British riders flourish in France

British riders enjoyed a highly successful trip to Le Mans CDI3*/2*/U25/Y/J/P/Ch-A in France (18 – 21 October 2018).

Gareth Hughes dominated the big tour. The World and European team medallist got off to a fantastic start achieving a one-two in Thursday’s Grand Prix. With wife Rebecca’s Classic Briolinca (Trento B x Royal Dance), the mare with whom he won the LeMieux Grand Prix title at Stoneleigh last month, he took the top honours with a score of 73.565%. With Claudine Kroll’s Swiss-bred KK Woodstock (Wolkentanz II x Landiosa) he also impressed to take second, scoring 70.804%.

On to Saturday, Classic Briolinca (pictured above), with whom Gareth was also shortlisted for WEG this year, delivered a superb Grand Prix Special for a personal best score of 76.149%. In an unequivocal victory, the pair finished almost seven percent ahead of Germany’s Juliette Piotrowski and Sir Diamond in second. Not to be outdone by his stablemate, KK Woodstock headed the Grand Prix Freestyle. The 12-year-old gelding was awarded 73.775% ahead of fellow Brit Louise Bell with Into The Blue who achieved 71.700% following their super 68.022% top-five Grand Prix.

In the Medium Tour divisions, World Class Podium Potential rider Sarah Millis and her rising star Behroez (pictured right) dominated. Sarah and the huge United x Gribaldi 12-year-old who were unbeatable in the small tour at Le Mans last year, won the Inter B with a score of 69.825% followed by an Inter II victory with 70.88%. “Great day in France with another win for Boss who tried his heart out in the CDI** Middle Tour Inter II with a plus 70%,” said Sarah on Facebook. “So pleased with this super talented horse. Thank you everyone for all of the support!”

In the U25 ranks, Joanna Thurman-Baker who is on the World Class Podium Potential Programme too, delivered two solid performances. With Highcliffe Apollo (Der Lenz x Laptop) she took second in both the Inter II and Grand Prix with scores of 67.765% and 66.154% respectively. This partnership, which has seemingly grown up together is enjoying a successful step up to U25s. “Another second place today,” said Joanna on Facebook. “A few mistakes crept in but I’m so proud of my ‘lil pony’. From Novice to U25 Grand Prix together.”

Fourteen year old Soraya Rogers from Dorking had an international debut to remember with the lovely mare, Evita I (pictured right). Soraya and the Dutch-bred Jazz daughter, who is owned by Deborah Kamal, scored 70.379% to take the Children on Horses Prel A. Soraya and nine-year-old Evita are a relatively new pairing having been competing together since June this year. Their week continued with fourth in the Children on Horses Team Test and a close second in the Individual to the Netherlands’ Amber Schelstraete and Burberry.

Junior rider Clare Hole (16) and Winnetou G.E.P, a Gribaldi sired 15-year-old owned by Rachel Murray, showed great promise with third place in the Junior Team Test on a score of 67.929%. Clare, who was part of the gold medal-winning British team at the FEI Pony European Championships in 2015, also took fourth with Lynne Jackson’s Pro-Motion (by Pro-Set).

In the Pony divisions, which were a hotly contested affair, 2018 FEI Pony European team rider Annabella Pidgley delivered three assured tests with her mother Sarah’s Cognac IX – a German-bred palomino son of FS Chambertin. In the Pony Team Test she posted a score of 70.714% to claim third in the class which was won by the Dutch star pairing of Micky Schelstraete and Elin’s Noncisdador with 72%. The consistency of the rankings continued with a Schelstraete domination however Annabella remained in the frame with seventh in the Individual Test and a shared fourth spot with Belgium’s Noa Joosen in the Freestyle.

Results of the British riders:

CDI3* - Grand Prix
1st Gareth Hughes and Classic Briolinca, 73.565% (GBR)
2nd Gareth Hughes and KK Woodstock, 70.804% (GBR)
5th Louise Bell and Into The Blue, 68.022% (GBR)
10th Henriette Andersen and Flavio, 64.326% (GBR)

CDI3* - Grand Prix Special
1st Gareth Hughes and Classic Briolinca, 76.149% (GBR)
6th Henriette Andersen and Flavio, 65.872% (GBR)

CDI3* - Grand Prix Freestyle
1st Gareth Hughes and KK Woodstock, 73.775% (GBR)
2nd Louise Bell and Into The Blue, 71.700% (GBR)

CDI2* - Intermediate B
1st Sarah Millis and Behroez, 69.825% (GBR)
5th Kirsty Mepham and Minain, 62.475% (GBR)

CDI2* - Intermediate II
1st Sarah Millis and Behroez, 70.088% (GBR)
5th Kirsty Mepham and Minain, 61.971% (GBR)

