At the Merrist Wood Southern Winter Regional Championships, 23 – 27 February, Matt Hicks and Alice Oppenheimer took two wins apiece to secure their places at the NAF Five Star Winter Dressage Championships in April.
Hampshire-based Alice rode Headmore Boadicia, a nine-year-old mare owned by her mother Sarah Oppenheimer, to win the Advanced Medium Open and the Prix St Georges Music Freestyle with scores of 71.32% and 75.04% respectively. Alice, and the attractive chestnut by Belissino M, enjoyed two top-five placings at the winter championships last year and look to be hot contenders once again.
Matt, who also hails from Hampshire, headed both the Medium Open (69.55%) and Medium Open Music Freestyle (76.50%) riding Don Carissimo, Anne Keen’s eight-year-old gelding by Don Crusador. This new combination first competed last November and has just a handful of outings under its belt. Matt has forged a great partnership with the charismatic German-bred scoring consistently well into the 70%s.
Local rider, Anna Lawson, 18, posted the highest score of the five day show – 76.67% - to win the Preliminary, more than 5% ahead of second-placed Rebecca Haryett and Bjorsun. Anna who lives in Guildford, a stone’s throw from the venue, rode Carentino Z, her ten-year-old KWPN gelding by Caridor Z. This on-form duo also won the same class at the Addington Midlands Winter Regional Championship last month. They’re certainly ones to watch at Hartpury in April.
KBIS BRITISH EQUESTRIAN PRELIMINARY
Anna Lawson and Carentino Z, 76.67%
BLUE CHIP NOVICE RESTRICTED
Rebecca Haryett and Bjornsun, 70.57%
BLUE CHIP NOVICE OPEN
Beth Bainbridge and Brewarrina SC, 72.30%
EQUITOP MYOPLAST ELEMENTARY RESTRICTED
Sarah Ansty and Woodhams Debutante, 69.17%
EQUITOP MYOPLAST ELEMENTARY OPEN
Richard Black and High Hoes Sidonie, 71.67%
ALBION MEDIUM RESTRICTED
Molly Key and B Jazzmin, 67.75%
ALBION MEDIUM OPEN
Matt Hicks and Don Carissimo, 69.55%
CHARLES OWEN ADVANCED MEDIUM RESTRICTED
Sandra Tizzard and Di Marco II, 68.16%
CHARLES OWEN ADVANCED MEDIUM OPEN
Alice Oppenheimer and Headmore Boadicia, 71.32%
BAILEYS HORSE FEEDS NOVICE RESTRICTED MUSIC FREESTYLE
Clare Bull and Regal Hit, 73.98%
BAILEYS HORSE FEEDS NOVICE OPEN MUSIC FREESTYLE
Sara-Jane Lanning and Greenlanes Almar B, 72.78%
GFS ELEMENTARY RESTRICTED MUSIC FREESTYLE
Rachel Christopher and Karin JDJ, 70.96%
GFS ELEMENTARY OPEN MUSIC FREESTYLE
Debbie Poynter and Keystone For Real, 74.62%
SPILLERS MEDIUM RESTRICTED MUSIC FREESTYLE
Gabriella Zajacka and Mundham Demon Dancer, 73.72%
SPILLERS MEDIUM OPEN MUSIC FREESTYLE
Matt Hicks and Don Carissimo, 76.50%
NUPAFEED ADVANCED MEDIUM MUSIC FREESTYLE
Karen Shepherd and Mister Mole, 73.78%
MAGIC PRIX ST. GEORGES MUSIC FREESTYLE
Alice Oppenheimer and Headmore Boadicia, 75.04%
For full results click here