Durable lands double win at Bury Farm High Profile Show

With just a few short weeks to the LeMieux National Championships, riders at Bury Farm High Profile Show (27 – 29 August 2021) were taking the opportunity to acclimatise their horses to a bigger show atmosphere, flower-dressed arenas and loudspeaker announcements.

In the Grand Prix classes there was strong competition between the top three on both days. Nikki Barker and Durable (pictured) showed superb consistency to win both, though Steph Croxford with Mr Benn II and Nicola Buchanan with Half Moon Dark Magic ran them close.

‘Dan’s’ Saturday test was flowing but perhaps lacked a little of his usual sparkle. His test was full of high points – lovely uphill changes and sweeping half passes. “He was a bit hotter and more go-ey today (Sunday),” said Nikki. “I was trying to ride for clear rounds and there were no huge mistakes. He’s a scopey and huge-moving horse and tries so hard. He didn’t quite feel himself on Saturday but he’s established enough now to just pop round.”

Durable (by Spielberg) is owned by Nikki and Viv Gleave and has offspring who are already following in his footsteps. Dan Ivanhoe and Dan Icarus are both powering up the grades with Nikki. Dan Ivanoe was at Bury Farm for some pre-Nationals practice and took a first and second at Medium Gold level.

“He needs to get a bit more mileage,” explained Nicky who owns the eight-year-old with Ros Emery-Kay. “He’s a lovely boy who has grown and grown.”

Nikki’s Medium 75 Gold winner, Shareholder II, was a present from her husband Will. “My gorgeous hubby bought him for me just before Covid,” said Nikki. “I love him – straightforward and easy and really smart.” (She’s talking about the horse here but we’re sure that applies to Will too!)

“He’s a bit of a late starter. When I first got him we just hacked him for a year and played with him in the arena.”

Nicola Buchanan added a Prix St Georges (PSG) win on St Giles Bon Bon to her two GP third places.

“She’s only eight so still a little green,” explained Nicola who will contest the Advanced Medium Gold with her at the Nationals. “She’s getting more consistent all the time. She’s always solid in the arena and tries her best. She’s always willing and forward and never spooky. I was particularly pleased with her extended walk and the eight metre trot circles rode well. I might have liked a bit more power, but settled for a clear round.”

Nicola was flying solo at Bury Farm as her usual groom, husband Harvey, was off filming during the day with a certain Mr Hester for his Ridely app. It proves that a Grand Prix rider isn’t too grand to do the hard work of prepping and riding two horses for herself.

Tyler Bradshaw was more fortunate as she had most of her family (mum, dad and partner) with her for the excursion from Tiverton in Devon to Bedfordshire. Her two horses put on a good show with wins for Igor VIII at PSG and Gijsbert at Inter I and a number of top three placings for them both.

Igor (Uphill x Cabochon) - pictured above - is still only eight years old and this is his first year at small tour. He is a true comeback kid as he had septic peritonitis as a five-year-old and only given a 5% chance of survival. Fortunately he pulled through although rehab was a challenge as Tyler was advised to ride the powerful gelding straight away after eight months’ box rest – with no lunging!

“He’s my rock-steady horse and is always rideable though he can be stubborn. Peter Storr has helped me a huge amount with his training regime and my riding,” commented Tyler. “Igor and I have become a really good team over the last year. I usually prefer sharper horses and he’s always been a bit backward but through understanding him and riding him the right way, it’s come good.”

Tyler’s second ride Gijsbert (by United) is a bit older at 10 and was bought in Holland as a just-backed four-year-old. “It’s like dancing with the devil! When I tried him my mum told the sellers to put him away, but I loved him,” said Tyler. “Since working with Peter I’ve found the right buttons. He’s working at GP at home and I hope to do an inter II by the end of the year.” ‘Bert’ will be competing in the PSG and inter I at the Nationals.

Andrew Gould smashed the small tour classes on the first day with Mandy Towle-Shaw’s nine-year-old Vitalis gelding, Rockwood Virtue. Mandy has had considerable success with him, winning a two Area Festival titles. Andrew took on the ride recently and this was their third show together and Virtue’s first inter I.

“I was really pleased with him. He’s mentally strong and has the talent to go to grand prix,” said Andrew. “He needs to find a little more balance but he’s still new to this level. His trot work is phenomenal and he has good uphill tendency.”

Samantha Willson’s homebred, Delhurens Sunshine, is by Deans San Ciro Hit but is a dead-ringer for his grandsire, Sandro Hit. “We’ve grown up together and Flo loves the higher level work,” said Samantha after her Inter I win on the second day. Together with her other horse Donatello who was competing at Medium level, Samantha had top 10 placings in all their six tests.

“Flo is definitely my horse of a lifetime. She’s taught me everything and I’m really proud of her.” Flo and Samantha were winners at junior level at Deauville international show in 2019 and the plan is to continue the training to Grand Prix.

