The re-established BD Combined Training Championships have proved a triumph. Held concurrently at Vale View in Leicestershire and Wellington Riding in Hampshire (27 – 28 May 2017), the Northern and Southern finals welcomed the top two combinations from each class at the 36 competitive qualifying competitions that have taken place over the winter and spring months.
This multi-discipline competition has made a very welcome return to the BD calendar after a six year absence - its unique attraction being that competitors display their skill over a course of show jumps as well as performing a dressage test.
At Wellington, Jo Hales (38) from Northbrook in Oxfordshire was indomitable with her mare, Dawn Chorus IV II (pictured). In one day they conquered not one, but two championships – the Novice 24 with a 90cm track, and the Novice 34 with a 1m track. The pair were rewarded with a super plus-73% in Novice 24 and zero jumping penalties, before backing up their fabulous 76.66% Novice 34 with an easy clear.
Dawn Chorus is an elegant chestnut nine-year-old by Up with the Lark out a Squire Tregarrion mare. She and Jo were successful at the NAF Five Star Winter Championships in April earlier this year taking home tenth in the Baileys Horse Feeds Novice Freestyle Silver.
Seventeen-year-old Aimee Stunt was the one to beat in the Prelim 18/80cm Championship aboard William and Joanne Moran’s five-year-old stallion, Tiger Attack. The British-bred son of Dolphin Supreme, who successfully competed in a BE90 at Tweseldown the week before, jumped clear with an impressive dressage score of 72.50%.
Wiltshire’s Tania Symes (50) - was victorious in the Prelim 2/70cm final aboard the veteran, Serendipity VI (right). The handsome chap of 18 years and winner of the Badminton Grassroots BE90 in 2014 with daughter Zoe, proved he’s still hot to trot as he approaches his twilight years.
Three hours north at Vale View, Staffordshire rider Dan Titterton (35) repeated his 2010 Novice Combined Training victory, and astonishingly, with the same horse. Vision B (below right), now 15-years-old, is a real part of the Titterton family and is ridden by Dan’s wife Jo at Advanced Medium. Dan scored the second highest dressage of the day with four show jumping penalties.
Olivia Walker (17) and QEG Lux made the Prelim/70cm Championship their own with a plus-67% dressage and a clear. Hilary Janion’s QEG Lux is no stranger to the big time having won at Novice at the 2016 Winter Championships with Fiona Horsepool, and Olivia is quickly forming a great relationship with the Irish 12-year-old. 
KWPN gelding Boney M partnered owner Katie Wray to win the Prelim 18/80cm final. The son of Cool Cracker achieved the highest dressage of the day - 73.85% - with a clear jumping round. Katie (45) from Lound in Nottinghamshire and her 11-year-old skewbald made their Medium debut in April this year.
Amy Small (19) from Yorkshire enjoyed a fruitful trip south with her Dutch-bred nine-year-old Triumph VD Laarseheide Z (bottom right). The pair who placed fourth in the Spillers Medium Freestyle Silver at the Bishop Burton Winter Regionals this year went clear show jumping with an impressive 71.09% dressage to take the Novice 24/90cm title.
THE WINNERS
Southern Final
Prelim 2, 70cm Championship
Tania Symes with Serendipity VI, 72.93%, 0 SJ
Aimee Stunt with Tiger Attack, 72.50%, 0 SJNovice 24, 90cm Championship
Jo Hales with Dawn Chorus IV II, 73.47%, 0 SJ
Novice 34, 1m Championship
Jo Hales with Dawn Chorus IV II, 76.66%, 0 SJ
Northern Final
Prelim 2, 70cm Championship
Olivia Walker with QEG Lux, 67.59%, 0 SJ
Prelim 18, 80cm Championship
Katie Wray and Boney M, 73.85%, 0 SJ
Novice 24, 90cm Championship
Amy Small with Triumph VD Laarseheide Z, 71.09%, 0 SJ
Novice 34, 1m Championship
Dan Titterton with Vision B, 73.81%, 4 SJ
Ideal Saddles to sponsor Combined Training in 2018
British Dressage is delighted to confirm Ideal Saddles as the sponsor of the coming 2017/2018 Series. Ideal Saddles is a market leader in the design and manufacture of fine saddles and believes its range of saddles offers unrivalled choice in quality and style for the discerning rider.
With skilled fitting, the finest workmanship and their trademark flexibility, they create the IDEAL saddle ensuring that both rider and horse achieve their best.
International Grand Prix rider Hayley Watson-Greaves has worked closely with Ideal in the development of the ‘Hayley WG Ideal Dressage Saddle’ – a beautiful saddle designed to meet the needs of serious dressage riders. This saddle has been developed to have a deep, unrestricting seat to aid the rider’s communication with the horse, and shorter flaps to allow closer contact with the horse – follow the link to find out more.
For full results of the 2017 Combined Training Championships follow the links below.
Vale View Equestrian
Wellington Riding
Photo credits
Vale View: Shh Creative
Wellington: Spidge Event Photography