Emma Blundell’s consistently successful Mount St John Stud team clocked up a high scoring double at Myerscough Arena’s North West Regionals, where resident rider Lucinda Elliott claimed two titles, with Mount St John Best of All winning the Elementary Restricted and Fürstin Fugger taking the Novice Open title.
“Lucinda did a fantastic job with them both,” said Emma. “With Best of All, it was only their fourth Elementary test together - I’m incredibly proud of them both as well as the whole team, especially as up until she joined us 18 months ago, Lucinda hadn’t ridden a dressage test before!
“Teamwork is a big thing at Mount St John and everyone involved pulls together in the same direction to make days like this happen.”
Twenty-year-old Lucinda has previously enjoyed much success in the showing world, where she began by riding lead rein ponies for leading producer Jerome Harforth and going on to win numerous titles, including Supreme Show Pony with Dance All Night at the Royal International in 2012.
MSJ Best of All, a six-year-old 16hh mare, who won the Novice Restricted National Championship with Lucinda last year, is German-bred by Bordeaux and was bought as a two-year-old, while stablemate five-year-old Fürstin Fugger is a full sister to premium stallion and multiple Bundeschampion winner Fürst Fugger.
“They are two special girls: Bestie [Best of All] likes to be the centre of attention, she enjoys her work and finds everything so easy,” said Lucinda, who trains with Emile Faurie and Charlotte Dujardin. “She’s also got a great hind leg and is fun and expressive to ride. ’Fiji’ [Fürstin Fugger] is lovely and forward going with a very expressive trot and although it was her first time at Myerscough, she took everything in her stride. I‘ve always enjoyed riding mares because once you get them on-side, they try so hard for you.
“Thanks to my showing days, riding in a big atmosphere doesn’t faze me - I’m really enjoying this fantastic opportunity of discovering dressage with these lovely horses.”
The Prelim and Novice Restricted Championship saw massive entries resulting in the classes being split into two sections.
The KBIS Prelim section A was won by 13-year-old Naomi Young from Nantwich, Cheshire, and her 15-year-old 14.1hh Welsh-bred gelding Landis Black Pepper on 72.18%.
Naomi, who has been riding since she was eight and trains with Tracy Tomlinson, is an active member of both the Sir Watkin Williams Wynn's Hunt branch of The Pony Club and Nantwich Riding Club.
She has had Pepper on loan for the past two years and enjoys doing “a bit of everything” – dressage, show jumping and eventing – competing in her first BE 90m and winning numerous titles last year, including the BYRDS C squad Inter Regionals at Keysoe, Trailblazers Prelim Championship, intermediate music freestyle at the Pony Club Championships.
“Pepper is like a Labrador, he’s a wonderful, happy person, always has his ears forward and is a delight to have around,” said Naomi’s mum Janet. “We weren’t sure what to expect at the Regionals, or what the standard would be, but Naomi just concentrated on riding her pony and came out smiling, so winning was a bonus!”
Section B of the Prelim was won by 33-year-old Verity Corbett from Stafford, and her own Glenomra Barky on a score of 73.97%. This combination was also runner up in the Blue Chip Novice Restricted Championships.
Verity, who is head of maths at a local secondary school, and trains with UKCC Level 3 trainer and List 4 judge Jane Critchley, bought “Barky” 18 months ago when he stepped off a lorry from Ireland at a friend’s yard.
Glenomra Barky, a seven-year-old 17.1hh Irish-bred gelding by Crannagh Hero, was originally destined for Verity’s husband Drew to train on and take show jumping, but was “stolen for dressage” by Verity due to showing early talent for flatwork.
The couple, who currently own seven horses between them and keep them at DIY livery on a farm, enjoy bringing on and training young horses to help fund their hobby.
“Barky was very green when we got him so we concentrated on his flatwork and took him for lessons with Gary Foggon, who said he moved well and encouraged us to do more,” said Verity, who says she is looking to sell Barky this year to make time for a five-year-old.
“He’s very easy and straightforward with a lovely attitude and desperately wants to get it right. If you’re teaching him something new and it goes wrong, it’s only because he doesn’t understand. He seems to be able to cope with the big occasions, so we’re keeping our fingers crossed for Hartpury!”
Congratulations also to 26-year-old Jessica Dunn from Burnley, Lancs, who took home two titles, winning the Shadow Horse Elementary Open with Katherine Keenan’s seven-year-old 16hh British-bred gelding MFS French Noir (by French Kiss) with 72.66%, as well as the Albion Medium Open with nine-year-old KWPN 17.1hh gelding Cedar Valley, by Tuschinski (pictured).
For full results, click here.
Photo courtesy of Jo Prestwich
Myerscough regional winners
KBIS PRELIMINARY
Sec A
Naomi Young Landis and her own Black Pepper 72.18%
Sec B
Verity Corbett and her own Glenomra Barky 73.97%
BLUE CHIP NOVICE RESTRICTED
Sec A
Lauren Sweetland and her own Westhills Together Wravall 68.62%
Sec B
Fiona Horsepool and her own QEG Lux 70.80%
BLUE CHIP NOVICE OPEN
Lucinda Elliott and Emma Blundell’s Mount St John Fürstin Fugger 72.18%
BAILEYS HORSE FEEDS NOVICE RESTRICTED MUSIC FREESTYLE
Rebekah Whittaker and her own Torpenhow Ruby 73.43%
BAILEYS HORSE FEEDS NOVICE OPEN MUSIC FREESTYLE
Gary Foggon and his own Gypsy Fortune 73.61%
SHADOW HORSE ELEMENTARY RESTRICTED
Lucinda Elliott and Emma Blundell’s Mount St John Best of All 70.10%
SHADOW HORSE ELEMENTARY OPEN
Jessica Dunn and Katherine Keenan’s MFS French Noir 72.66%
PDS SADDLES ELEMENTARY RESTRICTED MUSIC FREESTYLE
Bethany Nuttall and her own Bianka II 71.79%
PDS SADDLES ELEMENTARY OPEN MUSIC FREESTYLE
Sarah Kingwells and her own The Contact Peoples Destiny D 74.17%
ALBION MEDIUM RESTRICTED
Helen Dutton and her own Rowangarth Rhydian 68.33%
ALBION MEDIUM OPEN
Jessica Dunn and her own Cedar Valley 69.37%
SPILLERS MEDIUM RESTRICTED MUSIC FREESTYLE
Helen Dutton and her own Rowangarth Rhydian 70.00%
SPILLERS MEDIUM OPEN MUSIC FREESTYLE
Lucy Pincus and David Pincus’s Sheepcote Suncrest 73.33%
CHARLES OWEN ADVANCED MEDIUM RESTRICTED
Sarah Chipman and her own Warscha 66.75%
CHARLES OWEN ADVANCED MEDIUM OPEN
Ruth Edge and Trevor Holliday’s Monarchs Cavalier 67.59%
NUPAFEED ADVANCED MEDIUM MUSIC FREESTYLE
Melanie Phillips and her own Ruxton Bridget Jones 69.83%
MAGIC PRIX ST. GEORGES MUSIC FREESTYLE
Stef Eardley and Catherine Eardley’s Ruxton Pinacolada 69.88%