Dr Claire Abel rode Rowan Magic (pictured) to win the Charles Owen advanced medium restricted. The Westfalian bred 11-year-old was bought five years ago after a trip to Holland.
“I went with a very specific idea of what I wanted and that was something up and ready to do a prix st georges,” said Claire who is the head of finance at an engineering company. As so often happens Claire’s idea was instantly altered when she saw the Rhodiamant/De Niro gelding. “He was so elastic, I’d liken him to riding syrup - soft and supple,” said Claire who trains with Adam Kemp. “He has a huge canter so fitting in the canter serpentine is a challenge so I was particularly pleased with the changes.”
Nathalie Kayal secured the Magic Prix St Georges freestyle with her own DHI Homerun. The Hochadel/Flemmingh gelding was bought in Holland two years ago. “I went looking for a youngster to grade as a stallion and came back with an eight-year-old gelding,” joked Nathalie. “He’s the first older horse I’ve bought but I’ve never regretted it. It’s been a big learning curve but he has so much potential.”
It was good show for Nathalie who also won the PDS Saddles elementary freestyle with DHI Bravo and was there to watch her Woodcroft St Emilion win the Baileys novice open freestyle with Richard Haywood. Richard picked up the ride on the six-year-old after Nathalie saw him riding at the winter championships. “I had a bit of a nightmare ride there but Nathalie thought I would suit ‘Vinnie’ and got in touch,” said Richard who rides the horse at Nathalie’s three times a week. “He’s super talented and I love riding him,” he added.
Emma Woolley moved to a new yard in Leicestershire in the beginning of February and started in the best way possible taking both the Blue Chip novice open sec A and the Equitop Myoplast elementary with her sister Jessica’s Eldorado. The Special D stallion was bought from Holland after a tip off from a friend. “I’ve had a few from the same source and this is the best so far,” said Emma of the six-year-old who has a string of success in the Young Horse classes to his record. This year will see him available at stud for the first time. “We collected from him in November so he will only be available via frozen,” explained Emma who is thrilled with her new set up. “I’ve six venues within half an hour which is a real novelty,” she said.
Sec B of the Blue Chip was won by Mr and Mrs Burke’s San Diego V, ridden by Jessica Thompson, head girl at Assouline Dressage and newly sponsored by equestrian inspired fashion brand Freddie Parker.
Equitop Myoplast restricted winner Leanne Field has had her Aktie D for four years, buying the Tuschinski/Ferro gelding from Jane Lancashire of Dressage International.
“I saw an advert and liked the look of the horse but when I rang up it was already sold,” said Leanne who has just foregone her career as a financial futures trader to ride and teach. “I told Jane what I was looking for and saw Aktie two days after he arrived in the country and bought him straight away.”
Daisy Coakley’s journey with Judy Firmston-Williams’ Cleopatra II started with a win in the 2012 prelim national title and has carried on with much success to which she added sec A of the Nupafeed advanced medium freestyle. The win did not come without drama as Daisy explained. “We qualified for the medium freestyle as well but I ended up with my advanced medium music playing for that but at least it gave me a bit of a dress-rehearsal,” she said.
Sec B resulted in a win for Julie Hugo-Ross with Frances White’s Alivia
Julie Hugo-Ross won section B of the Nupafeed advanced medium freestyle with her own and Frances White’s Alivia II. The Olivi/Jazz mare is one of two foals that Frances bought. “I had the other one, the gelding, but sadly lost him so Frances suggested I have the mare to ride,” said Julie. “I’d chosen the gelding originally as I wasn’t sure I wanted a mare particularly with ‘hot’ breeding. She has completely changed my mind although she has her moments. She is lovely but definitely an alpha mare with a huge opinion of herself!” Julie’s decision to compete at Patchetts was a little bit last minute. “I only realised I’d qualified when I got the email through,” she said. “She hadn’t been out since last September but I managed to fit in a dress rehearsal the week before.”
