Eilberg wins Somerford Park Premier League Grand Prix

Michael Eilberg took the Grand Prix win with bright prospect Dante VX at Somerford Park Premier League Show in Cheshire (25 – 26 May 2024) while Spencer Wilton and Woodcroft Django Mon Ami achieved an Inter I double.

Having already claimed the previous day’s Somerford High Profile Show Grand Prix with 68.44%, Michael rode Nicky Hannam’s Dante VX (Dante Weltino x Quattro B), pictured above, to win Saturday’s Premier League Grand Prix on 70.46%, ahead of close runner-up, Abi Lyle with Farrell. 

“[I’m] Really, really happy with him,” commented Michael. “Yesterday he was a little bit on the edge, but today he felt much more relaxed and he gave me a super ride. The test really flowed and he’s got such a lot of highlights.

“He’s still reasonably green. He’s done about five Grand Prix tests and we’ve targeted him at these Premier Leagues,” continued Michael. “He was super at Hickstead where he was second, then winning here I was really, really chuffed with him.

“After him being quite nervous yesterday, he came out today really allowing me to be able to ask him the questions. I think he’s got such a lot of talent, that horse, so I’m really excited for him. The test flowed all the way through. He does fantastic extensions and pirouettes, and I was really pleased with the ones today as they covered the ground much better.” 

Winner of the BD Young Horse 7YO title in 2020, the now 11-year-old gelding fronted an all round successful week for Michael, the 37-year-old European and World team medallist also winning the High Profile Show PSG (73.19%) and placing second in the Premier League PSG aboard nine-year-old MSJ Encore (Escolar x Caprimond).

Spencer Wilton built on his solid results at Hickstead Premier League two weeks earlier to secure a double win in the Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I classes. Riding Samantha Britton’s eye-catching grey, Woodcroft Django Mon Ami, pictured above, Spencer headed Saturday and Sunday’s Inter I line-ups on 73.38% and 71.92% respectively.

Speaking after his win on Saturday, Spencer said: “It’s his fourth test at Intermediate I level, and it was the first one we’ve done without mistakes. He felt really confident and so I’m delighted with him.

“Today is probably the most relaxed he’s been at a show, because he can wind himself up quite easily, but it worked really well and he felt lovely in there,” continued Spencer. “He was relaxed but still ‘going’ and helping me out, so I was very pleased with the feeling I had more than anything.

“His changes have been really difficult for years, and today was the first test with him that I’ve almost allowed myself to feel confident that they’re going to happen, which was a real pleasure,” he explained. “In the PSG at the Nationals here last year he was so green, but he’s strengthened up so much. And the one thing I never thought would feel as easy as they do now are his canter pirouettes, but I think that’s just strength and confidence, so I’m very, very happy.”

The Youth classes featured a double win by the Pony combination of Abigail Gray and George Clooney B.S, who posted 71.48% and 72.97% in the Team and Individual tests respectively. India Durman-Mills and Escade took the Young Rider Team Test on 73.63%, while Ruby Hughes and Carl Hester’s Brioso II claimed the Junior Team Test on 72.17%.

The highest score across the KBIS Young Horse classes came courtesy of Amy Woodhead and Emma Blundell’s chestnut mare MSJ Duchess (Don Frederic x Fidermark), winner of the KBIS qualifier for five-year-olds on a score of 8.34.

Congratulations to all riders collecting tickets for the LeMieux National Championships, and thank you to the team at Somerford Park for hosting a fantastic Premier League event.

Top three results

Saturday 25 May

Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I
1. Spencer Wilton and Woodcroft Django Mon Ami, 73.38%
2. Michael Eilberg and MSJ Encore, 70.29%
3. Fiona Brennan and Gestion, 69.61%

U25 Grand Prix
1. Jessica McConkey and Dior III, 68.00%
2. Charlotte Lutener and AB Barroco, 66.90%
3. Alicia Lee and Bonita 466, 64.36%

Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges
1. Anne-Marie Cowan and Kracka GH, 69.41%
2. Greg Sims and Waverley Fellini, 68.73%
3. Mark Forrest and Flavio B, 68.63%

