The Sussex venue of Hickstead raised the curtain on the 2017 Summer Regional Championship season last week (14 – 16 July 2017) with three thrilling days of dressage action. The heat was on with professionals and amateurs alike all looking to secure a qualifying place for the LeMieux National Championships at Stoneleigh.
On Friday, the first day of competition, Surrey rider Kathy Staples won the BackinAction Preliminary Silver by achieving the highest percentage score of the three days. Riding the aptly named Micro Man, a gelding of just 15 hands, she took the 22-strong class in great style. Micro Man, who is owned by Kathy, is a seven-old Irish bred grey. Kathy (31) and her husband, Australian Olympic event rider Brook Staples, run Ideal Sports Horses, an eventing competition yard in Lindfield.
That same day, James Burtwell (51) from Winchfield in Hampshire achieved victory in a high class Dodson & Horrell Novice Gold with a super 74.32% aboard Serendipitous (Son of Cologne x Laudabilis) a six-year-old German-bred gelding owned by Stephanie Worton. Serendipitous competed at the LeMieux National Championships last year in the Novice Gold so this year will be his second appearance at Stoneleigh. Showing great consistency of form, James and ‘Sonny’ also achieved second place behind Katharine Lewis and her fabulous Friesian stallion Jos K in the Childéric Saddles Elementary Gold.
James, who is a UKCC Level 3 Coach and List 2 Judge, took three of the top ten Novice Gold places here at Hickstead. Not only did he win with Sonny, he was also placed fourth and ninth with his own horses Verano and Veritas VS, both six-year-olds by Vitalis.
Rob Waine (29) from Hedgerley in Buckinghamshire was the rider to win Sunday’s Equine Construction Advanced Medium Silver. Partnered by DHI Lightning Z, Jennifer Nissen’s 11-year-old Belgium-bred son of Laristinus, he was awarded a great score average of 70.75% from judges Dane Rawlins (E), Kirsty Mepham (C) and Jo Graham (M). He also contested the TopSpec Medium Gold with his mare, Sanssouci, finishing just outside the top ten.
“What a fantastic end to a great weekend at Dressage at Hickstead!” said Rob on his Facebook page. “Jen Nissen's DHI Lightning is crowned regional champion at Advanced Medium, it's off to Nationals we go! Some fantastic results with my chestnut princess too. Huge thank you to Sarah for making them both look top notch, to Jen for allowing me to compete her boy, and Lisa Hopkins Dressage [Rob’s trainer] for making me keep my thumbs on top!”
British Dressage thanks Dressage at Hickstead and all involved for a successful Regional Championship. Congratulations to all qualified combinations and to everyone who took part.
Regional Champions:
Class 1: BackinAction Preliminary Silver
Kathy Staples with Micro Man, 75.11%
Class 2: Dodson & Horrell Novice Silver
Millie Gover with Kamil T, 72.84%
Class 3: Dodson & Horrell Novice Gold
James Burtwell with Serendipitous, 74.32%
Class 4: Childéric Saddles Elementary Silver
Christianne Oakley with Samarai, 74.01%
Class 5: Childéric Saddles Elementary Gold
Katharine Lewis with Jos K, 72.92%
Class 6: Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges Gold
Daniel Watson with Butterfly IV, 68.77%
Class 7: TopSpec Medium Silver
Nicola Rapley with Scolari’s Glory, 72.21%
Class 8: Equine Construction Advanced Medium Silver
Robert Waine with DHI Lightning Z, 70.75%
Class 9: Top Spec Medium Gold
Paul Hayler with FJ Veyron, 73.74%
Class 10: Equine Construction Advanced Medium Gold
Luke Baber-Davies with Keystone Drummer Boy, 72.54%
Class 11: Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I Gold
Becky Edwards with Ufano, 68.77%
For full results click here.
Pictured: Equine Construction Advanced Medium Silver top three – 1st Rob Waine (DHI Lightning Z), 2nd Dannie Morgan (Southern Cross Braemar), 3rd Rowan Bryson (Lazulith).