Over the course of three days, Sparsholt College saw a whopping 366 dressage tests completed across levels ranging from prelim to inter I for the second summer regional championships of 2015 (21 – 23 July). With six out of the 11 classes split into two sections due to the sheer number of competitors, the championships proved to be hotter than ever with 28 combinations securing their ticket to the LeMieux National Dressage Championships in September.
The first class of the Hampshire-based championships, section A of the BackinAction preliminary, also claimed the highest percentage of the competition. Surrey’s Philip Gover and his own seven-year-old Dutch-bred gelding, Deutz (pictured) scored an impressive 74.74% to claim the top spot – a massive four percent above second placed Alice Pearse and Irish Millennium. Although Philip and Deutz have only been a part of British Dressage since November last year, the pair has enjoyed a fantastic run of form across prelim and novice, showing great scope for the future. Section B went to local combination, Karen Frankham and her own 12-year-old bay gelding, Wizard VI with 70.71%.
Since winning the Petplan Equine Area Festival Novice Open Championship earlier this year at the NAF Five Star Winter Championships, Kate Rowland and Erasmus I have enjoyed a successful season at novice and, based on their performance at Sparsholt, they look strong contenders for a national title. Kate and her six-year-old KWPN gelding, who train with Irish international rider Roland Tong, topped the table with a mega score of 73.91%.
It was a closely fought battle in the Nettex elementary open. Trainer, rider and list 2a judge, Sara-Jane Lanning came out on top with 74.22%. A personal best for Sara-Jane and her 11-year-old Furst Piccollo-sired gelding, Furstano – co-owned with Andrew Griffin – the pair pipped second placed Emma Woolley and Eldorado (73.80%) to the post by less than 0.5%. Although, it was a successful outing all round as, due to the class size, both have qualified for the national championships.
Sara-Jane also qualified her second ride, 13-year-old Danish gelding Mi Amigo – who is also co-owned by Andrew – for the Nationals in the TopSpec medium open. The pair scored a solid 72.57% for second place, just two marks behind section B winners, Molly Key with her own and Charles Macdonald’s 12-year-old British-bred gelding, Charter Party (72.61%).
Mette Assouline also celebrated great success at the regional championships, qualifying all rides for the nationals in their selected classes. Mette claimed both the Equine Construction advanced medium open and the Fairfax Saddles PSG with husband Michel’s ten-year-old son of Rotspon gelding, Ad Ratino. Having only competed together in British dressage since May this year, the pair scored 72.81% in the advanced medium and 68.95% in the PSG to win the classes. Not content with just winning, Mette also claimed second place and a qualification ticket in the advanced medium with second ride, Michel’s nine-year-old Royal Blend-sired gelding, Royal Tea (71.58%).
To view full results, click here.
Results
BackinAction Prelim
Section a – Philip Gover with Deutz, 74.74%
Section b – Karen Frankham with Wizard VI, 70.71%
Dodson & Horrell Novice Restricted
Section a – Sara Malpass with Pitingo II, 68.91%
Section b – Dylan Deutrom with Balance, 74.48%
Dodson & Horrell Novice Open
Section a – Kate Rowland with Erasmus I, 73.91%
Section b – Jo Wicks with Dante X, 71.38%
Nettex Elementary Restricted
Section a – Jessica Carlin with Rouletta, 70.94%
Section b – Charlotte Monk with Beauty B, 71.09%
Nettex Elementary Open
Section a – Sara-Jane Lanning with Furstano, 74.22%
Section b – Stephen Way with Secret Picnic, 70.57%
TopSpec Medium Restricted
Francesca Channon with Andreo B, 71.26%
TopSpec Medium Open
Section a – Amy Stovold with Louboutin, 71.31%
Section b – Molly Key with Charter Party, 72.61%
Equine Construction Advanced Medium Restricted
Sadie Smith with Serano II, 72.50%
Equine Construction Advanced Medium Open
Mette Assouline with Ad Ratino, 72.81%
Fairfax Saddles PSG
Mette Assouline with Ad Ratino, 68.95%
Saracen Horse Feeds Inter I
Vicky Thompson-Winfield with Beltoni, 69.74%