Nathalie Kayal’s DHI Homerun (by Hochadel) has been a consistent performer this year and his Inter II win was no exception. He is the first horse Nathalie has trained to Grand Prix so the pair has learned together coming up the levels. She freely admits that the top levels are tough for both horses and riders and feels that as Homerun has become stronger, the tests are becoming easier to ride. “This was the first time I’ve ridden the Inter II and was able to calculate what was happening. It was a confident round and I think the atmosphere here helped me with my nerves. This is my favourite venue and it feels like home. It’s run beautifully and I will be trying to visualise myself riding at Bury Farm when I go up the centre line at the Nationals in a few weeks’ time,”
she said.

Sarah Dwyer-Coles hopes to be on her way to Inter II and GP with her PSG Freestyle Gold winner, Casino-Royale (pictured above). Sarah has had the 14-year-old Lord Loxley gelding for two years, “He has endless energy which sometimes needs channeling, “explained Sarah. “This was probably the most sensible he’s been and I had my best ride with him. He’s got a huge personality and I absolutely love him.”

Saturday’s Inter I Freestyle overall was won by Harriet Kipping and Camelot’s Black Knight (Ace). The Nicky-sired 14-year-old was sourced in Holland as a five-year-old by Harriet’s trainer, Rhett Bird.

“He’s a lovely character – so willing and wants to do his best,” said Harriet who is a business consultant and has her mum and dad as her support team. Mum Catherine helps out as groom and dad Michael put together the music programme which the judges rewarded with a score of eight.

“We come as a family and have fun and occasionally Ace pulls a win out of the bag.” Harriet is getting married shortly so let’s hope her new husband is also useful at shows!

Nicola Naylor, blind grade IV para rider, has had Dan Greenwood as her caller for 10 years and took the opportunity to introduce her friend Ros Emery-Kay to the role. Nicola had first and second placings in Friday’s advanced medium silver on Del Piero V and Humberto, reversing the order in Saturday’s advanced medium silver freestyle with Humberto.

“I hadn’t ridden either programme to the music before the show,” said Nicola. “Ros does all my music and puts a lot of work into it. Piero’s floor plan was the most difficult as he’s more experienced than Humberto. “

“Humberto is a super horse but still needs to learn about arenas and flowers. Hartpury international was too much for him and he couldn’t cope – it was windy, there were photographers, flowers and loudspeakers! He’s gained confidence here and he showed himself off in the freestyle – he’s an amazing moving horse.”

“Piero’s floorplan was ambitious but it’s good to set challenges and it came off pretty well.”

The Advanced Medium Freestyle Silver was won by Tania Grantham and Michelle Van Meurs’ PRE stallion, Seni Ilustrisimo (pictured above), known as ‘Igloo’.

“This was his first Advanced Medium Freestyle and I edited the music with Michelle’s daughter, Kelly,” said Tania who used an adventurous selection of electronic music by Disclosure and a dance DJ. “I wasn’t sure the judges would go for it but it has real crescendos which suit him as he’s such an expressive horse. It’s taken a year to teach him changes but they all came off and he got 7.5s for them.”

The Medium Freestyle was won by Rachel Lane and the 10-year-old mare, Faco.

Two Medium classes were won by Linsay Coleridge-Smith and Active Fangio. He was bred by Linsay’s neighbour, Nicola McGivern, and Linsay swapped one of her horses for the 11-year-old Fürst Romancier gelding.

“It was the best swap I’ve ever made!” said Linsay. “He’s a big friendly giant and very level-headed. I’ve been working on trying to find new gears and this was the first attempt at riding them in a test. There were a few wobbles but I was very pleased with the result.”

Chloe Hill’s schoolmaster Fort Knoxx (pictured above) did her proud to win the Advanced Medium 92 Gold and place third in the Advanced Medium Freestyle. Fifteen-year-old Chloe has had ‘Freddie’ for just over a year. “He’s taken me to my first Premier League, first High Profile and first international shows,” she said. “He’s taught me so much, he’s a perfect dressage horse.”

Owen Cooper was a double winner at Medium level with Tracy Griffith’s Just Magic BH (Bordeaux x Jazz) who has qualified for the Medium Gold Championship at the Nationals. “He’s a really talented little horse, like a rubber ball,” said Owen’s partner Katie Richards who was also a Medium class winner with Danger Bay. “It was a good pre-Nationals run-out to get him some experience in a bigger atmosphere.”

Bury Farm was host not only to eager competitors but also anxious judges as a number were at the event to take their upgrading exams. As usual the Bury Farm organising team dealt with the extra pressure with efficiency and charm and competitors welcomed the recently resurfaced outdoor warm-up which has had new drainage added.

