Bury Farm played host to a star-studded invitational PSG Freestyle last night as part of the Team Quest Championships in front of a lively crowd who created an amazing atmosphere. Kindly sponsored by Moet & Chandon, nine riders and horses came forward and it proved a tight affair with less than 6.5% separating our winner and ninth. That winner was Charlie Hutton with Charlotte Dunkerton’s Douglas IV who wowed with their Eurythmics inspired routine.
Alice Oppenheimer got us underway with her ‘ugly duckling’, the Belissimo M sired Headmore Boadicia which couldn’t have been a better curtain opener. Her ‘West Side Story’ score captivated the crowd – a number of which who were experiencing their first experience of ‘live’ dressage to music. Their score of 71.04% set the standard and it was to stay that way for few riders to come.
Next in was Essex-based Ben Martin riding the British-bred Dimaggik. Ben has bought ‘Gio’ on from a novice and the duo were Baileys Novice Winter Freestyle Champions in 2011. Just three years on as a nine year old, the mare, by Dimaggio, has risen up the grades to PSG and was in her element to an upbeat medley which featured a touch of Queen. Their score of 69.92% wasn’t enough to take the lead but it was a PB for them at this level by just 0.1%.
Third to go was another combination that has been together from the start, Maria Griffin and DJ. Maria describes her Diamond Hit sired chestnut partner as ‘the most gorgeous boy who’s charming in every way’. Their flute piano combo music was well suited to DJ, owned by Adrian Baker, and the judges rewarded them with 71.04%, matching our pathfinder, Alice Oppenhiemer. The scorers frantically took to their calculators to work out that Alice kept the lead with a technical score of 217 versus Maria’s 212.
Next in was the youngest rider of the competition, Sweden’s talented young rider, Victoria Appleyard with Anne Appleyard’s Sir Willy (s. Sir Oldenburg). The duo represented Sweden at this year’s Young Rider European Championships in Arezzo, Italy on their debut season at the level. She may ride for Sweden but having a British dad means she’s based here and trains with Matt Frost and Adam Kemp. She’s had the German bred for three years and they’ve formed quite a partnership. Their Nichole Penzlich score was full of youthful, upbeat tune which suited the leggy duo perfectly with a score of 69.29%.
She was followed by her trainer Matt Frost who was brimming with confidence after his successful trip to HOYS with Dedi Leech’s AMD Don Rosso II where they were fourth in the Mt St John Future Elite Championship. The nine year old Dr Doolittle sired German gelding has been busy winning fans this season and was certainly one of the favourites to take the cash on the night. Their emotional music captivated the crowd but a few mistakes cost them dear to end on 70.71%.
In then trotted another high on the contenders list, Charlie Hutton with Charlotte Dunkerton’s Douglas IV, another by Diamond Hit. He opted for his Eurythmics music which was a great choice on the night as with a number of youngsters in the audience and it was the most ‘foot tapping’ music of the evening. Charlie always praises the gelding’s flying changes and this test had clean examples throughout – with not one missed. It wasn’t just the crowd who got behind Charlie, the judges agreed with a score of 75.63% to storm into the lead.
It was then down to another young lady in prime form, Olivia Oakeley with her ‘ginge ‘(Olivia’s words), Donna Summer. The duo have had a great season as Britain’s leading young rider combination at the European Championship and were agonisingly close to an individual medal in both classes. Her freestyle was jam packed with emotion set to a Les Miserables backdrop with a number of technical elements including a bold extended canter final centre line.71.46% wasn’t enough for the lead but put them second behind Charlie.
The penultimate pairing was Becky Moody with her own former young horse champion Carinsio by the KWPN stallion Painted Black who, at just seven, was the youngest horse in the competition. Reigning SureGrow Advanced Medium National Champions, this was the duo’s first ever freestyle together. Their specially produced music by Thomas Farnon especially for Carinsio included music from the Sherlock Holmes movies and Last Tango in Halifax. Their floor plan belied the horse’s age with great technicality with a fault free performance to score 74.29% - not bad for a debut!
The final competitor was Pippa Hutton, who held the title of Britain’s leading young rider combination last year with her ride, Duela, owned by mum Pammy and herself. The Dimaggio sired mare was a late edition to the entry list but the crowd were happy they came as she and Pippa gave a great performance full of Hutton-flair with some really technical moves with a ‘cheeky’ one-handed final centre line of changes against tunes including music from Adele. Their score of 72.13% nudged Olivia off the podium and gave us a Hutton family one and three with Becky Moody separating them in second.
After the prize giving we spoke to Charlie and discovered that wife Abi has already decided on how to spend his share of the £1000…on a trip to Paris! They only got married in April and had to have a truncated ‘mini-moon’ so Abi felt it was time for a proper trip – we’ll hold you to that Charlie!
He was obviously pleased with Douglas and said; “I’m very pleased with him tonight. I decided to re-work my floor plan late on Thursday night so I did get a bit lost here and there; sometimes ahead, sometimes behind! Plus, I finished teaching ten minutes before we were due to leave and discovered I hadn’t put my CD in the lorry! I managed to burn one on my laptop which fortunately was in the lorry!
“I enjoy riding every movement with him and he felt fantastic in there. His owner Charlotte and I haven’t decided any plans for next year. She was kind to give me the ride and we’ve got on so well together. He’s a sensitive chap and had three different riders so it was special to bond with me so quickly.”
Runner up Becky Moody commented; “I was really chuffed with him. Noise and music isn’t really his thing but he coped really well – it was an amazing atmosphere and he needs to do this sort of thing. He’s really growing up and maturing; some have even said he’s looking better than at the Nationals. I’m hoping to be able to sneak in a qualifier for the PSG winter championships before winter and then we’ll aim to bring him out in the spring at the Addington high profile show. If he carries on to mature, I’ll take him to some international small tour competitions.”
Thanks to Gareth and his team at Bury Farm for adding this class to give us a gala night worthy of the Team Quest finals – and thanks to Moet & Chandon for their support to tempt a great bunch of riders to come forward to give the crowds such great entertainment.
For full results: click here.
Picture copyright Kevin Sparrow