environment and he was such a good boy, when I asked for more, it was there. To go into the Championships as the current reigning European Champion does bring with it some pressure but I had absolute confidence in him; I’m just so pleased.  

“London didn’t go my way and I’ve been hungry for this so I’m very happy. The way my horse went today I couldn’t have asked any more of him so whatever the result I was going to be pleased, but obviously I’m ecstatic about that."

The British equestrian teams are supported at their respective Championships by the UK Sport Lottery funded World Class Programme. 

Tomorrow sees the second day of the Individual Championship tests, with Grades Ia, II and III competing; it also brings the confirmation of the team medals. All eyes will be on British riders Sophie Christiansen and Anne Dunham who compete at 13.03 and 14.29 respectively in the Grade Ia class; whilst at 15.47 Natasha Baker, GB’s final team rider, enters the arena.

It was a good day at the office for Britain’s Para-Equestrian Dressage team as they took gold at the ECCO FEI European Championships in Herning, Denmark and in doing so retain their unbeaten status at championship level since 1996.  Individually, there were European individual titles for Natasha Baker in the Grade II and Sophie Christiansen in the Grade Ia with Anne Dunham taking silver.

The Grade Ia’s got the afternoon’s para contests underway and Britain’s Paralympic heroine Sophie Christiansen had an early draw.  With her own Janeiro 6 she rode a purposeful and accurate test to score 76.609%, throwing down the gauntlet for the other riders to try and better. Italy’s Sara Morganti produced a polished test and the nerves began to tingle but when the scoreboard flashed up 74.478%, Sophie knew she was safe. 

It was then down to her compatriot and veteran of the team, Anne Dunham and the Lady Joseph Trust’s LJT Lucas Normark, both brimming with confidence following their ride on Thursday.  The eye-catching spotted Knapstrupper stallion is settling to his job in Grade Ia and gets better and better.  Today, that showed and his score of 75.174% wasn’t enough to take gold but the margin between friendly rivals Anne and Sophie is narrowing.  So Sophie added a further gold to her burgeoning collection, a silver for Anne and a first ever Para Championship medal for Italy.  Plus of course, it was two great scores to add to the British team tally to bring gold a step closer.

After her test Sophie remarked;   “I’m definitely more pleased with that today.  On Thursday when I rode round the arena before I went in, I realised they were some of the judges from London who knew what I was capable of  and that un-nerved me.  Today, I stayed relaxed and let Rio do his thing and I’m really happy. “

When asked about her early draw, she replied; “I don’t mind where I’m drawn.  I can only just go and ride the best test I can do; it’s an uncontrollable so I don’t worry about it but the wait is still agony when you go early!”

 A clearly delighted Anne said; “He was much softer, more engaged and he stayed so calm; I’m just really pleased with him today.  He was fantastic and it felt like the best test he’s done with me; it may not have been our personal best but it he was accurate and off the leg.  My favourite part is to come, the music tomorrow!”

Grade II is always a competitive affair and today was a fantastic tussle between three heavyweights.   The first potential medal winner was German’s Britta Napel and Aquilina 3 and they set the benchmark of 71.286%.  After a disappointing performance on Thursday when Natasha Baker’s usually reliable Cabral, owned by herself and Christian Landolt, was unsettled by the crowd, a change of warm up tactics and new plan of attack was implemented.   This clearly paid dividends as a ‘safe’ test was rewarded with 72.114% and the lead.  There was then a wait until Angelika Trabert and her new ride Ariva Avanti, who was Natasha’s main threat, went into the arena.  When the score came through, two judges did indeed have Angelika as the winner but an overall percentage of 71.571 gave Natasha the gold.

“I played safe today.  I wanted to get through and make it look like it should!  It was important he was a good boy and enjoyed it after Thursday.  I didn’t over ask for anything as I didn’t want him to blow he responded brilliantly.  I can ask for more tomorrow and the trust is there.  I set my own personal goals for the test and I achieved them all,” said a relieved Natasha.

With all the tests complete over the five grades and four days of competition, the numbers were crunched and the British Team of Sophie Wells (Grade IV), Sophie Christiansen (Grade Ia), Natasha Baker (Grade II) and Anne Dunham (Grade Ia) came out as victors once again.  A team total of 453.585 gave a comfortable margin of victory over silver medallists Germany of over 24% with hosts Denmark snatching bronze from a up-and-coming Italian quartet.

Chef d’Equipe David Hunter commented; “We’ve had a very good competition to date.  The dedication and expertise of our riders, horses and support staff has been outstanding and I couldn’t ask for more.  I’m humbled and proud to lead such a superb group.  The atmosphere in the camp is extremely buoyant but tomorrow is another day.  We’re all pulling in the right direction and hopefully the scores in tomorrow’s freestyles will too.  As ever, I’m extremely grateful to UK Sport Lottery funding for their invaluable support of the squad.”

The British equestrian teams are supported at their respective Championships by the UK Sport Lottery funded World Class Programme. 

Britain’s para-equestrian dressage riders rounded off their trip to the ECCO FEI European Championships with a top drawer performance to claim five medals – three gold and two silver. Today was ‘dancing’ day when the riders perform their own floorplan to music and it was great to see a supportive crowd come to watch.

