BD Winter Regionals: Vale View Equestrian

Martin Schleicher and Ruby Hughes were both on form last week, winning three regional titles apiece at Vale View Winter Regional Championships, Leicestershire (20 – 23 May 2021).

Martin Schleicher won the PDS Saddles Elementary Freestyle Gold and the Baileys Horse Feeds Novice Freestyle Gold with Philippa Geddes’ 16-year-old son of Breitling W, Tom Cruz. He also claimed the Superflex Intermediate I Gold with Victoria Russell’s Spielberg-sired Diane (pictured), his ride at the recent Wellington CDI.

German-born Martin first came to the UK 20 years ago. “I came over for a three-month language course and because of the disruption to airlines caused by 9/11, was stuck for a month longer. During that time, I’d made friends and got riding horses, and that was it. I decided to stay!”

He has since built a career training and competing successfully at national and international level, representing Germany, and is also co-Director of the NEXGEN Young Horse series.

Describing Diane, his Superflex Inter I winning ride, he says; “The main thing is that she’s very hot. She’s an amazing horse but if she gets hot, it’s difficult getting the results. At Vale View it was one of the first tests that she was rideable until the end. It’s amazing to know that when it comes together she can hold her own.”

“She’s had a busy few weeks, competing at Myerscough, Wellington [CDI] and Vale View,” he continued. “But considering how hot she can be, she just really wants to do her job and gets better the more she competes.”

Talking about his dual winner Tom Cruz, he says; “I’ve had him about six years and he’s qualified for Hartpury every single year. He’s had a few setbacks during his life which has restricted him to the lower levels, but he’s talented at those levels and we know each other very well. He’s always on your side - we’re a good team.”

Ruby Hughes (13) claimed the Baileys Horse Novice Freestyle Silver (71.67%) and the PDS Saddles Elementary Freestyle Silver (75.26%) with Shirley Rixon’s Hilkens Showgirl (pictured), plus the Spillers Medium Freestyle Silver with Nancy Scott’s Classic Bee Gee (73.72%).

Eight-year-old German pony Hilkens Showgirl (Dreidimensional x Champion De Luxe) is an exciting prospect for Ruby, who combines dressage with her other sport of vaulting. Jayne Turney, with whom the palomino mare successfully contested BD Young Pony Championships, laid the foundations of her early education. She’s now developing into an FEI pony with Ruby in the saddle and on their international debut at the recent Wellington CDI were second in the Pony Team Test.

Classic Bee Gee is an athletic, 16.2hh Dutch gelding with whom Ruby won the 2020 National U21 Championship title, competing in the Children division for those aged 12 – 14. He was another Wellington CDI winner for Ruby and at Vale View they headed the Spillers Medium Freestyle by a considerable margin on 73.72%. The high-energy Bee Gee and his talented young rider have formed a strong partnership giving Ruby invaluable experience competing a horse – a great asset for when she makes the step to Juniors.

“Wow! Ruby just won a third regional title!” announced the Hughes family on Hughes Dressage Facebook.

A dual winner was Amy Woodhead who won the Medium Gold with Anne Seifert-Cohn’s eight-year-old Ivan Carlos (by Ampere) on a score of 75.27% and the Prestige Italia Novice Gold with Jennifer Martell’s six-year-old Kasanova III on 75.12%. Ivan Carlos and Amy were also close second to Emma Jablonski and Higgens Van De Uilenhoek in the Charles Owen Advanced Medium Gold.

Housewife and mother of three, Lucy Howard (47), from Rutland, triumphed in the KBIS Preliminary Silver with her British-bred Wind Chimes (pictured), a six-year-old mare by Wild Child. First to go, their winning score of 70.86% remained at the top of leaderboard to secure them a place at the NAF Five Star Winter Championships for a second consecutive year.

“I was just so thrilled with her,” said Lucy, of Wind Chimes who is known at home as Rosie. “She was willing, relaxed and the whole test was lovely for her age. I was just really pleased with how she went so taking the win was the icing on the cake.”

Lucy bought Rosie as a three-year-old from breeder Ann Williams and has trained her with help from event rider Eliza Stoddart as well as attending clinics with Dan Greenwood. Supporting Lucy at Vale View was her dear friend Maureen Chamberlain who, at the age of 82, accompanies the pair on every outing. “Maureen is such a huge support, and she was delighted for Rosie having seen her come on from a youngster.”

The pair qualified for Hartpury last year on a wild card and with a year’s more experience are looking forward to their second appearance at the prestigious event. “The experience was a real eye opener for her but she’s much more confident this year.”

