Bandreo comes of age in Saumur

Great Britain’s Sara Gallop secured her first overseas victory at the weekend in the Middle Tour divisions at Saumur CDI2*/CDI3* in France (7 – 9 September 2018). With her 12-year-old Sandreo-sired stallion, Bandreo, her campaign started well with second in Saturday’s Intermediate A, culminating in a landmark victory for the pair in Sunday’s Intermediate B.

The British partnership (pictured earlier this year) achieved 69.363% and 69.792% in the Inter A and B respectively, taking victory in the latter ahead of the home nation’s Guillaume Lundy Cne and Temp Ene HN (69.625%) in second.

“I’m thrilled with Bandreo,” Sara told British Dressage, after arriving back home to Summerhouse EC in Gloucestershire. “It’s been a long journey with him – it’s not been plain sailing – but this is one of the shows when you think ‘we’re finally there’. He’s given me everything and more.”

Bandreo has been in the Gallop-family stable since a three-year-old and he’s the third horse Sara has trained to Grand Prix. The stallion’s ability is matched by an equally large helping of joie de vivre, which his rider has patiently encouraged him to temper. “He’s a bit spirited shall we say, in that he has some issues with enthusiasm,” she smiled. “He’s so enthusiastic, especially in the canter, but he’s a phenomenal horse with all the ability.”

This year, the good-looking bay has shown increasing maturity, delivering good results including a Grand Prix Special win at Hickstead Premier League in June and internationally, a win in the Inter B at Hickstead CDI one month later.

“It’s been an amazing, well organised show,” said Sara, in praise of the organising team at Saumur. “And all the Brits got together which was really nice. There was a very nice team spirit.”

Louise Bell and Into The Blue, who are having the year of their career so far, achieved good results in the Big Tour – fourth in the Grand Prix with 68.739% and a podium position in the Freestyle with 71.825% for third.

CDI3* Grand Prix
1st Adelinde Cornelissen with Aqiedo, 74.087% (NED)
4th Louise Bell with Into The Blue, 68.739% (GBR)

CDI3* Grand Prix Freestyle
1st Adelinde Cornelissen with Aqiedo, 80.365% (NED)
3rd Louise Bell with Into The Blue, 71.825% (GBR)

CDI2* Middle Tour Intermediate A
1st Guillaume Lundy Cne with Tempo Ene HN, 71.275% (FRA)
2nd Sara Gallop with Bandreo, 69.363% (GBR)
6th Henrietta Cheetham with Schattentanzerin, 64.412% (GBR)

CDI2* Middle Tour Internediate B
1st Sara Gallop with Bandreo, 69.792% (GBR)
6th Henrietta Cheetham with Schattentanzerin, 66.125% (GBR

CDI2* Prix St Georges
1st Pauline Vanlandeghem with Sertorius De Rima Z, 72.010% (FRA)
7th Lisa Marriott with Valucio DH Z, 68.676% (GBR)
9th Dean Skeates with Super Blue, 67.843% (GBR)
11th Sarah Williams with Bohigas W, 67.304% (GBR)
12th Henrietta Cheetham with Dancer Khan, 67.010% (GBR)

CDI2* Intermediate I
1st Pauline Vanlandeghem with Sertorius De Rima Z, 73.186% (FRA)
6th Henrietta Cheetham with Dancer Khan, 67.892% (GBR)
10th Lisa Marriott with Valucio DH Z, 66.471% (GBR)
12th Sarah Williams with Bohigas W, 66.275% (GBR)
18th Dean Skeates with Super Blue, 64.265% (GBR)

CDI2* Intermediate I Freestyle
1st Pauline Vanlandeghem with Sertorius De Rima Z, 77.00% (FRA)
7th Henriatta Cheetham with Dancer Khan, 69.542% (GBR)
8th Sarah Williams with Bohigas W, 69.250% (GBR)
9th Lisa Marriott with Valucio DH Z, 68.875% (GBR)

For full results click here
Photo © Kevin Sparrow