At Kingston Maurward Southern Regional Championships, It was mission accomplished for Matt Frost and Dedi Leech’s promising prospect AMD Don Rosso II when they secured two places at Advanced Medium at this year’s NAF Five Star Winter Championships in the Open and Freestyle sections. The Dr Doolittle-sired gelding has taken time to grow into his 18hh+ frame and Matt has produced him sympathetically which is clearly paying off with two plus 70%+ scores.
In the Charles Owen Advanced Medium open, they claimed a clear win with over 74% while they topped the 76% mark in the Nupafeed Advanced Medium Freestyle.
A very happy Matt commented; "Today we really took him down a level as he's been working at PSG but tha's not a bad thing as he's taken time to mature. He really felt confident and I could feel him saying 'this is easy dad' which was great. We'll keep competing at Advanced Medium and PSG to consolidate at this level before making the step up." It was a good day for the AMDressage team as clients Lucy Baker and Louise Hutchinson also won their sections. "We're having such a nice time at the moment - let's hop the sucess continues!" added Matt.
Matt will be taking 'Donald' to Hartpury and plans to work on 'dotting the i's and crossing the t's'. "I went a bit overboard in my freestyle and the trot work was a little fast so that will need some polish. We won't need to do too much with him as he's very clever - he's happiest in the field."
19 year old Jezz Palmer also scored a double victory and Hartpury tickets at Novice Restricted level with Margaret Allen and Jules Cranfield’s Royaume Uni. Only in their second season together, the combination took the Blue Chip Novice Restricted by just 0.8% but were comfortable winners in the Baileys Horse Feeds Novice Restricted Freestyle.
Sue Lanz travelled her two horses, Friday Morning and Friday Feeling up from Minehead for a fantastic day. The horses are full sisters are out of renown eventing mare Friday Fox by the stallion Matinee and both evented to advanced level with west-country rider Lucy Wiegersma. Since retiring from eventing, Sue has campaigned them both for three years in dressage. She scored a one-two in the GFS Elementary restricted, winning with Friday Morning with a fantastic 75.51%. Hopefully Sue won’t mind us pointing out that the trio have a combined age of 108, showing dressage is a great way to keep riders and horses fit and well!
At the opposite end of the age spectrum, nine year old Maddy Whelan is Hartpury-bound after winning the Equitop Myoplast Elementary restricted with the 12.2hh Mighty Max II who’s brought a few riders through the grades.
Top score of the day goes to the Baileys Horse Feeds Novice open Music Freestyle winners, Sadie Smith and Keystone Dynamite who broke the 77% mark.
For full results – click here
KBIS BRITISH EQUESTRIAN PRELIMINARY
Charlotte Feltham and Illusion II, 70.76%
BLUE CHIP NOVICE RESTRICTED
Jezz Palmer and Royaume Uni, 69.31%
BLUE CHIP NOVICE OPEN
Nadine Gregory and Candover Dramatico, 71.26%
EQUITOP MYOPLAST ELEMENTARY RESTRICTED
Maddy Whelan and Mighty Max II, 72.71%
EQUITOP MYOPLAST ELEMENTARY OPEN
Louise Hutchinson and Dantino, 69.06
ALBION MEDIUM RESTRICTED
Sara Squires and Irish Dream, 67.57%
ALBION MEDIUM OPEN
Hannah Biggs and Half Moon Revelation, 71.89%
CHARLES OWEN ADVANCED MEDIUM RESTRICTED
Lucy Baker and Ferdinand Fardoos, 68.86%
CHARLES OWEN ADVANCED MEDIUM OPEN
Matt Frost and AMD Don Rosso II, 74.04%
BAILEYS HORSE FEEDS NOVICE RESTRICTED MUSIC FREESTYLE
Jezz Palmer and Royaume Uni, 74.17%
BAILEYS HORSE FEEDS NOVICE OPEN MUSIC FREESTYLE
Sadie Smith and Keystone Dynamite, 77.31%
GFS ELEMENTARY RESTRICTED MUSIC FREESTYLE
Sue Lanz and Friday Morning, 75.51%
GFS ELEMENTARY OPEN MUSIC FREESTYLE
Aidan Paterson and Bubble Up, 70%
SPILLERS MEDIUM RESTRICTED MUSIC FREESTYLE
Gary Caddy and Donna Charisma, 74.89%
SPILLERS MEDIUM OPEN MUSIC FREESTYLE
Jacky Stolper and Wifranco, 71.72%
NUPAFEED ADVANCED MEDIUM MUSIC FREESTYLE
Matt Frost and AMD Don Rosso II, 76.22%
MAGIC PRIX ST. GEORGES MUSIC FREESTYLE
Hayley Watson-Greaves and WG Don Wimero, 75.17%