The Summer Regional Championships that took place last week at The Cabin EC in Aberdeenshire (4 – 6 August 2017) were a huge success. With qualifying places at stake, there was top class competition and friendly rivalry as riders had their sights on next month’s LeMieux National Championships.
Jo Barry (39) from West Lothian went home with two wins to her name, both with the balletic six-year-old, Sugar Plum Fairy. The Sir Donnerhall x Don Schufro mare won both the Dodson & Horrell Novice Gold and the Childéric Saddles Elementary Gold regional titles with healthy plus-70% scores.
Owned and bred by Reay Campbell of Caledonia Dressage Horses, ‘Plum’ had just one month’s preparation for the Regionals following a 10 week stud break having embryos collected. After doing her bit towards the next generation, she was clearly happy to be back in the competition spotlight.
Event rider Kara-Louise Milne and Irish-bred Romantika II (KMS Romeo x Karanda SJ) took the BackinAction Preliminary scoring 68.22% to edge ahead of runners-up Morag Napier and Dryfe Star Cavalier. Romantika II, a gorgeous five-year-old bay with a big white face, started under saddle just 12 months ago, making her competition debut in January.
South Lanarkshire’s Susan Dunlop enjoyed a double victory with Dancer RV, a good-looking Dutch-bred son of Johnson. Susan and her nine-year-old grey headed both the TopSpec Medium Gold and Equine Construction Advanced Medium Silver with 69.41% and 66.49% respectively. The talented combination competed in the Albion Medium Gold at the NAF Five Star Winter Championships back in April after winning their winter regional championship, so clearly have consistency of form.
The biggest scorer of the three days was young rider Eilidh Grant who achiveved 72.41% in the Equine Construction Advanced Medium Gold with her mum, Lorraine’s, Eranda Retto (pictured Sep '16). Dutch-bred Eranda Retto, an eight-year-old bay mare, has an impressive track record now with five regional titles to her name and fifth place at the Nationals last year in the Childéric Saddles Elementary Gold. Eilidh (24) who represented Great Britain at the FEI Young Rider European Championships in 2012, did well at the recent Hickstead CDIO achieving third place in the CDI Under25 Grand Prix.
British Dressage thanks The Cabin Equestrian Centre and all involved for a successful Regional Championship. Congratulations to all qualified combinations and to everyone who took part.
Regional Champions:
BackinAction Preliminary
Kara-Louise Milne with Romantika II, 68.22%
Dodson & Horrell Novice Silver
Kendal Bow with DPUK Blue Moon, 67.90%
Dodson & Horrell Novice Gold
Jo Barry with Sugar Plum Fairy, 70.49%
Childéric Saddles Elementary Silver
Samantha Turpitt with Bali Dancer, 69.48%
Childéric Saddles Elementary Gold
Jo Barry with Sugar Plum Fairy, 70.52%
TopSpec Medium Silver
Jade Ritchie with Watch Me, 67.97%
TopSpec Medium Gold
Susan Dunlop with Dancer RV, 69.41%
Equine Construction Advanced Medium Silver
Susan Dunlop with Dancer RV, 66.49%
Equine Construction Advanced Medium Gold
Eilidh Grant with Eranda Retto, 72.41%
Faifax Saddles Prix St Georges Gold
Jennifer Johnston-Harman with MFS Caliana, 69.17%
Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I Gold
Eilidh Grant with Rock DJ, 64.56 %
For full results click here.