Our first rider was early in the day, when the showground was just waking, which suited Grade II combination Natasha Baker and Cabral having been unsettled by a buzzing arena on Thursday. Just second to go, Natasha had decided to stay with her music score which she used in London, as it’s a popular choice for the judges and spectators. A brave entry in walk, a square halt and straight into canter left the judges in now doubt of her determination for that gold. A final score of 77.65% placed them higher than rival Angelika Trabert of Germany (who had gone in first). It was then a painful wait to see if Natasha could stay on top. Her second German challenger, Britta Napel, looked in fine fettle with her long-standing partner Aquilina 3 but they fell short with 73.250% and a third European Championship gold was Natasha’s.

On realising her victory, Natasha commented; “I can’t believe it I really can’t. I thought on Thursday that I’d be stone last. I really did not expect it at all. He’s just got better each day but he’s still not got as good as I know he can be which is a little bit frustrating for me. He’s just an amazing horse and I know that there’s so much in there but I haven’t been able to show it off but hopefully I’ll get the opportunity next year in WEG (World Equestrian Games) to do that. It’s been a happy end to a very tricky week!”

After her test, she said; “He was more motivated in there today and I had more control. He was still a little on his toes but it was positive energy! He was listening but it still wasn’t my best but it was the best test of the three days. I’m always more relaxed on freestyle day; I love my music and so does he. I have to say a huge thanks to Michele (Assouline, the British para team trainer) as I couldn’t have got through the week without him. JP is such a special horse; he’ll have a week off when we get home and then we’re competing at the Nationals before a longer holiday. I’ve got two new horses waiting for me at home which is exciting.”

The Grade Ib’s then stepped into the limelight and Ricky Balshaw was determined to go home with another medal around his neck. The favourite, Pepo Puch of Austria, had an early draw and scored 79.2% so Ricky knew exactly what he needed to do. Riding The Lady Joseph Trust’s LJT Enggaard’s Solitaire, Ricky attacked his test from the onset, riding every movement for every mark possible. A score of 76.8% wasn’t enough to secure gold but one judge did award them 80% which bodes well for the future. Denmark’s Stinna Tange Kaastrup continued her good run with a third bronze with new ride Steffi Graf.

A happy but slightly disappointed Ricky commented; “He felt great today. He had more trot today than previously so I got ahead of my music but threw in a circle or else I’d have ended up in the judge’s box at C! It’s a personal best score so I’m over the moon with that and the fact that one of the five judges had me to win is awesome; I’ll take that! To come here and beat Pepo (Puch) was always a big ask but give it another year, and who knows?”

It’s been a great battle between compatriots Sophie Christiansen and Anne Dunham all week and both are music maestros when it comes to freestyle day, so it was going to be close. Sophie made a conscious decision to put together new music as she wanted to keep her London masterpiece sacred; “I had it specially done for London and I want to preserve that memory, it would be wrong to use it again,” she explained. So it was an upbeat piece for her own Janeiro 6, or Rio to his friends, to suit his clockwork walk. Sophie rode with her normal pinpoint accuracy which she puts down to her ‘mathematical brain’ and a final score of 78.1%, which included three 80%+ artistic scores, flashed up on the board. It was then down to team stalwart Anne, who has competed in 11 out of 13 British teams since the Athens Paralympics in 1996, to see what she could do with spotted LJT Lucas Normark, owned by The Lady Joseph Trust. ‘Lucas’ has really impressed this Championship and the Genesis medley that Anne had put together suited him perfectly. It was nip and tuck but Anne’s final score was 77.35%, just a fraction behind Sophie.

Sophie commented; “I would have liked to have broken 80! My trainer said it was the best test I’ve rode to date so I’m really pleased. I love being with the other disciplines, it’s created a bit of an atmosphere; I thought it was really good for Rio – as a competitor I always need to challenge myself. It was a bigger crowd than normal here at these Championships which was great, and I’ve managed to watch some of the dressage and jumping, which has been great.

“It was a great ride. I thought Anne might just do it, she rode a lovely test. I did the best I could – I’ve got a great horse and I was so glad I could show him off here to the crowd”.

Anne said; “I was really pleased with him, he was just fantastic. I was really happy with my test; he just gets better every time we come out. The team morale is really good, all very happy and everyone’s very supportive of each other, which extends across the nations, not just within the British camp”.

The Grade IV freestyle proved the showdown of the day with some expert riding and beautifully presented tests. Dutch rider Frank Hosmar set the bar with a 76.9% and it was for the others to follow. No one came close until Sophie Wells stepped up with her towering gelding, Valerius. The duo are in great form having won at Inter I level a few weeks ago and they’ve wowed everyone this week. Today the petite rider, having been inspired by her team-mates’ performances throughout the morning, threw caution into the wind and went for it, making use of Valerius’ extravagant paces and willing nature. All around knew it was a special performance but not many expected the 80.25% that flashed up on the board. Gold was Sophie’s.

She commented afterwards; “It feels amazing – I’m just so proud of him. It was a big event but I was able to take risks today which paid off and I could go for the bigger marks. I’m so proud of my boy”.

After five fantastic days of competition where, for the first time, para-equestrian dressage featured alongside their able-bodied equivalents and showjumping to much praise from competitors, officials and spectators, Britain tops the medal table with 11 medals, seven gold and four silver.

Chef d’Equipe David Hunter summed the successful week up in saying; “I couldn’t have asked for better results, they were a dream. The new horse and rider combinations have excelled and the established combinations were outstanding. I’m hugely grateful to everyone who puts in so much effort – riders, grooms, the support team and particularly the owners.”

The British equestrian teams are supported at their respective Championships by the UK Sport Lottery funded World Class Programme.