BD Middle Tour Championships 2024

Two worthy new champions were named at the British Dressage Middle Tour Championships, held alongside the Petplan Summer Area Festival Championships at Arena UK, Lincolnshire (4 - 5 October 2024).

Middle Tour Gold Championship

Middle Tour Gold Champions Edward Johnson and Ramasjang A Edward Johnson had two reasons to celebrate last week. Not only was it his and his wife’s wedding anniversary, but he and 14-year-old Ramasjang A (Blue Hors Rosoff X Lecia), owned by Matilda Ashley, were the winners of the Middle Tour Gold Championship across the two rounds held on Friday 4 October and Saturday 5 October.

After only Ramasjang’s second performance at Inter II, the pair took an early lead with a score of 68.09% in the first round. Edward, describing their Inter II test, said, “I was really pleased with him because he is very inexperienced. This is only his second outing at Inter II, and we won, so I am over the moon. There was a little blip in the ones, but otherwise, I was really happy with it and the score was great.”

While Matthew Hicks and San Marco, 70.917% beat them to the win in the Inter A/B Freestyle, Edward and Ramasjang A held their top spot overall with their debut Inter A/B Freestyle programme earning them 69.83%. This was the first time they had performed with this music in competition and despite feeling "very nervous," Edward's original choice of music paid off. He explained, "I chose Muse music, which I know is quite risky and out there, but I thought it suited me because I like that type of music, and I think it really suited him too. It is a track with a heavy beat rather than background music, so you really have to stay in time all of the time and I think it makes for a good watch. It wasn’t the most technical test, but it was a flowing test. I like to watch dance that is flowing and looks easy, and that's what I wanted to achieve."

Ramasjang A, known as Brownie at home, came to Edward after his owner brought him at Elementary level four years ago and asked him to help with Brownie as Edward explained he was “quite a character” but that they “clicked with each other.” Describing Brownie, Edward said, “He’s not a world beater but he is a brilliant ride; that type of horse is what makes all this worth it. He just tries so damn hard. I have ridden horses that are athletically more talented, but they have not got the brain that he has.”

The next step for Brownie is to join Newton Domino, another one of Edward's horses, in campaigning at Premier Leagues. Summing up the journey and hard work, Edward's wife, whom Edward said "has been the most amazing support the whole way," added, "It's been a long journey together. We have been campaigning for a long time, and this week is our 20th wedding anniversary."

Gold Championship runner-ups Matthew Hicks and San Marco were third in the Inter II scoring 64.36% and their top Freestyle performance was rewarded with 70.917%. Sara Gallop and Rock That Tango completed the championship top three scoring 67.55% for their Inter II and 67.55% for their freestyle.

Middle Tour Silver Championship

Middle Tour Silver Champions, Chrissie Havis and her 11-year-old Beckhouse Piano Blue Our emphatic Middle Tour Silver Champions, Chrissie Havis and her 11-year-old Beckhouse Piano Blue, were another combination who have just stepped up to Inter II and despite “viewing it as training” the pair showed off their class across both rounds securing the top position in each with 65.54% in the Inter II and 71.38% in the Inter A/B Freestyle.

"Yesterday's test showed some improvements in certain areas, but had a few hiccups," explained Chrissie, as she pointed out the opportunities for improvement before adding, "I was thrilled with how he was reacting. It wasn't a perfect round, but it was still a good score for where we're at."

Approaching her freestyle, which was rewarded with the top score of the competition, Chrissie was mindful once again of where Beckhouse Piano Blue (known as Alegro at home) was at: “I wrote it, so it was not too difficult for him starting off. My aim was to try to perform something simply well and interpret the music well. And that really came off.”

For her music, Chrissie enlisted the help of Equidance who will be a guest host at BD presents in November talking about using music to match personality in freestyles. Chrissie explained, “They did a really good job with it. He isn't your typical dressage horse, so I didn't want to have music that was too dramatic and maybe big, because he's not the biggest moving horse, but I wanted something that had a bit of emotion and strength to it, and that's why I chose that music: it suits him, and it's the right type of music for him… and it all came off I was in the right place at the right time for the whole test.”

Alegro comes from a background which Chissie described as “a little bit unusual” explaining he's “half Friesian”, “driving bred, and he was sort of for sale with the hamsters and the gerbils and things on Pets for Homes as an unbroken four-year-old.”

"I've done everything with him myself," she said, explaining what Alegro and this achievement mean to her. "I'm so proud and he loves it. And I just love him."

Chrissie's future plans for them are to head to Aintree in two weeks to try High Profile. The goal will then be to train over the winter, and next year, focus on the Inter II and Grand Prix, depending on what Alegro feels comfortable doing. After that, they hope to hit the High Profile Premier League circuit.

In the Silver Championship, former Young Rider team members Caitlin Burgess and Chocotof placed second in the Inter II with a score of 64.36% and third in their Freestyle with 67.50%. Last year’s runners up, Claire Ackerman and Woodcroft Heinrich, completed the championship top three with scores of 63.53% for their Inter II and 68.25% for their freestyle.

British Dressage thanks host venue Arena UK and Sue Carson Saddles for her generous support of the BD Middle Tour Championship prizes.