The popular Allen & Page Native Dressage Associated Championships made a successful return at the end of September with reams of British ponies travelling to Vale View EC for their shot at the coveted titles (27 Sept – 1 Oct).
The highest score of the show came in the Prelim 17 class with two ponies both scoring an impressive 71.03%. Registered Connemara Machin Funambule II (pictured) impressed judges Alison Pepper and Zara Pawley to win the Full Bred Prelim with Championship first timer Kate Vickery in the saddle. The seven-year-old known as ‘Roscoe’ has been with the Vickery family for a year after Kate purchased him from Gloucestershire based rider Hannah Merrett in 2016. Kate and Roscoe’s win at Vale View continues a stellar year for the pair who also won the BRC Prelim Championships hosted at Bury Farm in April as well as having several rewarding trips out eventing too.
The second combination to earn the top score of the show were the Full Bred Welsh Prelim winners Leanne Bailey and Joyton Highlander. Stoke-on-Trent based Leanne runs her own equine services business and also competes in showing and showjumping. As for her diminutive partner ‘Robbie’, the Welsh pony clearly has a talent for dressage as his season has produced some outstanding results including a 76% at Field House EC earlier in September.
Several former Native Champions returned to repeat their previous successes, amongst these was the eye catching favourite from 2016’s event Hirstmund Merlot. Expertly piloted by 15-year-old Zoe Florence the Highland x Thoroughbred stormed to victory in the Novice 37a Part Bred Championship class scoring 70.28%. ‘Finn’ and the Florence family made the long journey from Dundee to contest the Championships; their efforts were more than rewarded after a super test put them at the top of the class by over three percent. The talented pair travelled straight on to the BRC Music Championships where they finished as Reserve Junior Champions at Novice level. Proud dad Jamie took to Facebook after Zoe’s BD Part Bred Native win to say ‘Great end to a somewhat very special day for us all. Goose Bumps would be an understatement for more than just me.’
Moving up the levels, Shelly Harris and Wendy Walter’s Welsh Section D Part-Bred Soden Ffach made an impression to win not one but two titles at the Championships. The stunning coloured mare topped the Medium 75 class with 69.12% before going on to win the Advanced Medium 96 with 65.59%. Carmarthen based Shelly is a BD accredited coach and has competed up to Inter I.
Nicky Heale and Retanach Request also danced their way to double victories in winning the Full Bred Advanced Medium and Prix St Georges Championships to take two titles back home to Scotland. Liver chestnut ‘Rocco’ is no stranger to a big occasion having competed at five National Championships throughout his career picking up multiple Regional titles along the way. Nicky and her Welsh Section D recently made a successful debut at Inter I level scoring a creditable 66%.
Congratulations to all competitors and class winners. British Dressage thanks Championship supporters Allen & Page as well as all the team at Vale View EC for making the 2017 Native Dressage Championships a roaring success.
Allen & Page Native Associated Champions
Intro C Full Bred
1st Katie Dowker with Pennal Heartbreaker, 66.09%
Prelim 17a Part Bred
1st Yvonne Blachford with Flora VI, 70.26%
Prelim 17a Welsh Full Bred
1st Leanne Bailey with Joyton Highlander, 71.03%
Prelim 17a Full Bred
1st Katie Vickery with Maicin Funambule II, 71.03%
Novice 37a Part Bred
1st Zoe Florence with Hirstmund Merlot, 70.28%
Novice 37a Welsh Full Bred
1st Heather Woodhead with Gwendreath Welsh Dancer, 69.44%
Novice 37a Full Bred
1st Gracie Catling with Dalyhill Rocker, 67.50%
Elementary 57 Part Bred
1st Amy Francis with Marsden El Nino, 69.73%
Elementary 57 Full Bred
1st Abigail Doherty with Brohedydd Miss Molima, 69.82%
Medium 75 Part Bred
1st Shelly Harris with Soden Fflach, 69.12%
Medium 75 Full Bred
1st Heidi Reed with Ilar Vincent, 66.22%
Advanced Medium 96 Part Bred
1st Shelly Harris and Soden Fflach, 65.59%
Advanced Medium 96 Full Bred
1st Nicky Heale with Retanach Request, 65.99%
Prix St Georges Full Bred
1st Nicky Heale with Retanach Request, 63.49%
For full results: click here