Fiona bags the big prize at Vale View High Profile Show

The 2023 season got well and truly underway last week at Vale View Equestrian in Leicestershire, which welcomed competitors for the opening High Profile fixture of the year (13 – 15 January 2023). Fiona Bigwood took a decisive victory in the Grand Prix, while Becky Moody, Camille Audo and Violet Hawkins each achieved a winning double.

In a competitive Grand Prix class on Saturday evening, Fiona Bigwood rode an assured and harmonious test aboard the athletic Daytona Platinum (by Dante Weltino) to achieve the winning score of 72.500%. Having already set the early standard with 18-year-old Sir Donato (by Sir Donnerhall), Fiona and ‘Dino’, the penultimate combination down the centreline, clinched the win from new leader Becky Moody and Famke PF.

Fiona, who was on the British silver medal-winning team in Rio, bought Oldenburg gelding Daytona Platinum (pictured above) as a five-year-old, a short while after his appearance at the 2016 Bundeschampionate. The now 12-year-old has partnered Fiona to multiple successes during 2022 including winning the Hickstead Premier League Grand Prix in May and the Grand Prix, on his international debut, at Hartpury CDI3* in July.

Daytona Platinum has also competed at FEI Junior level be Fiona’s daughter, Mette Dahl, who herself enjoyed a place atop the podium here at Vale View, winning the Junior Individual aboard the Bigwood family’s 16-year-old Sandro Hit son, Cashmir.

Fiona, who is based near Haywards Heath in West Sussex, took to social media to say, “We had a great start to 2023 at the High Profile Show at Vale View Equestrian. Despite the arctic conditions Daytona Platinum, aka Dino the Dinosaur, won the Grand Prix, and the gorgeous Sir Donato (18 years old) did us proud and was third with a fantastic 71.80%.

“Mette rode the beautiful Cashmir and won the Junior Individual class with 71.13%. Thank you to my great team who makes this all possible; we are looking forward to the year ahead!”

Becky Moody and Famke PF (Houston x Cabachon), on the 13-year-old bay’s first competition outing since Myerscough Premier League, achieved the runner-up spot with a score of 71.920% from judges Steph Cooper, Claire Ballantyne and Mark Ruddock.

“This was her first time out in a while,” said Becky about the talented mare who’s affectionately known at home as Iris. “I was really pleased with her overall. Her extended trots are stronger and she’s more confident in the passage. She needs to be a bit more sure of herself in the piaffe, but overall I was very happy with her. She’s a cool horse.”

In what was a super-successful week for Becky, she also claimed a Small Tour double winning Friday’s Prix St Georges and Inter I classes with Jo Cooper’s nine-year-old stallion James Bond II (Desperado x Fidertanz) - pictured above. Two expressive performances earned scores of 72.790% and 72.110% in the PSG and Inter I respectively.

“James Bond was cool,” continued Becky. “We’re at the point where I’m pleased with him at home, but he’s low mileage competition-wise so I’m now getting him out more to give him experience. It’s very much a work in progress, but he’s a phenomenally talented horse.”

British based French rider, Camille Audo enjoyed a successful start to her 2023 campaign with a double of wins aboard her United x Gribaldi gelding, Behroez (pictured above). The duo, who represented France at the Young Rider Europeans in 2019 and 2020, won Friday’s Inter II on 68.820%, rounding off their show with victory in the U25 Grand Prix on a mark of 67.860% from judges Richard Baldwin, Jane Critchley and Mark Ruddock.

“I was really pleased with ‘Boss’,” commented Camille (23), who is based in West Sussex and is in her third year of a Business Development bachelor’s degree. “In the canter, which is our strong point, we didn’t give any marks away. There’s still improvement to be made in the piaffe, but he was a lot more relaxed in the ring and I could ride him more – that was a big positive.”

Competing in the Children on Horses category, 12-year-old Violet Hawkins was unbeaten with Jayne Turney’s Caesar 171 son, Cruz III (pictured above). Cruz, aka Tom, has competed up to Small Tour with Jayne, and he and Violet made their debut together last August. Here at Vale View they scored 73.130% in the Team Test and 68.060% in the Individual. In both classes, Violet also took second spot with her Keysoe CDI winner, DZL Royal Sunrise.

Congratulations to all the winning riders and owners, and to everyone who took part. Thanks go to organiser Julie Hyslop and the entire team at Vale View Equestrian for hosting the event.

