Today the audience were treated to the exciting finale of the Shearwater Young Horse championships, three titles were there for the taking and twelve combinations aging from four to six year olds. For the climax of this finale, Eva Moller was rider judge, a German young horse trainer at the world renowned Hof Kasselmann in Hagen. She put each of the young horses through their paces who, though young, demonstrated their spectacular talent and took the LeMieux National British Dressage Championships’ atmosphere in their stride making for a very close showdown in each of the age groups.
In the four year old class, the Hawtins stud in Gloucester celebrated success defending their four year old champion title, won last year by Hawtins Duchessa, this time was the turn of Hawtins San Floriana ridden by Bryony Goodwin. Eva Moller said of the winner, “this is a high quality mare and she gave me a very good feeling”. Placed second was Sadie Smith on her own and Sarah Evans’ River Rise Magic Mike, a striking dark bay soon to start stallion duties.
In the five year old section, Charlotte Dujardin claimed her sixth title of these championships this time on Mount St John VIP, sired by Vivaldi, who Eva described as “everything a rider wants”. In second was another horse owned by the Mount St John Stud, MSJ Top Secret.
Caroline Church and the lovely San Marco topped the six year old section, the horse’s second young horse title after previously taking the four year old championship back in 2014. Paul Hayler and FJ Veyron took their second runner up placing of the day after just finishing second in the Childeric Saddles Elementary Gold shortly before.
Full report, quote and photos to follow.