Dressage stars wow at Wellington

Current and future stars of dressage travelled from all over the country to Hampshire for Wellington Riding’s annual premier league competition (4 – 7 Jun 2015).

25-year-old Alice Oppenheimer and Georgina Pole-Carew’s eight year old Sir Donnerhall-sired gelding, Tantoni Sir Soccrates dominated proceedings in the Saracen Horse Feeds inter I. Scoring a personal best of 72.01% in their first inter I on British soil, Alice and Socs – as her partner is known at home – shot to the top, overtaking the experienced combination Matt Frost and AMD Don Rosso who took second (70.92%) and rising stars, Michael Eilberg and Der Designer in third (70.17%).

The dynamic duo also claimed the second Fairfax Saddles PSG of the competition with a huge 73.37%, gaining their second direct qualification ticket to the LeMieux National Dressage Championship (Saracen Horse Feeds Inter I and Fairfax Saddles PSG Championships).

Speaking from her Facebook, Alice exclaimed, “Had another fab day at Wellington today. Superstar Mr Socs was an absolute legend yet again winning a massive PSG class with over 73% completing his qualification directly for the Nationals.”

Pippa Hutton proved to be the only rider who could put a stop to Alice’s winning streak. Riding her own, Pammy Hutton and Philip Woof’s 13-year-old Dimaggio mare, Duela, Pippa danced her way to the top to take the Magic PSG freestyle class with a whopping 77.33%, the highest score of the weekend. Alice and Socs settled in second with an equally impressive 74.54%.

Olympian, Laura Tomlinson also had a successful competition at the Hampshire-based venue, winning two classes over the course of the week. Debuting her father’s seven-year-old Lord Leatherdale mare, Dolcevendy in the Equine Construction advanced medium, Laura’s vast experience settled any potential nerves from the mare to score 71.97% and claim the top spot. Her second win also came from a new ride, her own and Dr. Bechtolsheimer’s eight-year-old Rhodium-sired stallion, Duvals Capri Sonne Jr (pictured), scoring 74.25% in their first ever inter I together – also gaining a direct qualification ticket through to the Nationals.

The competition’s third and final Saracen Horse Feeds Inter I Championship direct qualification ticket was won by 22-year-old Olivia Oakeley riding Anne Keen’s ten-year-old German-bred gelding, Don Carissimo. After coming third in the Fairfax Saddles PSG with 68.02% (won by Richard Barrett with Walid 4, 69.91%) the pair upped their game and, in just their second ever inter I together, scored a strong 69.12% to take first place.

International riders, Bobby Hayer and Hayley Watson-Greaves ruled the big tour classes. It was Bobby Hayler with Paul Hayler’s 13-year-old British-bred stallion, Aldborough Rubenhall who topped the LeMieux grand prix with 68.30% - just two marks ahead of Hayley Watson-Greaves and her own 11-year-old Rubin Royal-sired gelding, WG Rubins Nite (68.13%).The grand prix special saw the tables turn as Hayley and Squeaks – as WG Rubins Nite is known by his friends – topped the class with a personal best of 69.15%, whilst Bobby landed into second with 68.00%.

Lara Kuropatwa rode Le Chiffre, Samantha Brown’s eight-year-old stallion by Caesar 171, and scored a personal best of 73.26% in the pony team test to top the tables – a massive eight per cent above second placed Gemma Owen and Der Kleine Lord (65.89%).

Finally, despite being dive-bombed by a suicidal pigeon, Sarah Millis and her ride, Selene Scarsi’s German-bred chestnut gelding by Belissimo M, Bodleian coolly claimed the Shearwater 5YO potential international dressage horse class, scoring 7.92.

For full results, click here.

Results

Class 1: Hickstead 5YO National British Young Dressage Horse

1^st– Sarah Williams with Hingsight, 7.58

Class 2: Hickstead 6YO National British Young Dressage Horse

1^st– Marie Matthews with Beltano, 7.78

Class 3: TopSpec medium

Open

1^st– Matt Frost with Leandro, 72.79%

Restricted

1^st– Angela Gladding with Parisienne Jupiter, 64.11%

Class 4: Fairfax Saddles PSG

1^st– Georgie Brittan with Diamant, 69.38%

Class 5: Saracen Horse Feeds inter I

1^st– Alice Oppenheimer with Tantoni Sir Soccrates, 72.01%

Class 6: Shearwater Potential International Dressage Horse 4YO

1^st– Bryony Goodwin with Hawtins Soave, 7.94

Class 7: Shearwater Potential International Dressage Horse 5YO

1^st– Sarah Millis with Bodleian, 7.92

Class 8: TopSpec medium

1^st– Matt Frost with Leandro, 73.24%

Class 9: Hickstead 5YO International British Young Dressage Horse

1^st– Paul Hayler with F J Veyron, 7.68

Class 10: Hickstead 6YO International British Young Dressage Horse

1^st– Kate Rowland with Erasmus I, 8.04

Class 11: Equine Construction advanced medium

Open

1^st– Laura Tomlinson with Dolcevendy O, 71.97%

Restricted

1^st– Julia Walker with Rhodea, 68.81%

Class 12: Fairfax Saddles PSG

1^st– Alice Oppenheimer with Tantoni Sir Soccrates, 73.37%

Class 13: Monarch inter II

1^st– Bobby Hayler with Aldborough Rubenhall, 68.68%

Class 14: Equine Construction advanced medium

Open

1^st– Sonnar Murray-Brown with Erlentanz, 73.02%

Restricted

1^st– Sadie Smith with Keystone Dynamite, 74.32%

Class 15: Nupafeed advanced medium freestyle

1^st– Sam Rahmatalia with Seagry Rohsan, 76.00%

Class 16: Saracen Horse Feeds inter I

1^st– Laura Tomlinson with Duvals Capri Sonne Jr, 74.25%

Class 17: LeMieux grand prix

1^st– Bobby Hayler with Aldborough Rubenhall, 68.30%

Class 18: Magic PSG freestyle

1^st– Pippa Hutton with Duela, 77.33%

Class 19: Young rider team test

1^st– Gaby Lucas with Salo, 69.01%

Class 20: Junior team test

1^st– Rose Hugh-Smith with Florentino, 68.44%

Class 21: Pony team test

1^st– Lara Kuropatwa with Le Chiffre, 73.26%

Class 22: Grand prix special

1^st– Hayley Watson-Greaves with WG Rubins Nite, 69.15%

Class 23: Fairfax Saddles PSG

1^st– Richard Barrett with Walid 4, 69.91%

Class 24: Saracen Horse Feeds inter I

1^st– Olivia Oakeley with Don Carissimo, 69.12%