Sonia Baines won the Charles Owen advanced medium open with Alison Singleton’s Sirius Black III. The gelding was bought from Peter Storr last autumn and her aim now is to get qualified for the summers, contest a couple of the premier leagues with the possibility of an international outing before the end of the summer.
“The idea is that Alison will also compete him,” added Sonia. “The horse has had very few outings so she can start at a lower level as he only has a handful of points.”
A score of 76.11 won the Spillers medium open freestyle for Kate Cowell riding Olwen Lloyd’s Dahling. The Lingh eight-year-old came to Kate just three weeks before the regional after usual rider Jo Hamilton was injured. “She has been very easy to just get on and ride,” said Kate. “Jo has done an amazing job on her and she put her competition hat on for me at Patchetts. We’ll do the winters and then get her qualified for the summers by which time Jo should be ready to take over again. I feel very lucky to have two such lovely two horses to ride and compete (Kate also has Corchapin) albeit in unfortunate circumstances but I’m looking forward to seeing Jo back on them both.”
The KBIS prelim was divided into two sections with 14-year-old Clare Bennett winning section A with BKS Brandini, and Alice Begg, a BD apprentice with Adam Smyth, section B with Gluckauf. The latter was bought at the Verdin auction 18 months ago. “There were two we really liked,” said Alice who went out there with Adam. “The first one was the second lot through the ring and Gluckauf was the last!” Having ridden Gluckauf Alice decided not to bid on the first. “I loved riding him,” she said. “He was so comfortable to ride and that little bit calmer so we took the risk and waited right to the end.”
Swalcliffe Park based Owen Cooper won the Albion medium open with Wendy McKay’s Don Dante II. The Dancier/Salvano stallion won the 2014 restricted medium championships at the nationals following a successful career in the young horse classes and has his second crop of foals due this year.
Winners
KBIS Prelim Regional Championship
Sec A Clare Bennett riding BKS Brandini 74.81%
Sec B Alice Begg riding Gluckauf 72.18%
Blue Chip Novice Open Regional Championship
Sec A Emma Woolley riding Jessica Woolley’s Eldorado 70.74%
Sec B Jessica Thompson riding the Burkes’ San Diego V 71.44%
Blue Chip Novice Restricted Regional Championship
Cara Sweeney riding Belissima 71.26%
Equitop Myoplast Elementary Open Regional Championship
Emma Woolley riding Jessica Woolley’s Eldorado 73.49%
Equitop Myoplast Elementary Restricted Regional Championship
Leanne Field riding Aktie D 70.99%
Albion Medium Open Regional Championship
Owen Cooper riding Don Dante II 71.44%
Albion Medium Restricted Regional Championship
Jayne Turney riding Crack the Code 67.57%
Charles Owen Advanced Medium Open Regional Championship
Sonia Baines riding Sirius Black III 71.75%
Charles Owen Advanced Medium Restricted Regional Championship
Dr Claire Abel riding Rowan Magic 69.69%
Baileys Novice Open Freestyle Regional Championship
Richard Hayward riding Nathalie Kayal’s Woodcroft St Emillion 79.35%
Baileys Novice Restricted Freestyle Regional Championship
Donna Muir riding Cloughavoula Blaze 74.63%
PDS Saddles Elementary Open Freestyle Regional Championship
Nathalie Kayal riding DHI Bravo 74.1%
PDS Saddles Elementary Restricted Freestyle Regional Championship
Kate Ward riding Ballinmore Blue Max 73.4%
Spillers Medium Open Freestyle Regional Championship
Kate Cowell riding Dahling 76.11%
Spillers Medium Restricted Freestyle Regional Championship
Sadie Smith riding Spiridon 72.83%
Nupafeed Advanced Medium Freestyle Regional Championship
Sec A Daisy Coakley riding Judy Firmston-Williams’ Cleopatra II 74.17%
Sec B Julie Hugo-Ross riding Alivia II 76%
Magic Prix St Georges Freestyle Northern Regional Championship
Nathalie Kayal riding her own DHI Homerun 74.97%
For full results click here