CDI2* - Prix St Georges
1st Matthias Alexander Rath and Danoenchen OLD, 73.412% (GER)
7th Ellen McCarthy with Belafonte, 67.088% (GBR)
11th Dean Skeates with Super Blue, 65.941% (GBR)
16th Kerry Mackin and Esquire, 65.059% (GBR)

CDI2* - Intermediate I
1st Matthias Alexander Rath and Danoenchen OLD, 74.765% (GER)
6th Ellen McCarthy and Belafonte, 67.324% (GBR)
12th Dean Skeates and Super Blue, 65.735% (GBR)
15th Kerry Mackin and Esquire, 62.971% (GBR)

CDI2* - Intermediate I Freestyle
1st Karen Nijvelt and Elysias, 74.275% (NED)
8th Ellen McCarthy and Belafonte, 67.925% (GBR)
9th Dean Skeates and Super Blue, 67.650% (GBR)
10th Kerry Mackin and Esquire, 66.675% (GBR)

CDIU25 - Intermediate II
1st Yoeki Bos and Vivaldi, 69.176% (NED)
2nd Joanna Thurman-Baker and Highcliffe Apollo, 67.765% (GBR)

CDIU25 - Grand Prix 16-25
1st Yoeki Bos and Vivaldi, 68.590% (NED)
2nd Joanna Thurman-Baker and Highcliffe Apollo, 66.154% (GBR)

CDICh-A – Children on Horses Prel A
1st Soraya Rogers and Evita, 70.379% (GBR)
6th Amy Richards and Rotspons Rough Diamond, 62.121% (GBR)

CDICh-A – Children on Horses Ch Team
1st Amber Schelstraete and Burberry, 67.692% (NED)
4th Soraya Rogers and Evita, 66.062% (GBR)

CDICh – A – Children on Horses Ch Individual
1st Amber Schelstraete and Burberry, 69.940% (NED)
2nd Soraya Rogers and Evita, 68.333% (GBR)

CDIY – Young Rider Team Test
1st Zoe Kuintjes and Primeval Brittsion, 71.471% (NED)
10th Megan Ingham and Wanadoo, 65.588% (GBR)
12th Angus Corrie-Deane and Tiny Tempur, 63.676% (GBR)

CDIY – Young Rider Individual Test
1st Zoe Kuintjes and Primeval Brittsion, 70.392% (NED)
10th Angus Corrie-Deane and Tiny Tempur, 66.471% (GBR)
11th Megan Ingham and Wanadoo, 65.784% (GBR)

CDIY – Young Rider Freestyle
1st Capucine Noel and Soleil Noir Vom Rosenhof, 72.875% (FRA)
8th Megan Ingham and Wanadoo, 68.458% (GBR)
11th Angus Corrie-Deane and Tiny Tempur, 65.958% (GBR)

CDIJ – Junior Team Test
1st Emma-Lou Becca and Komet 282, 69.848% (LUX)
3rd Clare Hole and Winnetou G.E.P, 67.929% (GBR)
4th Clare Hole and Pro-Motion, 67.626% (GBR)
10th Jessica McConkey and Lady Gaga, 66.414% (GBR)

CDIJ – Junior Individual Test
1st Emma-Lou Becca and Komet 282, 70.882% (LUX)
5th Clare Hole and Winnetou G.E.P, 67.304% (GBR)
7th Clare Hole and Pro-Motion, 66.667% (GBR)
8th Jessica McConkey and Lady Gaga, 66.412% (GBR)

CDIJ – Junior Freestyle
1st Pem Verbeek and Fernando Torres, 72.958% (NED)
6th Jessica McConkey and Lady Gaga, 67.333% (GBR)
7th Clare Hole and Winnetou G.E.P, 66.792% (GBR)\

CDIP – Pony Team Test
1st Micky Schelstraete and Elin’s Noncisdador, 72.000% (NED)
3rd Annabella Pidgley and Cognac IX, 70.714% (GBR)
11th Annabella Pidgley and Ine, 68.714% (GBR)
14th Natasha Powell-Richards and Oosting Amigo, 67.524% (GBR)
18th Holly James and Classic’s Charmeur, 65.238% (GBR)

CDIP – Pony Individual Test
1st Micky Schelstraete and Elin’s Noncisdador, 71.532% (NED)
7th Annabella Pidgley and Cognac IX, 68.739% (GBR)
14th Holly James and Classic’s Charmeur, 65.811% (GBR)
16th Annabella Pidgley and Ine, 65.180% (GBR)
17th Natasha Powell-Richards and Oosting Amigo, 63.694% (GBR)

CDIP – Pony Freestyle
1st Micky Schelstraete and Elin’s Noncisdador, 74.958% (NED)
=4th Annabella Pidgley and Cognac IX, 70.333% (GBR)
=4th Noa Joosen and Miss Miracle, 70.333% (BEL)
13th Natasha Powell-Richards and Oosting Amigo, 66.333% (GBR)
16th Holly James and Classic’s Charmeur, 63.042% (GBR)