Upcoming and coming riders have been laying the gauntlet at the 2013 Espayo National Dressage Championships that kicked off on Thursday 19 September. The Stoneleigh Park based event witnessed first and second spots of two classes being snatched by the same riders; Daisy Coakley and Spencer Wilton.
Spencer Wilton secured both first and second place in the Fairfax Prix St Georges Championship with Goodmans Supernova and Doogie respectively. The class saw thirteen of the thirty-five riders finish on scores over 70% exemplifying the high level of skill and talent on display at this year’s Championship.
“When we first entered the arena Supernova felt nervous but he knows the minute he passes the white boards he has to behave and listen. I am so delighted with the score which is a personal best for both of us. I focus a lot on the horses balance in training, the improvement has paid dividends and is why he has had such a big jump up in his results” commented Spencer.
Goodmans Supernova, who won the hot class with a score of 77.11% in a lead of 2.72%, has been in training with Spencer since 2010. A recent move of yards has meant a change in training tactics that the forty year old rider contributes to his success “I moved to Headley Stud a month ago; I thought the change of environment might unsettle him as he likes his routine but he has been brilliant. The most amazing thing about the move is the access to hacking that has meant we are able to do lots of hill work, hacking and fittening which is great conditioning and has without a doubt helped us to get the fantastic result today”.
Spencer expressed his gratitude to both his owners and his groom “Jen Goodman has been like fairy godmother to me and undoubtedly wouldn’t be where I am today without her. As with all horses competing to a high level there have been some minor injuries and scrapes over the last year to which Emma (Bayliss) my groom has put in a huge amount of work in rehabilitation and has considered ever minor detail to ensure the team are fighting fit”.
Herfordshire rider Daisy Coakley stormed to victory last year on her first visit to Stoneleigh and this year, she went one better by making it a one-two with Cleopatra II and Bing in the Stretch & Flex Elementary Restricted Championships. Also a successful event rider, Daisy (20) has made a few headlines this year with Judy Firmston-Williams’ Cleopatra II; they’ve won every class out since the Winter Championships with over 69% including a stunning 76% win to qualify for Stoneleigh at the Keysoe Regional Championship. Today was no different. A fabulous 73.23% was the only score to break the magic 70% + barrier for a convincing victory over stablemate Bing, also owned by Judy but jointly with his former rider, Amiee Witkin.
“I dreamt the dream but never imagined it would happen!” said an ecstatic Daisy. “I’m thrilled with both of them even though today wasn’t their best tests. They were both so brilliant at their Regionals it was always going to be a lot to ask to better that at the Nationals.”
Many would imagine that Daisy would arrive at the Nationals with a degree of nerves but she showed none of it. “I wasn’t nervous one bit. I thought I might be but once I’m on the horse, I’m ‘in the zone’ and as long as I’ve put the work in at home, I know they both have the potential to go well.”
Both horses will now be campaigned to qualify for the Winter Regionals at Medium level so Daisy is busily training them up the levels alongside campaigning her event horse, Ubanus II who she’s hoping to take to the Weston Park Youth Championships in October. Cleopatra II also competes here tomorrow in the Dodson & Horrell Novice Open Championships so the bookies wouldn’t be offering great odds on this talented rider doing the double.
On the eve of her 24th birthday, Beth Barnett claimed the first title of the 2013 Espayo National Dressage Championships at Stoneleigh Park in winning the Suregrow Advanced Medium Restricted championship. Beth, who works as a part-time administrator to fund her horses, was drawn in the middle of the class with her own Sheepcote Delight and a score of 68.84% proved unbeatable. The pairing have been together since the mare was just 18 months old and Beth broke her in and has brought her through the ranks with the help from David and Serena Pincus, who also bred the horse.
The combination hasn’t had the best build up ahead of their Stoneleigh trip with Beth, from Hereford, having a bout of ‘flu and Sheepcote Delight suffering a few lameness issues but the duo were back on form today! A happy Beth commented; “I’m so pleased with her today! She was focused and really listening which I don’t always get – she can be quite nervous. Some of my trot work felt really nice and I got my changes which was a bonus! I came here aiming for a clean test and that’s what I got!”
Beth is part of the UK Sport Lottery funded BEF Excel Talent programme which gives her access to top training and advice and she was quick to praise the scheme. “It’s definitely improved my riding and skill; if any young rider has the chance to apply and get on the programme, bite their hand off! You won’t regret it!” said Beth.
It was a really Barnett family effort today with dad acting as lorry driver, mum as psychologist and boyfriend as groom and it looked like some early birthday celebrations were in order once Sheepcote Delight was safely tucked up!
21 year old Ashley Jenkins made his first visit to the Espayo Nationals a memorable one when he won the Visualise Sportswear Preliminary Championship with Lukien von Tespe with an amazing score of 74.39%. Owned by Dan Greenwood and Jamie Reynolds, ‘Luke’ was bought as a foal from the world famous Verden Sales in Germany when Dan could see his potential. Now five, Luke has matured into the perfect dressage ‘type’ and Ashley took the ride over on him a year ago when he joined the yard to take on producing the young horses.
It was a striking performance and Ashley, originally from Bristol, was clearly delighted; “I can’t fault him at all. He’s so reliable which gives you so much confidence in the ring. His canter is really good and today it was a highlight as normal. He held a great rhythm in the trot work too. He’s just nice to ride, simple.”
Even at a young age, Ashley already has an excellent way with young horses. He started with Jennie Loriston-Clarke at Catherston Stud where any aspiring young jockey will get a great grounding and went to Dan’s base at Northfield Farm near Evenlode in Gloucestershire a year ago where he rides six horses daily, all under the age of six. “Dan and Jamie have been so supportive of me and being able to bring Luke here has been amazing. It’s great to have such a positive team around you although they have all been giving me a hard time in the build up. After winning my regional at Addington, they all said that we were favourites to win which piled on the pressure. But I didn’t let it get to me and I’m glad I can go back with the title!”
Ashley and Luke will be back in action on Saturday in Shearwater Potential International Dressage Horse five year old championship. In the meantime, he’ll turn his hand back to the grooming to support his boss, Dan Greenwood with his five rides.
Former grand prix national champion Maria Eilberg added to her impressive tally of championship successes to take the Horse Health Intermediate II on her long-term partner and international grand prix hope, Woodlander Rockstar. Maria piloted ‘Rocco’, Lynne Crowden’s 11-year-old son of Rotspon, to head the class with 70.18%. Maria and the attractive breeding stallion rode a high-class test affirming their development into an exciting partnership for the future.
“He was good today and showed some quality stuff,” said a delighted Maria. “He stumbled before the ones [one-time changes] but we made the best of the recovery and he did some good work, particularly his extensions and lateral work which were strong. He hasn’t competed since Hartpury CDI in July but he’s so good at competitions that I don’t have to over-compete him.”
“For me, it’s still as exciting to win a title here,” said Maria. “If anything, you relish these moments more as you get older. When you’re younger, you can take it a bit for granted but it’s even more special to me now.”
Maria is no stranger to dressage at the highest level, having been crowned national champion in 2008, the same year she was travelling reserve for the Beijing Olympics, and a year later a European Championship team silver-medallist. The 29-year-old is putting this wealth of experience to good use in moulding the talented Rocco. Talking about her future plans for him, Maria said “We did the grand prix at Hartpury but he’s not yet ready to compete abroad at that level. We’re bringing him on to hopefully compete international grand prix next year.”
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