Taking a break from Europeans preparation, Charlotte Dujardin stormed to victory at the Keysoe summer regional championships, held at the College Equestrian Centre (1-2 August 2015). Riding Emma Blundell’s six-year-old athletic Fidermark-sired mare, Mount St John Freestyle, the pair topped the tables in the TopSpec medium open with the highest mark of the competition, 75.77%. Charlotte and Freestyle have enjoyed a successful 2015 campaign so far, proving to be unbeatable at medium and in young horse classes.
A hotly contested medium class at the Bedfordshire venue, Zoe Sleigh and Christine Sleigh’s Dark Legend 54 took second (71.53%), Paul Hayler with his and Peter Spence’s Lonswelt claimed third (71.35%), and Nikki Crisp with her own and Vivienne Gleave’s Durable grabbed fourth, with all four combinations qualifying for the final at the LeMieux National Dressage Championships in Warwickshire (17 – 20 September 2015).
Mount St John stud celebrated a successful regional championship after also scoring a qualification ticket in the Fairfax Saddles PSG. Emile Faurie rode Emma Blundell’s seven-year-old Don Romantic mare, Mount St John De La Beaute to first place in just her fourth PSG with a strong mark of 70.22%. The pair pipped Emile’s second ride, Lady Caroline Rake’s 14-year-old son of Donnerhall, Don Jon, to the post by just 1.5 marks (70.13%).
The Nettex elementary open attracted great numbers, causing the class to be split into two sections. Darryl Thickitt – who is currently in Malmo, Sweden with gold medal winning pony riders – topped the tables in section a with Catharine Gill’s six-year-old daughter of Florencio I, Flaniermaus. Scoring an impressive 75.47% in the mare’s first ever regional championship, the win will mark the horse’s second trip to the nationals, after qualifying and placing third in the Shearwater Potential International Dressage Horse Five Year Old Championship last year. Another solid score won section b, Tahley Reeve-Smith and Leslie Forlee’s eight-year-old German-bred gelding, Bocelli IV stormed to the top with 73.70%.
“Fantastic weekend at Keysoe,” exclaimed Darryl from his Facebook page. “Super Maus was awesome winning the elementary with 75%! Dancer was feeling fabulous until a lady started clapping in our extended canter which resulted in rather exuberant changes.”
Darryl and his second ride of the competition, Julie Harris’ seven-year-old Dutch gelding, Dancer III scored an uncharacteristically low 64.56% in the Equine Construction advanced medium open, reminding us that horses aren’t machines and enjoy keeping us on our toes. The class was topped by Tom Goode and Samantha Geddes’ seven-year-old Gribaldi stallion, Dior III with 73.03%.
Huge attendance in the Dodson & Horrell novice open saw three combinations qualify through to the national championships. 22-year-old Ashley Jenkins led the way with Imogen Byers’ six-year-old Showmaker-sired gelding, Showkia on a huge 72.76%. Other combinations that secured their place through to the Stoneleigh-based championships were second placed Tamsin Miall and her own 12-year-old Belgian gelding, Kilnwood Drago (71.95%) and in third, Amanda Edwards-Sutton with her own 11-year-old Dutch-bred gelding, Donnerscon (70.98%).
For full results, please click here.
Results
BackinAction Preliminary
Section a: Jack Boarder with Charisma IV, 70.83%
Section b: Louise Gallavan with Silverstone, 72.76%
Dodson & Horrell Novice Restricted
Madeleine Garner with Whatapallaver, 69.02%
Dodson & Horrell Novice Open
Ashley Jenkins with Showkia, 72.76%
Nettex Elementary Restricted
Evelyn Little with Bindro T, 71.46%
Nettex Elementary Open
Section a: Darryl Thickitt with Flaniermaus, 75.47%
Section b: Tahley Reeve-Smith with Bocelli IV, 73.70%
TopSpec Medium Restricted
Jayne Turney with Cruz III, 69.28%
TopSpec Medium Open
Charlotte Dujardin with Mount St John Freestyle, 75.77%
Equine Construction Advanced Medium Restricted
Diane Thurman-Baker with Highcliffe Apollo, 70.92%
Equine Construction Advanced Medium Open
Tom Goode with Dior III, 73.03%
Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges
Emile Faurie with Mount St John De La Beaute, 70.22%
Saracen Horse Feeds Inter I
Julie Hugo-Ross with Alivia II, 70.39%