The BD Premier League season gets underway tomorrow with Myerscough in Lancashire hosting the first of eight fixtures featuring the nation’s top dressage action.
Myerscough features five days of dressage with Wednesday (04 March) getting the party started with classes at Advanced and Advanced Medium level. On Thursday, the stars of the future are in action in the Shearater Potential Dressage Horse four year old qualifier while the more experienced PSG and Inter I combinations have their chance at a direct qualification to the LeMieux National Dressage Championships in the Fairfax PSG and Saracens Horse Feeds Inter I championships in September.
On Friday the young horses at on again but this time it’s the turn of the five year olds, plus there’s a second Fairfax PSG as well as a special Grand Prix class for our u25 riders. UK Sport funded World Class Development riders Bobby Hayler and Ryan Todd feature alongside Scotland’s Eilidh Grant, Samantha Brown and Jessica Knapton.
A full day on Saturday features a packed programme of FEI classes including Pony Individual, Young Rider Team and Inter I, again a qualifier for the Saracens Horse Feeds Championships. T here’s also a class of BD Inter II, a new test introduced in 2012. As the sun goes down on Saturday, it’s time for Myerscough’s Gala Night with a packed programme of freestyle at PSG, Inter I and GP levels. It’s a ticket only event with prices at £12 for adults and £10 concessions. Book in advance and take advantage of a special 12 for the price of 10 offer – so get a group of like-minded friends together! Please ring 01995 642115 to book tickets.
Sunday brings the dressage marathon to a close with the FEI Pony and Junior tests and a Grand Prix competition which, if you can make it to Lancashire, you’ll want to see as there’s a number of new GP stars to watch. Hayley Watson-Greaves is showing great form with her three rides WG Don Wimero, WG Equus and WG Rubins Nite while Rebecca Hughes (Rubini Royale), Ruth Edge (Shadowfax), Sophie Wells (Pinocchio) and Zoe Sleigh (Rhodez) all ride horses in the very dawn of the GP careers. Experience comes in the shape of UK Sport World Class Development riders Nikki Crisp (Pasoa) and Anne-Marie Perry (Feine Dame) while Becky Moody will be hoping to better her fourth place from last year with Caluna.
For full schedules and up-to-date results visit the Myerscough College website here.
2014 Premier League calendar
5 - 9 March - Myerscough College - St Michaels Road, Bilsborrow, Preston, Lancashire PR3 0RY
25 - 27 April - Keysoe - The College EC, Church Road, Keysoe, Bedford MK44 2JP
9 - 11 May - Addington - Addington Manor EC, Addington, Buckinghamshire MK18 2JR
23 - 26 May - Somerford Park - Somerford Park Farm, Holmes Chapel Road, Congleton, Cheshire. CW12 4SW
5 - 8 June - Wellington - Wellington Riding, Heckfield, Hook, Hampshire RG27 0LJ
16 - 17 June - Sheepgate - Sheepgate Equestrian, Sheepgate Nursery, Leverton, Boston, Lincolnshire PE22 0AS
24 - 28 June - Hickstead - Dressage at Hickstead, All England Show Ground, Hickstead, West Sussex RH17 5NU
9 - 13 July - Harptury - Hartpury Arena, Hartpury College, Gloucester GL19 3BE