Britain's senior and youth riders impress at Keysoe

The first international of the year on home turf took place last week at Keysoe CDI3*/CDIYJP in Bedfordshire (16 – 18 March 2018). The popular CDI typically attracts a host of talented Brits in the early stages of their annual campaigns, and this year was no exception.

Gareth Hughes dominated in the Equine Construction-sponsored Big Tour classes with Classic Briolinca (Trento B x Royal Dance), a mare who has recently returned to the arena following a break from competition. British team rider Gareth (46) and 12-year-old Briolinca (pictured) who is owned by Gareth’s wife Rebecca, won the Grand Prix with 71.935%, ahead of rising Grand Prix star Sonnar Murray-Brown with his exciting prospect Erlentanz (68.891%).

Gareth was clearly very happy with his ride on the awesome bay; “She was super-hot and excited to be out with some little tense moments but [this was] balanced out by her wonderful highlights. It’s been a long journey back after the disappointment of a couple years of health setbacks, so we are all now very excited about this season ahead!” he said via Hughes Dressage Facebook.

Saturday night the Grand Prix Freestyle took centre stage. Gareth and Briolinca rode to their Tom Hunt compiled freestyle, the funky soundtrack matching the expressive horse completely. They were awarded a percentage score of 75.590 to take the lead from the debut combination of British Olympian Fiona Bigwood (41) with new ride Kjaerholm’s Abutsiaq (Michellino x Limelight), a recently acquired 14-year-old.

In the Small Tour divisions which were kindly sponsored by Spillers, Nathalie Kayal and Homerun had the time of their lives, taking the Prix St Georges, the Inter I and the Inter I Freestyle, the latter by a whopping four percent margin with plus-76% and the highest score of the show.

Nathalie took to Facebook to say; “Well he is my champion for sure. [I] could not have asked more of Homerun today I thought he might be tired but instead he came down that centre line, and for the first time he felt relaxed in the ring! In fact more than just relaxed, it was if he winked at me and said "after two national anthems played for me I think I've got this, just sit there and look pretty mum" wow what a ride he gave me to score 76+% today in the Inter I freestyle at Keysoe international. I'm beyond privileged to have this horse in my life!”

In the Clip My Horse.TV Young Rider classes, 19-year-old Charlotte Dicker and Sabatini, her twice Junior European Championship partner, enjoyed a show to remember. The pair cemented their step up to Young Riders with victory in both the Young Rider Team and Young Rider Individual, scoring 71.569% and 68.431%. In the Freestyle it was Lewis Carrier (21) who had the edge with his gelding Diego V. The pair who are flourishing as part of the Eilberg team, enjoyed success last month at Le Mans CDI in France.

Maddy Whelan (15) contested both the Pony and Junior divisions. Remarkably for someone so young, she achieved a one-two in both the Owens Horseboxes-sponsored Junior classes – the Junior Team and Junior Individual. In the Junior Team, she took the honours with Sandy Phillips’ Diamond Hit-sired stallion, Diamond Design (pictured right) scoring 70.909%, ahead of her other ride, Peta Claridge’s Monsieur Pomerol.

In the Junior Individual, the tables were turned and it was Monsieur Pomerol with whom Maddy’s already achieved good international results, who had had the edge. The 17-year-old by Riccione was awarded 70.441%.

Sixteen-year-old Holly Cristofoli who was fifth in the Junior Team and fourth in the Individual raised her game to take the advantage in the Junior Freestyle. Partnered by Watch Me V, her 15-year-old son of Flemmingh she posted the winning score of 72.833% - a very impressive achievement for an international debut.

The British domination continued in the Childéric Saddles Pony divisions. Olivia Wrennall and her 10-year-old mare Donna Schuflo (Don Schufro x Florett As), who’s known as Flo, claimed Friday’s Pony Team Test with 72.095%. Sophie Taylor and the 2017 Shearwater Young Pony six-year-old Champion, George Clooney BS were the stars of the Individual Test heading the leaderboard with 70.856%; whilst Team and Individual runners-up Isobel Lickley with the British team gold medal mare Valido’s Sunshine hit their stride to win the Freestyle with an outstanding 75.167%.

Top five results of British riders:

CDI3* - Equine Construction Grand Prix
1st Gareth Hughes with Classic Briolinca, 71.935% (GBR)
2nd Sonnar Murray-Browns with Erlentanz, 68.891% (GBR)
3rd Fiona Bigwood with Kjaerholm’s Abutsiaq, 68.652% (GBR)
5th Emma Hindle with Romy Del Sol, 68.500% (GBR)

CDI3* - Equine Construction Grand Prix Freestyle
1st Gareth Hughes with Classic Briolinca, 75.590% (GBR)
2nd Fiona Bigwood with Kjaerholm’s Abutsiaq, 72.835% (GBR)
4th Emma Hindle with Romy Del Sol, 71.155% (GBR)
5th Sonnar Murray-Brown with Erlentanz, 70.480% (GBR)

