BD Winter Regionals: Prestige Equestrian LLP

This year’s BD Winter Regional Championship series reached its conclusion at Prestige Equestrian LLP in Gloucestershire (5 – 7 March 2020) where riders from across the region, and further afield, vied for final qualifying spots for the NAF Five Star Winter Championships in April.

Fresh from a successful trip to Lier CDI4* in Belgium where he and Dior claimed fourth place in the Grand Prix Freestyle, Tom Goode was enjoying success on home soil – this time with Ulla Smirnova’s rising talent, Saint Julian (Sandro Hit x Donnerhall) - pictured above.

Tom (37) and nine year old ‘Julian’ made an impression at the FEI levels by winning the Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges Gold. They took the class with a score of 72.851% from the judging panel of John Robinson, Jennie Loriston-Clarke and Pam Bushell.

“He’s one of those horses who loves competing,” commented Tom who works as Head Rider for Emile Faurie at his Heath Farm base in Oxfordshire. “He gets his extra gears at a show, lights up in the arena and gives a lovely feeling.”

He gets his extra gears at a show, lights up in the arena and gives a lovely feeling.

Saint Julian was bought as a five year old by Smirnova with a view to Tom training him for her to eventually take over the ride. Ulla has trained at Heath Farm since she was 14 years old and is currently studying in the United States. “I started riding him at five, then we did the age classes with him as a six year old,” said Tom. “He has a good talent for the collected work and we realised early on that he has the ability to go a long way.”

Saint Julian was successful in young horse classes, representing Great Britain at the 2017 FEI WBFSH Dressage World Breeding Championships for Young Horses where he finished eighth in the small final for six year olds. Heath Farm is now in collaboration with Andreas Helgstrand and Tom has four of his young horses to train including chestnut mare Straight Horse De Milla (De Niro x Blue Hors Zack) who was second here in the Equi-Trek Elementary Gold.

The highest score of the show belonged to Rowan Bryson (25) and her seven year old KWPN gelding, Izonik (Zonik x Jazz) – winner of the 2018 Shearwater Five Year Old Championship. The pair won the Equi-Trek Elementary Gold by a plus-five percent margin on a score of 77.44%.

Hartpury University student Emily Dove was victorious in the KBIS Preliminary Silver with her father Peter Dove’s talented 11 year old mare, Epetry (Tuschinski x Jetset-D) - pictured above. Emily and ‘Ella’ – as she’s known - headed the 16-strong class with a score of 71.95% from judges Donn Collins, Sandra Smith and Alison Duck.

“I am really excited about Ella,” said Emily who’s in her first year studying Bioveterinary Science. “I was a little nervous on the day and let her get quite long, so I’m happy she got that score despite this. Even when I feel it’s not quite our best day, she holds the standard which is a nice feeling.”

Even when I feel it’s not quite our best day, she holds the standard which is a nice feeling.

Epetry was bought through a private seller on Horse Quest when Emily was 14. “She’s 16hh and powerful, and my first talented horse, but she’s very sweet. She was ridden lightly for four years and only once every couple of weeks while I was doing my GCSEs and A Levels, but she was always very easy. She only started serious work last August or September, then did her first Novice in February getting 72.9%,” said Emily. “I’m really excited about her.”

Emily trains with both her dad and Mary Wanless. “Mary has taught me for years. She’s my little brother’s godmother and taught me the rising trot when I was four. She’s very good and we work together well, and my dad helps me with test riding.”

British Dressage thanks the team at Prestige Equestrian LLP, the class sponsors and all involved for a successful Winter Regional Championships. Congratulations to the winners listed below, to all qualified combinations and to everyone who took part.

The winners
KBIS Preliminary Silver
Emily Dove and Epetry, 71.95%

Prestige Italia Novice Gold
Sara Gallop and Jovano, 73.02%

Prestige Italia Novice Silver
Miguel Catela and Irisch, 73.08%

Baileys Novice Freestyle Gold
Laura Wollen and Woodlander Booker T, 73.88%

Baileys Novice Freestyle Silver
Josie Kent and Wolkenderry’s Flashman, 72.13% (196.50)
Sophie Marston and Solitaire II, 72.13% (196.50)

Equi-Trek Elementary Gold
Rowan Bryson and Izonik, 77.44%

Equi-Trek Elementary Silver
Emma Castle and Quatermass, 70.72%

Suregrow Elementary Freestyle Gold
Laura Wollen and Fidel V Singing, 74.42%

Suregrow Elementary Freestyle Silver
Mia Mordecai-Smith and Innocent, 75.51%

TheraPlate Ltd Medium Gold
Charlotte McDowall and M Obarma, 70.18%

TheraPlate Ltd Medium Silver
Florence Human and Fulgencio, 69.18%

Spillers Medium Freestyle Gold
Jacky Stolper and Virtuoso G, 73.50%

Spillers Medium Freestyle Silver
Elice Willett and Gerento, 72.83%

Charles Owen Advanced Medium Gold
Dean Skeates and Hawtins Rossana, 71.27%

Charles Owen Advanced Medium Silver
Georgia Davis and Keystone Diego, 69.64%

Nupafeed Advanced Medium Freestyle Gold
Tesla Whitaker and Barcelona, 72.72%

Nupafeed Advanced Medium Freestyle Silver
Alina Ingham and Fantasma, 70.44%

Magic Prix St Georges Gold
Tom Goode and Saint Julian, 72.85%

Superflex Intermediate I Gold
Jayne Turney and Cruz III, 69.47%

Full results

Photo © Kevin Sparrow