Top-three results:
Friday 27 August
Medium 61 Silver
1. Georgina Day and Princess Florina, 68.56%
2. Georgina Day and Waverley Night Music, 65.28%
3. Jessica Grogan and Klein Rodenrijs Gold Fee, 64.48%

Medium 61 Gold
1. Katie Richards and Danger Bay, 69.94%
2. Natalie Tsuchiya and Don King II, 69.28%
3. Owen Cooper and Just Magic BH, 69.25%

HorseLight Medium 75 Silver
1. Linsay Coleridge-Smith and Active Fangio, 68.01%
2. Sofia Games and Steendieks Cadillac, 66.17%
3/ Charlotte Thomas and Che Bello, 66.08%

HorseLight Medium 75 Gold
1. Owen Cooper and Just Magic BH, 67.92%
2. Natalie Tsuchiya and Don King II, 67.16%
3. Louise Bell and Siyabano, 66.62%

Advanced Medium 92 Silver
1. Siobhan Heneghan and Humm, 66.71%
2. Louise Riley-Hunt and Zamira, 63.10%
3. Sarah Morris and Frank Sinatra II, 62.70%

Advanced Medium 92 Gold
1. Chloe Hill and Fort Knox, 71.84%
2. Isobel Lickley and Mount St John Furstin Fugger, 71.48%
3. Gracie Catling and Wilhemina II, 71.17%

Advanced Medium 98 Silver
1. Nicola Naylor and Del Piero V, 67.85%
2. Nicola Naylor and Humberto, 66.97%
3. Yanhiu Kar and President’s Falcon, 64.64%

Advanced Medium 98 Gold
1. Annabella Pidgley and Sultan des Paluds FRH, 75.65%
2. Vicky Campbell and Lotti Van Bergsham, 70.43%
3. Chloe Hill and Headmore Delegate, 68.24%

PYO Advanced
1. Melissa Richardson and Gravgaard’s Dundee, 67.30%
2. Elizabeth Allen and Indracarte, 64.44%

Magic Prix St Georges Silver
1 . Anna Brown and Bocelli, 66.36%
2. Amanda Petts and Curisio, 65.13%
3. Megan Assouline and Stald Lykke’s Black Magic, 64.78%

Magic Prix St Georges Gold
1. Andrew Gould and Rockwood Virtue, 70.83%
2. Dannie Morgan and Loxley’s Optimism, 68.64%
3. Tyler Bradshaw and Gijsbert, 67.93%

Superflex Intermediate I Silver
1. Melissa Dawes and Bodyguard Moorland 67.93%
2. Amanda Petts and Curisio, 66.53%
3. Amanda Petts and Babera Van Alfen, 65.48%

Superflex Intermediate I Gold
1. Andrew Gould and Rockwood Virtue, 69.86%
2. Elizabeth Allen and Heraldik, 68.68%
3. Harriet Kipping and Camelot’s Back Knight, 68.59%

Haygain II Silver
1. Georgie West and Skyla, 63.15%

Haygain II Gold
1. Nathalie Kayal and DHI Homerun, 69.25%
2. Dannie Morgan and Southern Cross Braemar, 68.20%
3. Ruth Hole and Easy VZ, 68.20%

Saturday 28 August
HorseLight Medium 73 Silver
1. Linsay Coleridge-Smith and Active Fangio, 69.85%
2. Georgina Day and Waverley Night Music, 67.94%
3. Georgina Day and Princess Florina, 67.05%

HorseLight Medium 73 Gold
1. Nikki Barker and Dan Ivanhoe, 70.78%
2. Samantha Willson and Donatello, 66.37%
3. Elizabeth Allen and Borado S, 65.34%

Advanced Medium 96 Silver
1. Jessie Kirby and Windy De La Roche CMF, 69.47%
2. Melissa Richardson and Gravgaard’s Sir Dundee, 67.32%
3. Sophie Williams and Te Amo, 64.91%

Advanced Medium 96 Gold
1. Chloe Hill and Fort Knoxx, 69.6%
2. Chloe Hill and Headmore Delegate, 68.9%
3. Tania Grantham and Seni Ilustrisimo III, 68.55%

Spillers Medium Freestyle Silver
1. Georgina Day and Princess Florina, 71.11%
2. Siobhan Heneghan and Humm, 70.61%
3. Jessica Grogan and Klein Rodenrijs Gold Fee, 68.61%

Spillers Medium Freestyle Gold
1. Rachel Lane and Faco, 72.83%
2. Nikki Barker and Dan Ivanhoe, 70.94%
3. Elizabeth Allen and Borado S, 67.5%

Nupafeed Advanced Medium Freestyle Silver
1. Nicola Naylor and Humberto L, 73.16%
2. Nicola Naylor and Del Piero V, 71.27%
3. Anne Brown and Bocelli, 70.11%

