Wellington Riding’s brand new Waterloo Arena saw a fitting first week of high class competition take place last week with many present and future stars contesting the 24 exciting classes (8 – 11 June 2017).
Lara Butler scored a new personal best of 75.16% with Dr Wilfried Bechtolsheimer’s Rubin Al Asad (pictured) to win the LeMieux Grand Prix ahead of Paul Hayler with Aldborough Rubenhall. Lara and ‘Rufus’ will now head to CDIO Rotterdam where they’ll ride alongside Laura Tomlinson, Daniel Watson and Susan Pape for Great Britain in the Nations Cup.
Lara also finished fourth aboard Laura Tomlinson’s former ride Unique VIII, the pair scored 67.06%. Talking about her show on Facebook Lara said; “Super day out to Wellington Premier League today. I ran both Rufus and Minnie in the Grand Prix. For Rufus it was a run before Rotterdam and what a good job he did getting a PB of 75% to take the win! For Minnie it's still all about building her confidence and our partnership, and despite a very over dramatic start where the poor plant got the brunt of her hind leg, she did some super work and we're slowing growing together. She was fourth and only 1% off coming second! So proud of both the ponies today!”
The Nirvana Spa gala evening at Wellington boasted a thrilling PSG Freestyle class with NAF Five Star Winter Champion Sophie Wells and C Fatal Attraction coming out on top. Sophie and ‘Jorge’ scored 74.37% to set themselves up for a very busy and exciting week as Sophie moves onto Bolesworth International where she’ll contest the Inter I Freestyle on Wednesday. Completing the podium places were Nathalie Kayal with DHI Homerun and Leah Beckett with Nirvana Celestial.
A host of future stars stood out in the Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges and Equine Construction Advanced Medium qualifiers. Nikki Crisp and her powerful partner Durable won two PSG classes with 69.82% and 70.92% whilst young rider Joanna Thurman Baker took a PSG class with Highcliffe Apollo earning 71.84%. Alice Oppenheimer scored a win in the Advanced Medium 92 with her eye catching gelding Headmore Dirubinio as Nikki Crisp won with another of her string, this time Forever Young, who triumphed in Advanced Medium 98.
Many of the riders competing at Wellington took to Facebook to praise organisers for a fantastic premier league show, great facilities and excellent prizes. Congratulations to all competitors, class winners and those combinations who grabbed direct qualification tickets for the National Championships in September.
Results
Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges SQ
1st Nikki Crisp with Durable, 70.92%
Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I Q
1st Nathalie Kayal with DHI Homerun, 74.82%
Hickstead National British Young Dressage Horse Q - 5YO
1st Tor Fenwick with Salsa D’amour, 79.2%
Hickstead National British Young Dressage Horse Q - 6YO
1st Sophie Wells with Gladstone, 79%
Hickstead FEI Int. British Young Dressage Horse Q - 5YO
1st Hannah Biggs with Platinum Born This Way, 78.6%
Hickstead FEI Int. British Young Dressage Horse Q - 6YO
1st Lizzie Murray with Timolin, 81.6%
Equine Construction Advanced Medium SQ - Test 98
1st Nikki Crisp with Forever Young, 72.5%
Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges SQ A
1st Joanna Thurman Baker with Highcliffe Apollo, 71.84%
Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges SQ B
1st Nikki Crisp with Durable, 69.82%
Monarch Equestrian Intermediate II Q
1st Matt Frost with Tribiani, 70.48%
British Dressage Young Pony SQ - 5yo
1st Charlotte Drakeley with Woodlander Sir Gorgeous
British Dressage Young Pony SQ - 6yo
1st Lily Laughton with Armada Magic Cadillac
FEI Pony Team Test
1st Olivia Wrennall with Donna Schuflo, 71.70%
Music Freestyle Advanced Medium
1st Charlie Hutton with Hawtins Rossana, 73.22%
Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I Q
1st Nicola Buchanan with Half Moon Dark Magic, 72.23%
LeMieux Grand Prix SQ
1st Lara Butler with Rubin Al Asad, 75.16%
Equi-Trek Windsor Prix St Georges Freestyle
1st Sophie Wells with C Fatal Attraction, 74.37%
Equine Construction Advanced Medium SQ - Test 92
1st Alice Oppenheimer with Headmore Dirubinio, 73.01%
FEI Pony Individual
1st Josephine Clewlow with Carlsson, 70.40%
Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges SQ
1st Katrina Cantrell with Woodlander Donna Summer, 69.91%
Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I SQ
1st Kate Cowell with Barcelona, 71.84%
Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I SQ
1st Owen Cooper with Don Dante II, 71.27%
For full results: http://wellington-riding.co.uk/events/results/