Top-three results
Thursday
Equi-Trek Elementary Silver
1. Sophia Marston and Solitaire II, 71.09%
2. Sam York and Oakring Santino, 70.57%
3. Ruby Hughes and Classic Bee Gee, 70.21%

Equi-Trek Elementary Gold
1. Darren Hicks and Woodcroft Django Mon Ami, 73.96%
2. Claire Ballantyne and Dvorak, 72.03%
3. Owen Cooper and Just Magic BH, 71.67%

PDS Saddles Elementary Freestyle Silver
1. Ruby Hughes and Hilkens Showgirl, 75.26%
2. Erin Orford and LJT Diamond Crusador, 73.33%
3. Laura Green and Ireldo L, 73.08%

PDS Saddles Elementary Freestyle Gold
1. Martin Schleicher and Tom Cruz, 71.03%
2. Bridget Tate and CVS Night Fever, 69.81%
3. Patsy Bartram and Private Dancer V, 69.81%

Friday
Medium Silver
1. Claire Ballantyne and Dvorak, 70.81%
2. Lauren Geraghty and WS Jackson, 69.59%
3. Claire Johnston and Sensation, 67.93%

Spillers Medium Freestyle Silver
1. Ruby Hughes and Classic Bee Gee, 73.72%
2. Lauren Geraghty and WS Jackson, 71.61%
3. Patsy Bartram and Private Dancer V, 70.83%

Medium Gold
1. Amy Woodhead and Ivan Carlos, 75.27%
2. Sue Carson and Gucci SCS + DHI, 67.84%
3. Jane Green and Hacendado XVI, 67.03%

Magic Prix St Georges Gold
1. Jodie Pharaon and Bear, 69.61%
2. Jayne Turney and Penhaligon’s Jupiter, 67.37%
3. Danielle Hardwick and Edendawn William Wombat, 66.89%

Spillers Medium Freestyle Gold
1. Bridget Tate and CVS Night Fever, 71.67%
2. Sue Carson and Gucci SCS + DHI, 69.72%

Saturday
Charles Owen Advanced Medium Silver
1. India Durman-Mills and Escade, 70.09%
2. Roberto Scalisi and Coco Chanel, 69.43%
3. Mia Mordecai-Smith and Innocent, 69.12%

Nupafeed Advanced Medium Freestyle Silver
1. Mandy Day and Giomf, 71.17%
2. Anya Kolleth and Frings 2, 70.94%
3. Lynn Perry and Starmaker, 69.06%

Charles Owen Advanced Medium Gold
1. Emma Jablonski and Higgens Van De Uilenhoek, 71.58%
2. Amy Woodhead and Ivan Carlos, 71.45%
3. Samantha Morrison and Ushi II, 69.04%

Nupafeed Advanced Medium Freestyle Gold
1. Sue Carson and Gucci SCS + DHI, 69.44%

Superflex Intermediate I Gold
1. Martin Schleicher and Diane, 69.52%
2. Mark Walters and Ice Blue valentine, 68.25%
3. Martin Schleicher and Kings Advocate II, 67.19%

KBIS Preliminary Silver
1. Lucy Howard and Wind Chimes, 70.86%
2. Verity Corbett and Glasgow, 70.00%
3. Kristy Christopher and Attack II, 67.76%

KBIS Preliminary Gold
1. Sue Carson and SCS Lifeguard CDS, 70.69%
2. Elizabeth Thornewill and Jericho VII, 69.14%
3. Marcin Stachurski and Dora Bella, 69.08%

Prestige Italia Novice Silver
1. Flora Hayes and Haybells Cinderella, 70.06%
2. Alison Timmins and Johnny Fletch, 69.88%
3. Amelia Walker and Burlesque II, 69.81%

Baileys Horse Feeds Novice Freestyle Silver
1. Ruby Hughes and Hilkens Showgirl, 71.67%
2. Laura Cooper and Woodlander Roxanne, 71.57%
3. Nicole Turner and J’Eton Hit LDS, 69.54%

Prestige Italia Novice Gold
1. Amy Woodhead and Kasanova III, 75.12%
2. Darren Hicks and Woodcroft Django Mon Ami, 74.14%
3. Sonnar Murray-Brown and Stolen Secret, 72.28%

Baileys Horse Feeds Novice Freestyle Gold
1. Martin Schleicher and Tom Cruz, 73.33%
2. Amanda Shirtcliffe and New Princess, 72.87%
3. Sue Carson and SCS Lifeguard CDS, 70.46%

Full results

Photo © Kevin Sparrow