The inaugural British Dressage Thoroughbred Championships supported by Allen & Page proved a great success last weekend at Vale View Equestrian Centre (18 – 19 November 2017).
The Championships, which is designed for all Thoroughbred horses including those who’ve never raced, saw dozens of representatives forward to vie for the four national titles on offer, at levels from Intro to Medium.
There was brilliant competition throughout, but the rider of the show has to be Fiona Jopling who returned home to the New Forest with two titles to her name. With Alyson Hall’s Medburn Singer, a seven-year-old gelding by Superior Premium, Fiona won not only the Elementary with 69.14% but also the Medium final with an almost identical percentage of 69.66%.
Fiona and ‘Flash’ have enjoyed a fabulous 2017. Amongst their successes are a Petplan Equine Area Festival victory, second place at the Bury Farm Summer Regionals and a super seventh in the Childéric Saddles Elementary Silver at the LeMieux National Dressage Championships.
“What a fantastic end to an amazing season with Medburn Singer,” said Fiona on her Facebook page. “We have just won the Elementary championship AND the Medium championship at the BD TB Championships at Vale View Equestrian. [I’m] So proud of this horse and how far he has come. Looking forward to moving up to Advanced Medium next year! Thank you so much to everyone for all your help and support over the last year, in particular Alyson Hall for letting me share this journey with you and Flash.”
Fiona and Flash, who won the 2015 RoR Elementary Championship, have gone from strength to strength in dressage, the horse switching to the sport after an injury early on in his racing career.
The highest scorer of the show was Kirstin Mellor with Ian Murray’s attractive gelding Grey Missile. They won the Preliminary title with a whopping personal best score of 73.65%, almost four percent ahead of their closest rival.
Isla Udall from Staffordshire took the spoils in the Intro Championships partnered by Road West, her elegant bay eight-year-old son of Westerner, whilst Emma Beresford and Prince Keel headed the Novice. Emma and the good-looking Prince Keel, a 14-year-old by Carrowkeel, scored 70.42%.
British Dressage thanks the team at Vale View Equestrian Centre for a successful Championships as well as event sponsor Allen & Page for their outstanding support. Congratulations to all winners and those who took part.
The 2017 Champions:
Intro C
Isla Udall with Road West, 66.41%
Prelim 19
Kirstin Mellor with Grey Missile, 73.65%
Novice 23
Emma Beresford with Prince Keel, 70.42%
Elementary 43
Fiona Jopling with Medburn Singer, 69.14%
Medium 75
Fiona Jopling with Medburn Singer, 69.66%
For full results click here.