A top class British entry has been announced to contest the Senior, Young Rider, Junior and Pony CDIs at Addington Manor EC over the Easter holiday weekend (29 – 31 March). Plus, riders from eight nations will join them including Dressage’s dominant forces the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark as well as Scandic states Norway and Sweden. British entries make up 43 places from 40 riders, over half the entire field!
Classes for the under 21 age groups run on each of the three days with Friday being team test, Saturday individual test and Sunday freestyle. The senior grand prix and freestyle competitions take place during Gala Evenings on Friday and Saturday where just a tenner gets a car load of spectators in – and why not take in a warming two course carvery supper for £20 per head.
It promises to be two bumper evenings of great grand prix dressage action with 11 top British contenders plus three Dutch names. Some may be surprised to read that double Olympic gold medallist Charlotte Dujardin will partner her mentor Carl Hester’s Olympic ride, the Metall-sired stallion, Uthopia. “He’s really fit and well at the moment so we thought ‘why not?’. They were entered at the High Profile show here in January which was claimed by the weather. He’s going well at home with Charlotte so let’s hope they get a run this weekend!” said Carl.
Four of the British senior entry have made the journey across the Channel to compete internationally already in 2013 including Sarah Millis (Katja Kuistila’s HP Frontier), Hannah Biggs (Weltzin), Dan Watson (Susie Farnon’s Fideramber) and Peter Storr (Susan Singer’s Belmondino) – Nikki Crisp and Pasoa could have been amongst these names but their trip to s’Hertogenbosch was curtailed by snow when they couldn’t get on the ferry.
Michael Eilberg has two rides; John and Julie Deverill’s Half Moon Delphi and his father’s Marakov while sister Maria brings Ruth Anderson’s Jazz black stallion U Rockstar. Gareth Hughes makes an international competition return after a bright 2012 with Jane Brewin’s DV Stenkjers Nadonna.
Richard Davison brings his wife Gillian’s exciting new ride, Hiscox Aliano (pictured) for his international debut after a great first competitive grand prix at Myerscough Premier League with 70.60%.
Two other riders heading to Addington carrying great Myerscough form are Erin Williams and Olivia Oakley. Erin (15) has rides at Pony (Dynasty) and Junior (Fleurie) level, both owned by mum Clare while Olivia, a World Class Development rider, is campaigning Donna Summer at Young Rider level – and between them, they won the team tests at these levels at Myerscough and all three will compete at Addington.
Also recently in the ribbons and Addington-bound are Phoebe Peters and SL Lucci. During the two weeks of the Vidauban CDI, they won all six pony classes, notching up a personal best along the way. Can they be ‘talk of the show’ again?
Nine other young riders will compete from the home side including Vidauban winner (YR team test) Amy Woodhead and her KWPN stallion Pardon and Samantha Thurman-Baker with her new ride, Douglas IV, owned by Aram Gregory. 2012 British Junior Team member Gaby Lucas and Laurentius II, who receive World Class Programme support, are part of the 11-strong junior entry along with Charlotte Fry who’s been going from strength to strength with Leslie Connor’s Remming and part-time model Chloe Vell with Kaja Di Valentina. As well as Erin and Phoebe in the pony ranks, Rebecca Bell brings her two rides Valido’s Sunshine and Valido’s Starlight and last year’s British Pony Team reserve rider Bethany Rose Horobin and Gigolo.
Full list of entries– click here.
Full time table:
Times subject to change
Friday 29th March
INDOOR ARENA
08.00-11.40 FEI Pony Team Test (2012)
12.05-15.21 FEI Junior Team Test (2009)
15.45-18.53 FEI Young Riders Team Test (2009)
19.30-21.30 FEI Grand Prix (2009)
Saturday 30th March
INDOOR ARENA
08.00-11.16 FEI Young Rider Individual Test (2009)
11.41-15.21 FEI Pony Individual Test (2012)
15.46-19.02 FEI Junior Individual Test (2009)
19.30-21.30 FEI Grand Prix Freestyle (2009)
Sunday 31st March
OUTDOOR ARENA
09.30-10.42 Consolation FEI Pony Team Test (2012)
11.00-11.48 Consolation FEI Junior Team Test (2009)
12.10-12.58 Consolation FEI Young Rider Team Test (2009)
INDOOR ARENA
08.15-10.47 FEI Junior Freestyle (2009)
11.20-13.52 FEI Young Rider Freestyle (2009)
14.15-16.47 FEI Pony Freestyle (2012)
To book a carvery place, contact the secretary on 01926 712402 or email.
Results available on the Addington Manor website.