Carl Hester rode Dances with Wolves to a resounding double over the bank holiday weekend at the Somerford Premier League show, Cheshire 23-25 May 2014. In the process, they stamped their authority with two personal best scores in the high 70s, putting them in good stead for the upcoming team selection for the World Equestrian Games in August.
Carl and ‘Golly’ (pictured), Aram Gregory’s imposing Donnerschwee-sired Oldenburg set the scene with a decisive victory in Saturday’s Goldsmith Williams grand prix with a score of 76.36%, more than four percent ahead of second placed Michael Eilberg and his reliable grand prix partner, Marakov. Carl also took third with Jenny Green’s Fine Time 13 or ‘Bruno’ as he’s known to his friends - the 13-year-old Florestan 1 stallion with whom Carl was crowned 2013 national champion.
On his Facebook page, Carl said: ‘Badminton weather at Somerford for Bruno's GP, he was 3rd in torrential rain! Golly superb! His best ever GP and won it with nearly 77%! Very chuffed!’
Another rider vying for WEG team selection, Michael Eilberg, also had a successful weekend at the popular north west venue. The crowds at Somerford Park gathered to watch Michael claim the Knowsley Safari Park prix st georges (section A) with his father, Ferdi, and Alison Walton’s eight year old Furst Heinrich mare, Woodlander Farouche. Only their second PSG together, the pair destroyed the competition, achieving the highest score of the weekend with 78.42% - a whopping 8% above second place’s Spencer Wilton and Jayne Lancashire’s nine year old KWPN gelding, Alfons (70.96%). The pair continued their meteoric run of form with a second win in the Equitop Nutrition PSG on the Sunday with another strong score of 75.92%. Now the question is, will we be treated to seeing ‘Rouche’ at the LeMieux Nationals in the Fairfax Saddles PSG in September?
Spencer also took the top spot in Friday’s Knowsley Safari Park PSG section B – a class so popular with competitors, it had to be split into two sections – with his own and Jennifer Goodman’s ten year old stallion, Zamboucca, on a score of 74.52%. The dynamic duo also went on to claim the Firmdale Hotels FEI Inter I (section B) title with 71.58%. Team GBR rider Gareth Hughes grabbed the section A top spot on Kate Byrom’s 11-year-old Sandro Hit stallion, Samba Hit III, with their mark of 71.93%.
The youngsters were out in force at Somerford Premier League with Isobel Berrington and her mum’s 18-year-old German gelding, DHI Langar, taking both The Black Swan pony team and Individual titles on 70.26% and 66.22% respectively. Charlotte Fry continued her fantastic run of form, grabbing the top two spots in The Black Swan junior team test with Rosemary Shewen’s ten year old Flemmingh gelding, Z Flemmenco (69.77%) and Christine Graham and Leslie Connor’s 16-year old superstar gelding, Remming (69.37%). Whilst Charlotte Dicker and Jennie Loriston-Clarke’s 17-year-old stallion, Catherston Springsteen, stole first place in The Black Swan junior individual test with 67.50%.
Fresh from their impressive stint at Saumur CDI, 21-year-old Olivia Oakeley and her own 13-year-old Dimaggio gelding, Donna Summer topped the young rider team charts with their impressive score of 73.42% - massive 4% above second place – whereas it was Ryan Todd and his mum’s 13-year-old Danish gelding, Charlex Eskebjerg, who took The Black Swan young rider individual class with 69.54%.
The ever popular freestyle tests took centre stage on the Saturday with Henry Boswell and Coral Ingham’s 12-year-old Gribaldi stallion, Vincente II, making their debut together in the Baileys Horse Feeds advanced medium freestyle, scoring a solid 71.75% to take the number one spot. Pumping the volume and moving to the beat in the Baileys Horse Feeds PSG freestyle was Pippa Hutton with her mum, Pammy’s 13-year-old Bernstein gelding, Belmondo III, topping the charts with 69.92%.
Riders and exciting potential talent turned up in droves once more for the young horse classes. Three-time world record holder, Charlotte Dujardin, left Valegro at home to take the Shearwater 4 year old potential international dressage horse with Carl Hester and Lady Anne Evans’ Bertoli/Donnerhall gelding, Goldfinger. Making their first appearance together, the gelding impressed the judge with his canter, earning a winning score of 8. However it was Grace Webster and her own five year old Dutch mare, Eden II, who gained the highest young horse score over the weekend. The pair won the Harthill Stud 5 year old national British young dressage horse with a huge mark of 8.24; they, later, also went on to win the Harthill Stud 5 year old international British young dressage horse on 7.59; a fantastic achievement and an exciting prospect for the future.
For full results, click here.
Friday
Class 1: Advanced medium 92
Lucy Pincus with Sheepcote Don Calisto, 70.95%
Class 2: Advanced 105
Kate Cowell with Rockerfella IV, 70.83%
Class 3a: Knowsley Safari Park PSG
Michael Eilberg with Woodlander Farouche, 78.42%
Class 3b: Knowsley Safari Park PSG
Spencer Wilton with Zamboucca, 74.52%
Class 4: Hope Valley Saddlery Intermediate II
Michael Eilberg with Woodlander Dornroeschen, 72.36%
Saturday
Class 5a: Firmdale Hotels FEI Intermediate I
Gareth Hughes with Samba Hit III, 71.93%
Class 5b: Firmdale Hotels FEI Intermediate I
Spencer Wilton with Zamboucca, 71.58%
Class 6: Goldsmith Williams FEI Grand Prix
Carl Hester with Dances with Wolves, 76.36%
Class 7a: The Black Swan FEI Pony Team
Isobel Berrington with DHI Langar, 70.26%
Class 7b: The Black Swan FEI Junior Team
Charlotte Fry with Z Flemmenco, 69.77%
Class 7c: The Black Swan FEI Young Rider Team
Olivia Oakeley with Donna Summer, 73.42%
Class 8: Harthill Stud 5 year old National British Young Dressage Horse
Grace Webster with Eden II, 8.24
Class 9: Harthill Stud 6 year old National British Young Dressage Horse
Louise Davison with D’Arilla, 8.2
Class 10: Baileys Horse Feeds Advanced Medium Freestyle
Henry Boswell with Vincente II, 71.75%
Class 11: Baileys Horse Feeds Prix St Georges Freestyle
Pippa Hutton with Belmondo III, 69.92%
Sunday
Class 12: Harthill Stud 5 year old International British Young Dressage Horse
Grace Webster with Eden II, 7.59
Class 13: Harthill Stud 6 year old International British Young Dressage Horse
Rebecca Hughes with Be Mine, 6.88
Class 14: Equiform Nutrition Prix St Georges
Michael Eilberg with Woodlander Farouche, 75.92%
Class 15: Goldsmith Williams Grand Prix Special
Carl Hester with Dances with Wolves, 77.20%
Class 16a: The Black Swan FEI Pony Individual
Isobel Berrington with DHI Langar, 66.22%
Class 16b: The Black Swan FEI Junior Individual
Charlotte Dicker with Catherston Springsteen, 67.50%
Class 16c: The Black Swan FEI Young Rider Individual
Ryan Todd with Charlex Eskebjerg, 69.54%
Class 17: Medium 75
Ruth Edge with Monarchs Cavalier, 72.16%
Class 18: Shearwater 4 year old Potential International Dressage Horse
Charlotte Dujardin with Goldfinger, 8
Class 19: Shearwater 5 year old Potential International Dressage Horse
Darryl Thickett with Flaniermaus, 8.1