Not content with just taking the Central regionals by storm, 21-year old Eventer and Dressage rider, Daisy Coakley, stayed locally this time, setting her sights on conquering the Eastern Winter Regional Championships at Patchetts Equestrian Centre (28 Feb – 4 Mar).
Returning with Judy Firmston-Williams’ seven year old mare, Cleopatra II - and looking to add to their GFS Elementary Open Freestyle qualification from the Central regionals - the pair took on the Spillers Medium Restricted Freestyle. Daisy and Cleopatra II – or Daya, as she’s known at home – devoured the competition once more, scoring 72.78%, placing the duo at the top of the leaderboard and securing their ticket through to the NAF Five Star Winter Dressage Championships at Hartpury in April.
For the Albion Medium Restricted, Daisy brought out her eventer, 13-year old KWPN gelding Urbanus VI, owned by Felicity Norrie. Together since 2012, the twosome have enjoyed great success in eventing and proved their diversity at Patchetts, taking second place – and a winter championships qualification spot – with their score of 66.89%. However, it was her third ride of the week who topped the scoreboards. Riding Judy Firmston-Williams and Aimee Witkin’s eight year old gelding, Bing, Daisy won the class with a strong score of 68.96%, putting the pair through to the winter championships for the first time together.
Speaking from her blog, Daisy exclaimed her excitement about heading to the championships. “We had a very successful Winter Regionals and have secured five qualifications for the British Dressage Nationals!
Bing performed his best Medium 75 test to date and won on 68% securing his qualification. His test was flowing after a blip on entry. He scored 8's for lots of his canter work and extended walk. Urbanus IV (Louis- the eventer) came second and qualified in the same class. He kept his cool and didn't add any of his own freestyle movements! Now looking forward to the [winter championships] in April!”
A member of BD since May last year, 20-year old Bronte Watson also had reason to celebrate after her win in the Baileys Horse Feeds Novice Restricted Freestyle. Riding her own 14-year old gelding, Acquisator, Bronte raised the roof with her music and topped the charts with her impressive score of 71.30%.
Highest score of the competition came from one of the largest classes of the week, the Baileys Horse Feeds Novice Open Freestyle. Scoring a whopping 79.54% - a massive 5% above Nathalie Kayal and Woodcroft St Emillion who secured second place (74.17%) – was trainer Robert Waine and his ride, Oldenburg gelding Rhodesia, owned by Linda Bennett.
The final notable win of the Eastern Winter Regionals was 17-year old Becky Edwards on Dr Margaret Cox’s Portuguese stallion, Ufano I. Last year, at the Eastern Winter Regional, the pair scored 65.33% in the Nupafeed Advanced Medium Freestyle and placed 15th. A year later – and back with a vengeance – the dynamic duo improved on last year’s mark in the Advanced Medium Freestyle by a huge 10% scoring 75.00%, winning the class and claiming their ticket through to the winter championships.
A great testament to the saying ‘if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again’.
For full results, click here.
KBIS PRELIMINARY
Katie Owens and GDH Skyfall, 73.72%
BLUE CHIP NOVICE RESTRICTED
Anthony Lyons and Halfmoon Bonarda, 69.71%
BLUE CHIP NOVICE OPEN
Georgina Weedon and Romano’s Rafiel, 72.99%
EQUITOP MYOPLAST ELEMENTARY RESTRICTED
Lizzie Webb and W.S. Montpellier, 68.59%
EQUITOP MYOPLAST ELEMENTARY OPEN
Claire Knowles and Pendragon of Independence, 70.57%
ALBION MEDIUM RESTRICTED
Daisy Coakley and Bing, 68.96%
ALBION MEDIUM OPEN
Judy Harvey and Blitz, 72.12%
CHARLES OWEN ADVANCED MEDIUM RESTRICTED
Richard Black and High Hoes Sidonie, 66.71%
CHARLES OWEN ADVANCED MEDIUM OPEN
Alex Hardwick and Royal Chester, 74.61%
BAILEYS HORSE FEEDS NOVICE RESTRICTED MUSIC FREESTYLE
Bronte Watson and Acquisator, 71.30%
BAILEYS HORSE FEEDS NOVICE OPEN MUSIC FREESTYLE
Robert Waine and Rhodesia, 79.54%
GFS ELEMENTARY RESTRICTED MUSIC FREESTYLE
Amy Francis and Altogether Endeavour, 72.12%
GFS ELEMENTARY OPEN MUSIC FREESTYLE
Tahley Reeve-Smith and Salvatore, 76.09%
SPILLERS MEDIUM RESTRICTED MUSIC FREESTYLE
Daisy Coakley and Cleopatra II, 72.78%
SPILLERS MEDIUM OPEN MUSIC FREESTYLE
Annabel Jenks and Wachtmeester, 71.89%
NUPAFEED ADVANCED MEDIUM MUSIC FREESTYLE
Becky Edwards and Ufano I, 75.00%
NAF MAGIC PRIX ST. GEORGES MUSIC FREESTYLE
Callum Whitworth and Ramazotti III, 73.67%