Last week, a month of exciting Winter Regionals drew to a close with the final Championships taking place at Summerhouse EC, Gloucestershire (1 - 3 March 2017).
Golden-girl Charlotte Dujardin stole the show taking no less than four titles on four different horses. In the Charles Owen Advanced Medium Gold it was a one-two for Charlotte who came out on top with her own and Paul and Wendy Dockley’s striking grey Florentina (pictured) scoring 77.10%, closely followed by her own and Sandra Biddlecombe’s En Vogue who was making only his third test appearance.
Emma Blundell’s Mount St John VIP followed on from her win in the five-year-old Championship at the BD Nationals last September by taking first place in the Equi-Trek Elementary Gold Championships with 77.18%. Charlotte also had a win with her own and Sarah Tyler Evans River Rise Nisa, or ‘Nancy’, who won the Novice Gold. Nancy was formerly ridden by Sadie Smith who now rides alongside Charlotte as part of the team at Carl Hester’s yard in Newent. Charlotte’s final win came with Carl’s own Brioso II who led the field in the Albion Medium Gold after scoring 76.01%.
Continuing the success for our Olympic and Paralympic stars, Sophie Wells booked her place at the NAF Five Star Winter Championships after storming to victory in the Magic Prix St Georges Freestyle with C Fatal Attraction. Speaking about her win with ‘Jorge’ on Facebook Sophie said, ‘After a three am wake up call to travel 150 miles for the arena walk, it was totally worth it, and he showed how much he has come on. He still needs more confidence in the arena with the tempi changes and pirouettes but we had a clean test which we haven’t achieved yet at this level. After four years I really feel like I understand him away from home.” The pair was awarded an impressive 75.33% by judges Nick Burton, Sue Petty and Christian Landolt.
Back in the saddle, judge Christian Landolt also gained the highest score of the show and two Winter Regional titles with the charming Liss La Belle. In the Blue Chip Novice Silver Section A the duo scored 74.94% before going on to record an immense 81.57% to win the Baileys Horse Feeds Novice Silver Music Freestyle.
Also impressing in the Silver classes was Jane Morris with Quinet Du Buisson Z. The combination won three classes over the week and qualified for four classes. Their best score came in the Equi-Trek Elementary Silver Section B where they gained an impressive 74.11%. Jane and the powerful bay gelding are no strangers to the BD Championships having competed at both the Summer and Winter finals; as with this year they competed in four classes at last year’s NAF Five Star Winter Championships placing as high as fourth in the Novice Open Freestyle Class.
British Dressage thanks Summerhouse EC and all involved for a fantastic Winter Regional Championship show. Congratulations to all competitors who took part. With the Winter Regionals now completed we look forward to an exciting NAF Five Star Winter Championships in April.
Regional Champions:
KBIS Preliminary
Lucy Robinson with Private Dancer V – 71.73%
Blue Chip Novice Silver A
Christian Landolt with Liss La Belle – 74.94%
Blue Chip Novice Silver B
Jayne Turney with Costa III – 73.98%
Blue Chip Novice Gold
Charlotte Dujardin with River Rise Nisa – 73.09%
Equi-Trek Elementary Silver A
Brendan Tegg with Sunset Boulevard – 71.71%
Equi-Trek Elementary Silver B
Jane Morris with Quinet Du Buisson Z – 74.11%
Equi-Trek Elementary Gold
Charlotte Dujardin with Mount St John VIP – 77.18%
Albion Medium Silver
Alice Wilson-Gough with Snow Patrol – 69.64%
Albion Medium Gold
Charlotte Dujardin with Brioso II – 76.01%
Charles Owen Advanced Medium Silver
Jess Bennett with JB Dukaat – 70.79%
Charles Owen Advanced Medium Gold
Charlotte Dujardin with Florentina – 77.10%
Baileys Horse Feeds Novice Silver Music Freestyle
Christian Landolt with Liss La Belle – 81.57%
Baileys Horse Feeds Novice Gold Music Freestyle
Beth Bainbridge with Keystone Dawn Chorus – 71.01%
PDS Saddles Elementary Silver Music Freestyle
Jane Morris with Quinet Du Buisson Z – 73.91%
PDS Saddles Elementary Gold Music Freestyle
Laura Wollen with Woodcroft Francisco – 73.39%
Spillers Medium Silver Music Freestyle
Jane Morris with Quinet Du Buisson Z – 72.83%
Spillers Medium Gold Music Freestyle
Jess Bennett with JB Dukaat – 78.50%
Nupafeed Advanced Medium Music Freestyle
Kate Smith with De La Veiga – 79.33%
Magic Prix St. Georges Music Freestyle
Sophie Wells with C Fatal Attraction – 75.33%
For full results click here.