Grand Prix
1. Michael Eilberg and Dante VX, 70.46%
2. Abigail Lyle and Farrell, 70.02%
3. Anne-Marie Cowan and Woodcroft Royal Charter, 66.76%

KBIS Young Horse 7YO
1. Tom Goode and Frankie PS, 77.50
2. Jayden Brown and WillingaPark Miana
3. Abigail Lyle and Sun Rose

Pony Team Test
1. Abigail Gray and George Clooney B.S., 71.48%
2. Evie Head and WS Jackson, 69.62%
3. Daisy Bullman and Godrics Dionysus, 69.00%

Junior Team Test
1. Ruby Hughes and Brioso II, 72.17%
2. Myles Graham and Lady Gaga II, 70.96%
3. Mette Dahl and Fidelio van het Bloemenhof, 70.66%

Young Rider Team Test
1. India Durman-Mills and Escade, 73.63%
2. Isobel Lickley and Nymphenburg’s First Ampere, 71.23%
3. Oliver Gould and Rockwood Virtue, 69.90%

Children on Horses Team Test
1. Martha Jones and Don Dimaro van het Gildeland, 72.80%
2. Melissa Hargreaves and Harmony Lox, 70.48%
3. Sienna Pownall and Riggshield Bella Jean, 64.50%

BD International Young Horse 5YO
1. Jessica Ralton and Daboushka, 71.60
2. Sarah Fitton and Newton Reverie, 67.00

BD International Young Horse 6YO
1. Gillian Davison and Siskin, 81.40
2. Carol Wagstaff and Narocko, 71.00
3. Natalie Widdowson and Nelson van de Gathe, 68.40

Bret Willson Dressage International Advanced Medium 92
1. Claire Abel and GF Sezuki, 69.82%
2. Darren Hicks and Kastello, 68.65%
3. Maria Griffin and Satin II, 67.34%

Sunday 26 May

Bret Willson Dressage International Advanced Medium 98
1. Amy Woodhead and K II, 72.41%
2. Jayden Brown and WillingaPark Miana, 71.27%
3. Darren Hicks and Kinnear, 70.79%

Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I
1. Spencer Wilton and Woodcroft Django Mon Ami, 71.92%
2. Jessca Dunn and Dan It’s Carston, 71.67%
3. Vikki Pengilly and Indianna, 70.10%

Stübben Intermediate II
1. Jessica McConkey and Dior III, 68.73%
2. Alexander Harrison-West and Kickback, 68.68%
3. Charlotte Lutener and AB Barroco, 66.67%

Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges
1. Jessica Dunn and Dan It’s Carston, 72.60%
2. Greg Sims and Waverley Fellini, 69.90%
3. Zoe Sleigh and Zall Stensvang, 66.57%

Pony Individual Test
1. Abigail Gray and George Clooney B.S., 72.97%
2. Violet Hawkins and Cruz III, 69.01%
3. Daisy Bullman and Godrics Dionysus, 68.87%

Junior Individual Test
1. Megan Field and Bright Time, 67.74%
2. Isabella Caldwell and Don Geniro, 67.30%
3. Beatrice Butterworth and Ivo 11, 65.78%

Young Rider Individual Test
1. Morgan Ray Haerr and Behroez, 67.21%
2. Megan Field and Bright Time, 66.08%

Children on Horses Individual Test
1. Martha Jones and Tristan Middelsom, 73.89%

KBIS Young Horse 4YO
1. Katie Owens and Florisemo, 79.40
2. Bea Snudden Burnham and Popeye VZH, 78.20
3. Sarah Higgins and MSJ Eugene, 75.80

KBIS Young Horse 5YO
1. Amy Woodhead and MSJ Duchess, 83.40
2. Greg Sims and Call Me Da Sergio, 83.00 
3. Amy Schiessl and Balvenie B, 77.60

KBIS Young Horse 6YO
1. Jessica Dunn and WHS Funtime Frankie, 77.20
2. Luis Principe and Keyland Vincenzo, 76.40
3. Jessica Dunn and Fortuna BG, 75.00

VIEW FULL RESULTS

Photo © Jasmine Punter Photography