CDI3* - Grand Prix Consolation
1st Michael Eilberg with Fuerst Sinclair, 64.478% (GBR)
4th Kirsty Mepham with Minain, 61.565% (GBR)

CDI3* - Spillers Prix St Georges
1st Nathalie Kayal with Homerun, 68.441% (GBR)
2nd Michael Eilberg with Daltrey, 68.235% (GBR)
4th Claire Abel with Rowan Magic, 67.676% (GBR)
5th Kate Smith with De La Veiga, 67.647% (GBR)

CDI3* - Spillers Intermediate I
1st Nathalie Kayal with Homerun, 70.588% (GBR)
2nd Tahley Reeve-Smith with Special, 68.735% (GBR)
=3rd Nicola Buchanan with Half Moon Dark Magic, 68.500% (GBR)
=3rd Vicky Thompson-Winfield with Salome Di Fontabeti, 68.500% (GBR)
5th Michael Eilberg with Daltrey, 68.441% (GBR)

CDI3* - Spillers Intermediate I Freestyle
1st Nathalie Kayal with Homerun, 76.300% (GBR)
2nd Nicola Buchanan with Half Moon Dark Magic, 72.100% (GBR)
3rd Gemma Maddocks with El Paso Van Overis, 71.825% (GBR)
4th Tahley Reeve-Smith with Special, 70.950% (GBR)
5th John Chubb with Wringler, 69.675% (GBR)

CDIY – Clip My Horse.TV Young Rider Team Test
1st Charlotte Dicker with Sabatini, 71.569% (GBR)
2nd Lewis Carrier with Diego V, 69.804% (GBR)
3rd Rebecca Bell with Nibeley Union Hit, 69.167% (GBR)
4th Ruth Hole with Rob Roy, 69.069% (GBR)
5th Lucy Jane Amy with Extra Time, 68.725% (GBR)

CDIY – Clip My Horse.TV Young Rider Individual
1st Charlotte Dicker with Sabatini, 68.431% (GBR)
2nd Anna Jesty with Aquiro, 68.039% (GBR)
3rd Dylan Deutrom with El Zorro, 67.402% (GBR)
4th Lewis Carrier with Diego V, 67.206% (GBR)
5th Lucy Jane Amy with Extra Time, 66.814% (GBR)

CDIY – Clip My Horse.TV Young Rider Freestyle
1st Lewis Carrier with Diego V, 73.542% (GBR)
2nd Charlotte Dicker with Sabatini, 70.667% (GBR)
3rd Lucy Jane Amy with Extra Time, 69.742% (GBR)
4th Rebecca Bell with Nibeley Union Hit, 69.625% (GBR)
5th Isobel Berrington with Bing, 68.158% (GBR)

CDIJ – Owens Horseboxes Junior Team Test
1st Maddy Whelan with Diamond Design, 70.909% (GBR)
2nd Maddy Whelan with Monsieur Pomerol, 70.152% (GBR)
3rd Lara Kuropatwa with For Season, 68.889% (GBR)
4th Clare Hole with Pro-Motion, 67.374% (GBR)
5th Holly Cristofoli with Watch Me V, 67.020% (GBR)

CDIJ - Owens Horseboxes Junior Individual Test
1st Maddy Whelan with Monsieur Pomerol, 70.441% (GBR)
2nd Maddy Whelan with Diamond Design, 69.020% (GBR)
3rd Lara Kuropatwa with For Season, 67.696% (GBR)
4th Holly Cristofoli with Watch Me V, 67.206% (GBR)
5th Clare Hole with Pro-Motion, 66.422% (GBR)

CDIJ – Owens Horseboxes Junior Freestyle
1st Holly Cristofoli with Watch Me V, 72.833% (GBR)
2nd Clare Hole with Pro-Motion, 72.375% (GBR)
3rd Amelia Moncrieff with Billionaire, 70.125% (GBR)
4th Lara Kuropatwa with For Season, 69.458% (GBR)
5th Jessica Sanderson with Wanour S, 68.458% (GBR)

CDIP – Childéric Saddles Pony Team Test
1st Olivia Wrennall with Donna Schuflo, 72.095% (GBR)
2nd Isobel Lickley with Valido’s Sunshine, 71.238% (GBR)
3rd Sophie Taylor with George Clooney BS, 69.571% (GBR)
4th Maddy Whelan with Beaurepaire Frodo, 68.762% (GBR)

CDIP – Childéric Saddles Pony Individual Test
1st Sophie Taylor with George Clooney BS, 70.856% (GBR)
2nd Isobel Lickley with Valido’s Sunshine, 70.180% (GBR)
3rd Olivia Wrennall with Donna Schuflo, 69.099% (GBR)
5th Emily Archer with Top Star, 66.441% (GBR)

CDIP – Childéric Saddles Pony Freestyle
1st Isobel Lickley with Valido’s Sunshine, 75.167% (GBR)
2nd Sophie Taylor with George Clooney BS, 74.233% (GBR)
3rd Olivia Wrennall with Donna Schuflo, 71.633% (GBR)
5th Emily Archer with Top Star, 70.408% (GBR)