Nupafeed Advanced Medium Freestyle Gold
1. Tania Grantham and Seni Ilustrisimo III, 72.77%
2. Zoe Sopp and Vilan, 72.27%
3. Chloe Hill and Fort Knoxx, 72.05%

Prix St Georges Freestyle Silver
1. Harriet Brick and World Dancer, 67.70%
2. Nicola Bell and Flores L, 67.25%
3. Avery Maude and Double Agent, 64.37%

Prix St Georges Freestyle Gold
1. Sarah Dwyer-Coles and Casino-Royale, 73.62%
2. Rachel Murray and Winnetou GEP, 68.66%
3. Tyler Bradshaw and Igor VIII, 66.87%

Magic Prix St Georges Silver
1. Sally Walker and Wilton, 69.47%
2. Megan Assouline and Stald Lykke’s Black Magic, 66.05%
3, Sarah Filton and Florenciana 5, 65.57%

Magic Prix St Georges Gold
1. Nicola Buchanan and St Giles Bon Bon, 70.70%
2. Dannie Morgan and Loxley’s Optimism, 69.64%
3. Sarah Dwyer-Coles and Casino-Royale, 69.64%

Superflex Intermediate I Silver
1. Mandy Day and Giomf, 67.98%
2. Sally Walker and Wilton, 67.76%
3. Christine Cockerton and Evaldo, 66.79%

Superflex Intermediate I Gold
1. Samantha Willson and Delhurens Sunshine, 68.81%
2. Sarah Gorvett and Leon VI, 68.55%
3. Lucy Pye and Superstar III, 68.5%

LeMieux Grand Prix
1. Nikki Barker and Durable, 69.96%
2. Steph Croxford and Mr Benn II, 67.66%
3. Nicola Buchanan and Half Moon Dark Magic, 67.20%

Sunday 29 August
Medium 69 Silver
1. Charlotte Thomas and Che Bello, 68.78%
2. Holly Fegan and Bolero’s Dream, 67.42%

Medium 69 Gold
1. Owen Cooper and Just Magic BH, 69.14%
2. Nikki Barker and Dan Ivanhoe, 68.83%
3. Ruth Hole and CHS Fonteyn, 67.42%

HorseLight Medium 75 Silver
1. Sally-Anne Gladysz and Orion SK, 66.30%
2. Charlotte Thomas and Che Bello, 65.27%
3. Nicole Turner and J’Eton Hit LDS 63.96%

HorseLight Medium 75 Gold
1. Nikki Barker and Shareholder II, 72.58%
2. Owen Cooper and Just Magic BH, 71.12%
3. Zoe Sopp and Vilan, 69.85%

Advanced Medium 98 Silver
1. Christine Cockerton and Florance Christi, 68.02%
2. Jennifer Charleston and Cinnamon Girl, 66,62%
3. Siobhan Henneghan and Humm, 64.86%

Advanced Medium 98 Gold
1. Zoe Sopp and Vilan, 68.54%
2. Scarlett John and Highcliffe Apollo, 68.64%
3. Steph Croxford and Mr Jurist, 67.63%

Advanced Medium 91 Silver
1. Jennifer Charleston and Cinnamon Girl, 66.32%
2. Sally-Anne Gladysz and Orion SK, 64.31%

Advanced Medium 91 Gold
1. Vicky Campbell and Lotti Van Bergsham, 70.68%
2. Steph Croxford and Mr Jurist, 67.17%
3. Tor Fenwick and Damask Rosa Mundi, 67.17%

Magic Prix St Georges Silver
1. Josie Kent and Serious Black, 66.75%
2. Amanda Petts and Curioso, 65.83%
3.Christine Cockerton and Evaldo, 65.52%

Magic Prix St Georges Gold
1. Tyler Bradshaw and Igor VIII, 68.9%
2. Tyler Bradshaw and Gijsbert, 68.81%
3. Samantha Willson and Delhuren’s Sunshine, 68.55%

Superflex Intermediate I Silver
1. Fay Lai and Bengal II, 66.50%
2. Sarah Filton and Florenciana 4, 63.11%
3. Julia Walker and Rodhea, 61.09%

Superflex Intermediate I Gold
1. Tyler Bradshaw and Gijsbert, 67.8%
2. Tyler Bradshaw and Igor VIII, 66.09%
3. Zoe Sopp and Borella, 65.57%

LeMieux Grand Prix
1. Nikki Barker and Durable, 68.40%
2. Steph Croxford and Mr Benn II, 67.50%
3. Nicola Buchanan and Half Moon Dark Magic, 66.40%

PYO FEI
1. Crystal Robinson Long and Baldovino, 73.55% (CoH)
2. Fi Grabham and Zothen’s Dance Lady, 71.95% (CoH)
3. Ruby Hughes and Extra Time, 69.82% (CoH)

FULL RESULTS

Photo © Kevin Sparrow