Carl Hester today took one step closer to toppling the doyenne of dressage, Jennie Loriston-Clarke, after winning the LeMieux Grand Prix Championship at the LeMieux National Dressage Championships, held at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire.
Currently tied with Jennie on seven National Champion titles each, a win or good score in tomorrow’s Horse Health Grand Prix Freestyle could secure Carl his eighth National Champion title, breaking the British Dressage record.
Last to go in today’s grand prix with his own and Aram Gregory’s 12-year-old Donnerschwee gelding, Dances with Wolves, the duo snatched the title from Michael Eilberg by just 0.24% with their score of 70.54%. However not content with just taking the title, Carl’s second ride, Jenny Green’s 13-year-old German gelding, Fine Time 13 also claimed third place with 69.78%. Michael Eilberg and his father’s 14-year-old Latvian gelding, Marakov, scored 70.30% to take second.
Speaking about his winning ride, Dances with Wolves – or Golly as he’s known at home – Carl stated: “He’s a hot number and everyone knows I do struggle a little bit with his temperament, so I’m careful with him. I rode him at various times yesterday and I was up early this morning just to show him the ropes again as he needs that time just to relax; he’s really a full time job, so I was quite happy with his test – we got to the end!
“His temperament changes throughout the test and he was very hot at one stage but he did relax again,” Carl continued. “70 is always a great score and it’s the benchmark I set for my horses to go onto better things. I’m very happy with the fact he ended up the winner - there’s still more to come from him!”
Although both of Carl’s rides have qualified for tomorrow’s Horse Health Grand Prix Freestyle, he has made the decision to only take one horse through in Fine Time 13 which means that Daniel Watson and Fideramber, who came 11th on 66.46%, pick up the spare place in the freestyle.
“Because only ten are allowed to go forward, I didn’t want to be greedy,” explained Carl. “I’ve been lucky enough to ride at a number of National Championships but for some it’s a real dream, so it’s nice to be able to let another competitor in. Daniel Watson has been a very good competitor for us in the Nation Cups this year, so I’m sure people will look forward to seeing him – plus, it makes the competition more exciting.”
Explaining why he chose Bruno, Fine Time 13’s stable name, over Golly, he stated: “Deciding to ride Fine Time puts me in a position where I’m not in the lead, but I’m only a fraction behind Michael. I know Bruno can do a much more difficult Kur, plus he’s more reliable and people love to see the music so I’m hoping I’ve made the decision. It seems to have been a year of hoping I’ve made the right decision and so far it’s worked, so let’s hope we can end the season with me having picked the right one once more!”
Spencer Wilton and Jayne Lancashire’s Alfonso cemented their position as the country’s leading lights at Inter I level today. They dominated the Saracen Horse Feeds Inter I Freestyle with an impressive 78.43%, nearly two and a half percent ahead of their nearest rivals. It’s even more impressive that it was their Freestyle debut together. Coupled with their win yesterday in the Inter I, they were awarded the Supreme Championship to take the hat-trick of titles on offer.
Drawn third last to go, Spencer knew what was required after 21 year old World Class Development rider Olivia Oakeley put up the performance her young career with her bubbly chestnut Donna Summer (s. Dimaggio) to score 73.08% with a technically challenging programme which met with great approval from the crowd and her delighted support team. Spencer and Alfons haven’t had much time to prepare with the Berkshire rider having some time off with a back problem so he just had to throw caution into the wind and ride the Tchaikovsky-sired gelding to his maximum potential. The nine year old answered with a fluent, correct test which Spencer presented with his normal flair to score over 78%.
Charlie Hutton followed him and came close with 76.03% with Douglas IV while the final combination of Gareth Hughes and the impressive Samba Hit III also couldn’t quite score the necessary to overtake the leaders.
So the win went to Spencer. A clean test made the victory even more sweet and satisfaction for a job well done. After a lively prize giving , he commented; “A definite clear round today. I just wanted a test with no mistakes and where I didn’t forget where I was going! The music is very specific for the movements so there’s no room for error – I did get a little behind so my final halt was a bit abrupt. I borrowed the music from my good friend Andrew Gould who very kindly leant it to me as I haven’t had chance to put a music programme together for him. So I owe him a beer later! His basic way of going over the last few days has been a delight. I was confident that if we could be mistake free and he went how he can, then it’d be in the bag.
“He’ll have a few days off in the field now and an easy time before we start to prepare for the Mount St John Future Elite class at Horse of the Year Show. We’ve got a few weeks to practice the music more and while I’m not particularly confident in everything I do, I’ll have confidence from our run here. I’m thrilled for his owner Jane; when she sent him to me at the beginning of the year and I don’t think either of us ever thought we’d end the season like this. A really good day.”
West Lothian dressage rider Jo Hamilton partnered Corchapin (Negro x Amsterdam), the exciting prospect she co-owns with Lady Hope, to win the Dressage Deluxe Medium Open Championship with an impressive 72.22% adding to their already illustrious CV.
This is the third successive year that Carl Hester-trained Jo and the charismatic chestnut gelding have earned a national tile here at Stoneleigh – they won the novice open in 2012 and the elementary open in 2013, showing an already impressive career path.
“I’m so pleased and very proud of him,” said Jo, clearly delighted. “It always feels really special to win here,”
“Today we really enjoyed the canter work and the walk was very good. He was responsive and with me through the test. Also his character and personality is huge and he brings that to the arena. He’s a lovely horse - he offers so much and leaves an impression on everyone he meets.”
Describing the beginnings of their union Jo said: “I first saw ‘Colin’ in the October of his third year, being ridden by Charlotte [Dujardin]. When I expressed an interest, Carl said he was definitely not for sale. The following February he called to say he might sell him and then, by the end of the month, the horse was vetted and mine! I hadn’t even ridden him, but Carl knowing us both well could see we’d fit.”
Looking long-term, Jo said: “Carl has always got his eyes set on grand prix and in October I’m travelling down to his for a couple of months to push on with our training.”
Jo was quick to thank her sponsors TopSpec, Equilibrium Products, Roekel, Uvex, World Class and the support from horsescotland.
The Shearwater Potential International Dressage Horse Championship is typically a hotbed of talent, and if today’s first round is anything to go by, tomorrow’s final judging promises a showcase of future stars.
Six four-year-olds headed by Charlotte Dujardin and Mount St John Best of All, and seven five-year-olds headed by Sadie Smith and River Rise Escarla, have qualified for the second stage. Each will be assessed on their talent, rideability and star quality in front of the knowledgeable crowds tomorrow afternoon.
Results on www.bdchampionships.com