Great Britain’s up-and-coming para riders travelled to Solihull Riding Club in the West Midlands last weekend for the BD Festival of Para Dressage on Sunday 28 August 2016.
This was the second-ever running of this fabulous, far-reaching festival. Providing a competitive platform to put riders to the test, yet an atmosphere which can only be described as friendly and welcoming, the event provides a unique opportunity for those setting out on their para dressage career. An exciting development this year was the introduction of the Bronze Intro Championship for those who have not competed at a BD Para Equestrian Championships during the past five years. Welcoming rookies to the sport and open to riders from RDA groups too, it was an opportunity for these riders to get out there, be seen, and broaden their competitive horizons.
Para Equestrian Bronze Intro Championships
Gloucestershire-based Grade Ia rider Diane Green was the highest scorer of the Bronze championship. Diane (47) rode Gunstone’s Pride, her nine-year-old British-bred daughter of Gunstone Iwondo D, to win the Grade Ia Bronze Championship with an outstanding 72.03%.
The lovely mare known as ‘Winnie’ to her friends is also referred to as ‘The Unicorn’ by Diane as she holds her in such high esteem. However, there was nothing mythical about their good form. The pair relished the challenge of riding two further tests, achieving a creditable 66.30% in their first Gold qualifier and second place in the Grade Ia Silver Championship with 68.82%.
Kyrby Brown and Barney Rubble V, in their first season together, won the Grade II Bronze Championship. 20-year-old Hertfordshire rider Kyrby and ‘Barney’ her 12-year-old chestnut gelding earned a super score of 68.82%. Kyrby admitted to being ‘well and truly exhausted but totally satisfied after a great weekend at Solihull RC’.
The Grade IV belonged to 17-year-old Molly Bowen-Morris with Tiggi Bentley’s Sunny Delight, a British-bred son of Western Sun. Molly, who’s on the BEF Excel Talent Programme, and the 14-year-old gelding were awarded with the second highest score of the Bronze Championships – 68.96%.
Adrian Hare (42), whose passion for dressage started with the Chigwell RDA, travelled from Hertfordshire to contest the Grade III and boy was his trip worthwhile. He took the championship in style earning 67.25% aboard the skewbald gelding, Stady Boy (pictured), Deborah Hall’s attractive 10-year-old.
Meanwhile, 26-year-old Isabel Slack from Cheshire secured the Grade II. She scored 67.92% with her partner of two years, Watermeadow Chief, her eight-year-old British-bred son of Daichristu Dynamite. Isabel, who faces the challenge of riding with cerebral palsy, is no stranger to championships, having twice represented Mid Cheshire RDA at the RDA National Championships.
Para Equestrian Silver Championships
The biggest scorer of the Silver Championships was 2015 Para Rider Development winner – 20-year-old Anna-Mae Cole. Anna, who travelled from Newton Abbott in Devon, rode her faithful partner, Priceless - aka Mr Darcy - to earn a resounding 76.55%, an exciting result for the BEF Excel Talent Programme rider.
Mari Durward-Akhurst (22) took the Grade Ia Silver Championship. Riding Glesni Owen’s 17-year-old KWPN son of Welt Hit II, Sky O’Hara, Mari was awarded 73.55%.
“Sky warmed up brilliantly and just did the best test ever!” enthused Mari via her Facebook page. “I was so proud of him. He helped me out enormously and showed what a great team we make! I finished the test on such a high, we couldn't have done any more, either of us!
“The whole picture was so much of an improvement especially the contact that we have always struggled with. When I found out we had won I was on cloud ten and so was Sky! Then to find out we had won by over 5% and had over 76% from one judge, the C judge, was the icing on the cake! Our last ever Silver Championships too, but we went out with a bang! Another dream come true.”
14-year-old Leonie Saffy topped the leader board in the Grade II Silver Championship, earning a super 70.71% with Gemswood Morning Son, her 18-year-old British-bred pony by Camargue Tribute. Alicia Griffiths and Just Arisca, Kate Fletcher’s 16-year-old British-bred mare won the Grade II Silver Championship on68.52% and Hope Hayward enjoyed victory in the Grade IV. Hope is another rider whose talent has earned her a place on the BEF Excel Talent Programme. The 23-year-old, who hails from Somerset, rode a solid test on her attractive German mare, Hot Chocolatte to be awarded 69.84%.
Para Rider Development
Promising up-and-coming riders were under the spotlight in the Para Rider Development competition – a talent-seeking competition sponsored by The British Dressage Supporters Club (BDSC), NAF, the Para Dressage Training Trust (PDTT) and the Worshipful Company of Saddlers. Created to reveal the riders for the future, its programme includes test riding and entrants are judged purely on riding ability and their future potential.
14-year-old Lucy Mae Bush from Bath, who won the 13-15 years age category, was also the overall winner on a final score of 81.58%. She was awarded 64.76% for her test riding, 100% for her written paper and 80% for her trainability. Lucy’s dressage partner is Rainbow II, a good looking skewbald gelding of 18 years. Lucy Mae has been riding Rainbow for two years, before which he enjoyed a very successful showing career. Rainbow lives at Wellow Trekking Centre near Bath and when he’s not training or competing, he and Lucy let their hair down with hacking through the wonderful countryside.
Results
Bronze Champions
Grade Ia
Diane Green with Gunstone’s Pride, 72.03%
Grade Ib
Kyrby Brown with Barney Rubble V, 68.82%
Grade II
Isabel Slack with Watermeadow Chief, 67.92%
Grade III
Adrian Hare with Stady Boy, 67.25%
Grade IV
Molly Bowen-Morris with Sunny Delight, 68.96%
Silver Champions
Grade Ia
Mari Durward-Akhurst with Sky O’Hara, 73.55%
Grade Ib
Anna-Mae Cole with Priceless, 76.55%
Grade II
Leonie Saffy with Gemswood Morning Son, 70.71%
Grade III
Alicia Griffiths with Just Arisca, 68.52%
Grade IV
Hope Hayward with Hot Chocolate, 69.84%
Para Rider Development
13-15 years
Grade IV rider Lucy Mae Bush with Rainbow III - Test 64.76%, Written 100%, Coaching 80%, Total 81.58%
16-25 years
Grade IV rider Katie Radzik with Whisper III – Test 71.19%, Written 100%, Coaching 69.50%, Total 80.23%
Over-25s
Grade II rider Isobel Slack with Watermeadow Chief – Test 67.50%, Written 100%, Coaching 76.50%, Total 81.33%
Full Para Bronze and Silver Championships results available here
Full Para Rider Development results available here
British Dressage would like to thank the BDSC, NAF, PDTT and the Worshipful Company of Saddlers for their support and sponsorship of the event.
Photo courtesy of Adrian Hare Para Dressage