Results – top three
Friday 13 January
TopSpec Medium 75
Sponsored by Equi Taxi
1. Marcin Stachurski and Sparrow Dantae, 67.360%
2. Bracken Parkhouse and Bathleyhills Vue Parfaite, 65.950%
3. Samantha Britton and Delphdale Alice, 65.470%

Bret Willson Dressage International Advanced Medium 91
Sponsored by LH Woodhouse & Co
1. Karla Deir and Silver Dream, 69.170%
2. Jessica Dunn and Hokita, 68.270%
3. Eliza Ireson and Classic Jillz Geuzenhof, 66.280%

Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges
Sponsored by Kevin Sparrow International Dressage Photography
1. Becky Moody and James Bond II, 72.790%
2. Sarah Millis and Ferrari V, 71.370%
3. Chloe Hill and Bon Jovi, 71.130%

Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I
Sponsored by Nags Essentials
1. Becky Moody and James Bond II, 72.110%
2. Emma Jablonski and Higgens van de Uilenhoek, 70.100%
3. Jane Critchley and Tantoni Dallaglio, 69.760%

Stübben Intermediate II
Sponsored by Oakham Veterinary Hospital
1. Camille Audo and Behroez, 68.820%
2. Darren Hicks and Hampton Court 2, 67.260%
3. Maddy Frewin and Blue Hors Dexter, 66.910%

Saturday 14 January
TopSpec Medium 76
Sponsored by Equi Taxi
1. Alison Calvert and Woodlander Frampton, 67.420%
2. Laura Hill and Kensington I, 67.350%
3. Amy Knight and Fredansa, 64.620%

Bret Willson Dressage International Advanced Medium 92
Sponsored by LH Woodhouse & Co
1. Jessica Dunn and Dan It’s Carson, 70.610%
2. Jessica Dunn and Hokita, 69.600%
3. Mary Pritchard and Koeka Matcha JCS, 67.640%

FEI Pony Team Test
1. Demi Howard-Cartwright and Fin C WE, 69.670%
2. Fleur Pocock and Brouwershaven’s Jasper, 68.520%
3. Isla Sully and Reitland’s Don Totilas, 67.570%

FEI Children on Horses Team Test
1. Violet Hawkins and Cruz III, 73.130%
2. Violet Hawkins and DZL Royal Sunrise, 72.470%
3. Ella-Grace Dovey and Flaviano, 68.720%

FEI Junior Team Test
1. Gracie Morgan and First Pitch, 68.490%
2. Isla Sully and Vagabond de Massa, 68.280%
3. Francesca Cawley and Super G, 67.780%

FEI Young Rider Team Test
1. Ruby Hughes and Worlds Exclusive, 71.420%
2. Chloe Hill and Bon Jovi, 70.930%
3. India Durman-Mills and Escade, 70.290%

Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges
Sponsored by Home Farm Equine
1. Gemma Owen and Sirius Black III, 70.290%
2. Mary Pritchard and Unison King, 68.530%
3. Karen Shepherd and Szibadano, 68.090%

Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I
Sponsored by Andrews Bowen
1. Charlotte Lutener and Full Fusion BS, 71.960%
2. Belinda Brereton and Galaxy Moone, 69.760%
3. Ros Collins and Filligran, 68.240%

LeMieux Grand Prix
Sponsored by Horse & Country
1. Fiona Bigwood and Daytona Platinum, 72.500%
2. Becky Moody and Famke PF, 71.920%
3. Fiona Bigwood and Sir Donato, 71.810%

Sunday 15 January
TopSpec Medium 75
Sponsored by Equi Taxi
1. Roberta Sheffield and Fairuza, 68.780%
2. Tanya Rodgers and Dorian de Gray, 65.950%
3. Madison Eagle and Winston XXVIII, 60.470%

Bret Willson Dressage International Advanced Medium 96
Sponsored by LH Woodhouse & Co
1. Mary Pritchard and Koeka Matcha JCS, 65.590%
2. Megan Field and Bright Time FST, 64.150%

FEI Pony Individual Test
1. Isla Sully and Reitland’s Don Totilas, 70.500%
2. Ella Glennon and Amden Supreme Golden Dancer, 70.090%
3. Fi Grabham and Hilkens Showgirl, 69.190%

FEI Children on Horses Individual Test
1. Violet Hawkins and Cruz III, 68.060%
2. Violet Hawkins and DZL Royal Sunrise, 63.930%

FEI Junior Individual Test
1. Mette Dahl and Cashmir, 71.130%
2. Isla Sully and Vagabond de Massa, 68.530%
3. Francesca Cawley and Super G, 68.380%

FEI Young Rider Individual Test
1. India Durman-Mills and Escade, 63.880%
2. Betsy Smetham and Gursonne, 57.700%

Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges
Sponsored by Highcross Horseboxes
1. Sarah Millis and Ferrari V, 69.850%
2. Mary Pritchard and Unison King, 67.990%
3. Natalie Tsuchiya and Don King II, 67.550%

Medium Freestyle
1. Molly Esberger-Shepherd and Magic Heidehof Dylano, 68.610%
2. Jen Bradbury and Roulette, 65.170%
3. Madison Eagle and Winston XXVIII, 64.330%

Prix St Georges Freestyle
1. Lucinda Bellis and Windhover II, 65.580%

LeMieux Grand Prix 16-25
Sponsored by Fenwick Photography
1. Camille Audo and Behroez, 67.860%
2. Ruth Hole and Easy VZ, 67.180%
3. Anna Jesty and Commodore Platinum, 64.920%

VIEW FULL RESULTS

Photo © Kevin Sparrow