Myerscough Premier League gets the party started

Every year, Myerscough Premier League (5-9 March) climaxes on the Saturday with an evening that guarantees to be packed with music, drama and talent. And, once again, this year’s Gala Night definitely did not disappoint.

Setting the evening off in fine style was Charlotte Fry. Riding Leslie Connor’s 16-year old gelding, Remming, Charlotte pumped up the volume and danced her way to victory, scoring a solid 71.21%, leaving almost a 2% buffer between her and second place, Ryan Todd and Julie Todd’s 12-year old Danish gelding, Charlex Eskebjerg (69.96%).

Keeping the audience on their feet, Melissa Chapman topped the charts with her own 11-year old Dutch gelding, DHI Work of Art, in the Intermediate I Freestyle with 69.88%. However it was the main attraction of the night, the Grand Prix Freestyle, where the evening really came to life. Trainer, Becky Moody, and international rider, Rebecca Hughes, brought the drama and battled it out for the top spot. With just one mark separating the two dressage giants, it was Becky and Julie Lockey’s 12-year old mare, Caluna, who stole the Myerscough title with a score of 67.71%. Rebecca and her partner of four years, Lorraine Sattin’s 12-year old German gelding, Rubini Royale, took second place with a very respectable score of 67.54%.

Britain’s future Olympians were out in force during the week-long competition. Friday saw 20-year old Eilidh Grant and Lorraine Grant’s 18-year old mare, Comanche Crumble, take both the Young Rider Grand Prix and Team test titles with 64.11% and 68.99% respectively. 14-year old Alexandra Helling blew the competition away on Sunday with her performance in the Pony Team test. Riding her long-term partner, Clare Williams’ eight year old stallion, Der Kleine Lord, Alexandra towered over her competitions with an impressive score of 70.90% - a whopping 7% above second place, Angus Corrie-Deane on his own 13-year old gelding, Grayswood Orlando.

Shearwater Potential International Young Dressage Horse

2014’s Chinese New Year welcomed the year of the horse; however, in dressage it seems that 2014 is actually the year of the young horse as Myerscough Premier League experienced record numbers in both the four year old and five year old Shearwater Young Dressage Horse classes.

An opportunity for the nation’s most promising youngsters to battle for qualification through to the Shearwater Potential International Young Dressage Horse Championships held at the LeMieux National Dressage Championships at Stoneleigh Park in September, the crowds at Myerscough witnessed some truly gifted young horses. Together since October last year and showing great promise, Rebecca Hughes and her own Classic Flamboyant took the four year old title with their huge score of 8.08.

The stiff competition in the five year old class – a whopping 30 entries! – made Becky Moody’s win on Julie Lockley’s dark bay mare, Eaimbry Eleanor – or ‘Nora’ as she’s known at home – with an impressive score of 7.60 even sweeter. With this being their second appearance at a Myerscough Premier League, their first being when the duo claimed the four year old title in 2013, the future certainly looks bright for Becky and Nora.

For the full list of results, click here

Class 1: Advanced Medium 98

1^st– Lottie Flinn and Korenbloem Royal Rebel, 68.88%

2^nd– Sarah Brookes and Diamond Asscher, 63.88%

3^rd– Francesca Bradley and Baldovino, 63.68%

Class 2: Advanced 102

1^st– Emma Newsham-Brown and Abel V, 66.91%

2^nd– Vivian Chang and Nora, 66.54%

3^rd– Harriet Woodcock and Korenbloem Traumprin II, 63.82%

Class 3: Shearwater Potential International Young Dressage Horse – 4 year olds

1^st– Rebecca Hughes and Classic Flamboyant, 8.08

2^nd– Emma Blundell and Mount St John Best of All, 7.64

3^rd– Nicola Hargreaves and Fly, 7.24

Class 4: FEI Prix St Georges

1^st– Gareth Hughes and Classic Briolinca, 72.89%

2^nd– Charlie Hutton and Douglas IV, 70.66%

3^rd– Dan Greenwood and Lennox, 69.96%

Class 5: FEI Intermediate I

1^st– Charlie Hutton and Douglas IV, 73.25%

2^nd– Darryl Thickitt and Word Surprise, 71.01%

3^rd– Dan Greenwood and Lennox, 69.56%

Class 6: Shearwater Potential International Young Dressage Horse – 5 year olds

1^st– Becky Moody and Eaimbry Eleonora, 7.60

2^nd– Emma Woolley and Eldorado, 7.56

3^rd– Christian Landolt and Lillifee, 7.54

Class 7: FEI Prix St Georges

1^st– Dan Greenwood and Lennox, 70.66%

2^nd– Nicola Lickley and Zaire LH, 68.68

3^rd– Keith Robertson and Boheme Af Sulsted, 68.46%

Class 8: FEI Young Rider Grand Prix

1^st– Eilidh Grant and Comanche Crumble, 64.11%

2^nd– Ryan Todd and Charlex Eskebjerg, 63.26%

3^rd– Jessica Knapton and De Spirited, 60.54%

Class 9: FEI Pony Individual

1^st– Lara Kuropatwa and Le Chiffre, 69.23%

2^nd– Emma Bond and Rober, 62.48%

3^rd– Georgia Twaddell and Lightning Lumiere, 61.34%

Class 10: FEI Young Rider Team Test

1^st– Eilidh Grant and Comanche Crumble, 68.99%

2^nd– Jessica Knapton and De Spirited, 67.63%

3^rd– Georgia Davis and Richmans Manta, 66.10%

Class 11: FEI Intermediate I

1^st– Sara Gallop and Summerhouse Zelham, 68.38%

2^nd– Steph Croxford and Mr Hyde, 66.36%

3^rd– Christian Landolt and Don Jovi, 66.23%

Class 12: BD Intermediate II 2014

1^st– Anne-Marie Perry and Feine Dame, 66.38%

2^nd– Steph Croxford and Mr Hyde, 66.26%

3^rd– Beverley Brightman and Hexagon Plantina Van Lange Weeren, 65.89%

Class 13: Freestyle Music Prix St Georges

1^st– Charlotte Fry and Remming, 71.21%

2^nd– Ryan Todd and Charlex Eskebjerg, 69.96%

3^rd– Claire Moore and Rendezvous, 67.96%

Class 14: Freestyle Music Intermediate I

1^st– Melissa Chapman and DHI Work of Art, 69.88%

2^nd– Heather Cumming and Zeron, 62.38%

3^rd– Claire Gaskin and Holme Park Volnay, 59.63%

Class 15: Freestyle Music Grand Prix

1^st– Becky Moody and Caluna, 67.71%

2^nd– Rebecca Hughes and Rubini Royale, 67.54%

3^rd– Jacky Stolper and Der Schufro, 65.54%

Class 16: FEI Pony Team Test

1^st– Alexandra Helling and Der Kleine Lord, 70.90%

2^nd– Angus Corrie-Deane and Grayswood Orlando, 63.89%

3^rd– Lara Radzki and Madams Miss Maria, 63.12%

Class 17: FEI Grand Prix

1^st– Nikki Crisp and Pasoa, 68.63%

2^nd– Jacky Stolper and Der Schufro, 66.13%

3^rd– Ruth Edge and Shadowfax, 65.13%

Class 18: FEI Junior Team Test

1^st– Charlotte Fry and Remming, 72.77%

2^nd– Erin Williams and Waverly, 68.11%

3^rd– Charlotte Fry and Z Flemmenco, 66.89%