Junior European teammates and best friends Charlotte Fry and Maisie Scruton, both aged 17, enjoyed a successful Northern Regional Championships, which was held at their base, Fry’s Aike Grange Stud.
Lottie and her grandmother’s nine-year-old Z Flemmenco (pictured) won the Dressage Deluxe Medium Open with the top percentage of the regional and their personal best score at the level of 73.33%.
Lottie has competed the 16.2hh Dutch gelding by Flemmingh for the past two years and has had an amazing season with six wins on the trot at medium and advanced medium level since April, as well as qualifying him for the nationals in the advanced medium on another personal best score at that level.
Lottie, who trains with Carl Hester and is planning to move to his yard full-time next summer, said: “We had a week’s training at Carl’s just before the regionals, so his brain was in the right place. He is nervous when he’s competing, so I have to give him confidence and he is growing in confidence every time out. I was asking him for more in the test and he gave it to me. We even got a nine for a simple change.
“Last year at the nationals he was petrified, but I’m hoping that he will be more settled this time, especially as we will be competing in two tests this time.”
Maisie, who recently moved her horses to Fry’s, finished second riding her 12-year-old 14.1hh stallion Rembrandt DDH by Renoir, with whom she was a member of the British team at the 2011 and 2012 European Pony Championships.
“He won the warm-up class with 76% the day before, which set us up nicely for the regional test. He made no mistakes and was so focused and rideable.”
Then Maisie rode her own Junior European Championship partner Hot Chocolate to head the extremely competitive Suregrow Fertiliser Advanced Medium Open.
Maisie, who has had the ride on the 16-year-old Oldenburg mare by Sandro Hit since last September, said: “I was nervous, but she handled the pressure well considering she’s quite hot; being on edge helped as she had a lot of presence and her work was full of expression.”
Becky Moody and the eight-year-old Don Angelo won the Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I on 70.18%, their personal best at the level. The Danone offspring is owned by Swedish young rider Josie Gyllensward.
Becky, who trains with David Hunt and her sister Hannah, said: “Josie bought him two years ago when she based herself here. We’ve been sharing him; Josie competes him in young riders and I’ve been bringing him on at small tour level.
“He is massively talented but a little green at this level. I felt I had to help him a little too much, but he will be fantastic. He’s also qualified directly at PSG level,” said Becky, who will have a total of six horses at the nationals.
Picture © www.kevinsparrow.co.uk
Visualise Sportswear Preliminary
Maria Brocklesby and Dativ XL (owner: Rider) 71.97%
Debby Dunleavy and Jet Set S (owner: Rider) 70.91%
Claire Ryder and Gromit (owner: Rider) 70.61%
Dodson & Horrell Novice Restricted
Daisy Powell and C No Limit (owner: Rider) 70.23%
Elenna Carroll and Moviman (owner: Gemma Appleton) 68.62%
Dodson & Horrell Novice Open
Allison Mercer and Early Morn II (owner: Rider) 71.72%
Laura Jarvis and Contender (owner: Rider) 70.46%
Tom Graham and Breicho (owner: Henry Boswell) 70.23%
Stretch & Flex Elementary Restricted
Rebecca Kingswood and Aramis I (owner: Rider) 70.21%
Deniqua Westwood and Rummaggio (owner: Rider) 69.9%
Stretch & Flex Elementary Open
Amanda Barrett and Fiderico (owner: Rider) 68.54%
Laura Woodcock and Whispers (owner: Rider) 68.44%
Rebekah Cox and Sarana CDS (owner: Mrs A Abel-Smith) 68.33%
Kate Johnson and RS Mylo (owner: Vanessa Worthington) 68.23%
Dressage Deluxe Medium Restricted
Kate Walters and Freddy (owner: Andrew Fletcher) 69.55%
Julie Stacey and Profile (owner: Michael Franklin) 68.02%
Dressage Deluxe Medium Open
Charlotte Fry and Z Flemmenco (owner: Rosemary Shewen) 73.33%
Maisie Scruton and Rembrandt DDH (owner: Rider) 72.52%
Sarah Higgins and Delicata (owner: Rider) 71.08%
Becky Moody and Madams Miss Maria (owner: Rider) 69.64%
Suregrow Fertiliser Advanced Medium Restricted
Craig Millard and Worldly Wise (owner: Sally Hoyle) 67.63%
Natalie Widdowson and Gorgeous George IV (owner: Rider) 65.79%
Suregrow Fertiliser Advanced Medium Open
Maisie Scruton and Hot Chocolate 43 (owner: Rider) 71.32%
Melissa Chapman and DHI Work Of Art (owner: Rider) 71.05%
Sonia Baines and Waverly (owner: Claire Williams) 70.70%
Charlotte Fry and Z Flemmenco (owner: Rosemary Shewen) 70%
Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges
Emma Corbett and Furst Diamantino (owner: Rider) 67.72%
Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I
Becky Moody and Don Angelo (owner: Josie Gyllensward) 70.18%