Deauville proved a happy hunting ground for British riders last weekend in France, none more so than Daniel Sherriff who claimed his hat-trick of French Freestyle wins with his own Bayford Hall Dallaglio. Plus, inform Zoe Sleigh added to her impressive 2013 prize haul with a win at Inter II.
Daniel was competing in the big tour classes alongside Kay Maxted who had a private invite to the show. In the prelimnary grand prix, Daniel finished eighth on a score of 66.66% with the Laurentianer-sired stallion with Kay in 24th on her own Privaldi with 63.128%. The two then went their separate ways as Kay elected to do the Special, Daniel the Freestyle.
Kay and the Gribaldi gelding clearly enjoyed the challenge of the Special and bettered their GP score by nearly three percent to rise up the order to fourth overall on 65.938%.
Daniel is becoming something of a freestyle specialist and Saturday’s victory is the pairing’s fourth dancing win in a year, all with 70%+ scores, and his third on French soil, having won at Vierzon and Pompadour last year. They posted 72.5% to take the €1000 prize. Second went to European Championship bound Roland Tong for Ireland and Pompidou on 72.175% with Dutch combination Jonna Schelstraete and Liebling II third with 70.2%.
In the small tour, it was Alex Hardwick who was best of the British contingent with mum Sally’s Calvin G, whom she partnered at last year’s Young Rider European Championships. In the Prix St Georges, Zoe Sleigh was our top rider with Christine Sleigh’s Fantastic Light on 67.158% in seventh with Alex and the Contendro-sired gelding just 0.1% behind in eighth on 67.158%. Alex was 11th with her second ride Donauwein while Lucy Fallen and Nurejev were 12th on 66.079%. Up a level to the Inter I on Saturday and Alex really upped her game with Calvin G and rode a great round to score just shy of 70% which put them fourth. Lucy also bettered her performance with 69.184% to rise up the placings to fifth. Zoe ended 12th with Fantastic Light on 67.605%. The trio really let fly in the freestyle and all scored 70%+. Alex and ‘Casper’ lead the way with 73.2% for a place on the podium in third. Lucy was one percent behind with 72.24% to finish fourth and Zoe fifth on 70.175%. A great showing by three riders, all aged under 25!
Zoe was also in action in the U25 CDI and although the classes were small with just four combinations, they were certainly competitive! In the Inter II, Zoe scored a win with Rhodez, owned by her mum Christine, with 67.216%. Dutch rider Romy Peijen was second with Rex on 66.324 with Bobby Hayler third with Paul Hayler’s Aldborough Rubinhall. In the U25 grand prix, it was all change in the placings with Kim Huizer (NED) going from last to first aboard Oxford with 66.909%. Romy was second with Zoe and the De Niro-sired Rhodez third on 64.955% but this was one of their first tests at this level. Bobby Hayler and the lovely grey Aldborough Rubinhall were fourth with 62.977%.
Full results – click here