Fourth at Keysoe Premier League, third at Sheepgate PL and second at Addington PL, Samantha Thurman-Baker and Spring Pascal (pictured) finally secured the win at Hickstead Premier League, Sussex (23 – 26 June 2016). Contesting the LeMieux Grand Prix, Samantha and her 15-year-old British-bred gelding posted a season’s best score of 69.42% to win the class and obtain their ticket to September’s LeMieux National Championships. A partnership spanning almost ten years, the combination has enjoyed much success as they moved up the levels, continuing to develop and improve – September’s Championship final will definitely be one-to-watch!
Second place went to the on-form Matt Frost who scored 68.90% with Adam Kemp and Tony & Melanie Chew’s 12-year-old Norwegian gelding, Tribiani. After storming Wellington Premier League, Matt continued his run of great form with a cluster of wins. Gloucestershire-based Matt and Tribiani dominated the competition in the Monarch Equestrian Inter II, racking up a personal best score of 73.42% and also claiming the highest mark of the competition. Three out of the five Fairfax Saddles PSG classes went to Matt, one with his ten-year-old Don Schufro stallion, AMD Don Havidoff (72.59%) and two with his nine-year-old son of Londonderry, Leandro (69.87% and 71.58%).
Hertfordshire’s Keith Robertson and Boheme AF Sulsted are enjoying a successful 2016; after contesting in their first international this year at Keysoe CDI3* and topping the Horse Health Grand Prix Freestyle at Addington Premier League, Keith and the 12-year-old Chestnut gelding added a Grand Prix Special win to their roster at Hickstead, scoring a solid 65.69% in their second ever Special.
Judges Sandy Philips and Mark Ruddock were torn between 15-year-old Ollie Booth and 14-year-old Jessica McConkey after great displays from both in the Pony Team test. However it was Ollie and his own nine-year-old German-bred stallion, Classic’s Charmeur who reigned supreme, scoring 69.74% to pip Jessica and Hosteins Derwisch to the post (69.42%). In the Pony Individual test, Ollie and Charm came into their own, scoring a personal best of 72.01% to claim first place – their third win in this class at Premier Leagues this year.
For full results, click here.
Class 6: Fairfax Saddles PSG
Matt Frost with Leandro, 69.87%
Class 7: Saracen Horse Feeds Inter I
Vicky Thompson Winfield with Artist, 70.48%
Class 8: Hickstead National Young Horse – 5yo
Penny Brooks with Deluca, 8.26
Class 9: Hickstead International Young Horse – 5yo
Penny Brooks with Deluca, 8.00
Class 10: Hickstead National Young Horse – 6yo
Leah Beckett with Woodcroft Sun Leonardo, 8.74
Class 11: Hickstead International Young Horse – 6yo
Amy Schiesel with Knoxx’s Figaro, 7.76
Class 12a: Fairfax Saddles PSG
Matt Frost with Leandro, 71.58%
Class 12b: Fairfax Saddles PSG
Nathalie Kayal with DHI Homerun, 70.57%
Class 13: Saracen Horse Feeds Inter I
Bryony Goodwin with Hawtins Floriana, 72.85%
Class 14: Monarch Equestrian Inter II
Matt Frost with Tribiani, 73.42%
Class 15a: Fairfax Saddles PSG
Matt Frost with AMD Don Havidoff, 72.59%
Class 15b: Fairfax Saddles PSG
Astrid Redshaw with Belaggio, 70.31%
Class 16: Saracen Horse Feeds Inter I
Amy Stovold with Waldessarini, 73.03%
Class 17: LeMieux Grand Prix
Samantha Thurman-Baker with Spring Pascal, 69.42%
Class 18: Inter A
Louise Bell with Into the Blue, 66.60%
Class 19: U25 Grand Prix
Pippa Hutton with Belmondo III, 66.92%
Class 20: Pony Team
Ollie Booth with Classic Charmeur, 69.74%
Class 21: Charles Owen Advanced Medium 92
Gold: Suzanne Lavandera with Keystone Daganay, 72.16%
Silver: Elizabeth Allen with Don Dellero, 69.73%
Bronze: Gemma Porter-Rawlings with Utopico, 62.57%
Class 24: Pony Individual
Ollie Booth with Classic Charmeur, 72.01%
Class 25: Junior Individual
Angus Corrie-Dean with Walters Fable, 68.75%
Class 26: Inter B
Kirsty Mepham with Minain, 68.45%
Class 29: Grand Prix Special
Keith Robertson with Boheme AF Sulsted, 65.69%