Keysoe CDIYJP: Youth riders' final raid before coronavirus stops play

British youth riders showed consistency across Pony, Junior and Young Rider levels at last month’s Keysoe CDIYJP (13 – 15 March 2020), the first British-based international of the year and the bittersweet last before the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic put a stop to the competition calendar.

Rebecca Bell (20) and Nibeley Union Hit (pictured above) won the closely-fought Young Rider Team Test on day one. Rebecca and the 13 year old Nibeley Union Jack x Sandro Hit mare, who is owned by her mother Caroline Bell, achieved a score of 69.60% to finish in front of her compatriot Caitlin Burgess with Chocotof (68.52%) and France’s Camille Audo and Behroez, third (68.38%). The class was a tight tussle between the three riders, in fact all three took their turn on top of the podium over the three FEI Young Rider tests. 

“I was thrilled with her [Nibeley Union Hit],” said Oxford University student Rebecca, who’s in her final year reading English. “We did go to the Europeans last year but we weren’t getting mistake-free tests, so I was delighted that our team test came off at Keysoe.

“Una (Nibeley Union Hit) is now stronger, both mentally and physically, which means she’s finding the changes and pirouettes that much easier,” explained Rebecca. “I’m very lucky that she has strong trot work but she has struggled with the canter work in the past. This has all improved with strength and confidence. She has much more confidence now, and also a lot more to say for herself!

“It’s a tricky one,” she continued, referring to the uncertainty of when competition will resume after the current COVID-19 situation. “With the highs of Keysoe, I was so looking forward to my final year in Young Riders and the prospect of another European Championships, though this all now so uncertain. I’m just trying to balance optimism with being realistic. The coronavirus situation is making me step back and appreciate the smaller things. 

The horse community is as well prepared for this as anyone, as we’re used to dealing with uncertainty.

French rider Camille Audo and the mighty Behroez, who are based in West Sussex with their trainer Sarah Millis, claimed the Young Rider Individual on Saturday with 69.70% for their first ‘Marseillaise’, ahead of Rebecca and Nibeley Union Hit (69.21%), with Caitlin and Chocotof third (68.97%). 

Devon based Caitlin Burgess (18) and her 13 year old Lord Leatherdale son upped the ante on Freestyle day and were rewarded with a 72.38% win with their Tom Hunt programme featuring music from Rudimental, Steve Jablonsky and Lindsey Stirling. Camille Audo and Behroez (United x Gribaldi) posted 71.25% riding to their beautiful, Tom Hunt composition, whilst Rebecca and Nibeley Union Hit achieved third on 70.66% riding to a home-produced compilation of tracks from Two Steps from Hell, Lindsey Stirling and Alan Walker.

“Perfect way to finish this week winning the Young Rider Freestyle to Music on just over 72%,” said Caitlin on Facebook. “Only our fourth international together and [our] first Young rider CDI… to come away with first, second and third… well I don’t have many words.”

Top placings in the Junior divisions all went to British representatives, day one and two spearheaded by 17 year old Maddy Frewin with Christine Kirk’s Woodlander Rhythm n Blues. The Gloucestershire based duo (pictured above) won both the Junior Team and Junior Individual with scores of 67.07% and 69.70%, ahead of Jessica McConkey and Lady Gaga (66.87% and 68.77%), with Jessie Kirby and Belle Amie, and Gemma Owen with Sirius Black, taking third in the Team and Individual respectively. 

Maddy and ‘RnB’, who so resembles his sire Woodlander Rockstar, danced to their brilliant Bollywood-inspired programme for 71.79%. Jessie Kirby (16) and her handsome 14 year old Dutch mare Belle Amie I (by Ronaldo) rode to a compilation of impactful film music for 71.79%, but out ahead on 73.41% was Jess McConkey and her European Championship team ride, Lady Gaga. The experienced campaigners’ expressive performance to an orchestral Ed Sheeran themed programme was awarded 73.41% to raise the flag once again for Great Britain.

Jess took to Facebook to say, “Could not be happier to finish Keysoe CDI with a win and a PB score of 73% in the freestyle! Unbelievably proud of this mare because the music can be quite unsettling for her, but being able to stay relaxed and listening to me throughout the test has by far been the highlight of my week!”

In a largely British dominated CDI, the Pony start lists boasted German world number one Pony competitor Shona Benner and Der Kleine Sunnyboy WE, winners of team, individual and freestyle bronze at last year’s FEI Pony European Championships in Strzegom, Poland. Alongside Great Britain’s high performing Pony riders, this promised strong FEI Pony classes and it didn’t disappoint. 

Shona Benner and ‘Sunny’ bagged the Pony Team Test with 72.57%, exactly one percent ahead of Great Britain’s Izzy Lickley with Mister Snowman (71.57%) followed by fellow Brit Annabella Pidgley with Cognac IX who completed the podium on 69.19%. The order of the top three remained unchanged in the Pony Individual with scores of 72.02%, 70.49% and 69.50% respectively.

For Sunday’s Freestyle, Annabella and Cognac (FS Chambertin x Waldemar), Sarah Pidgley’s talented palomino who she partnered at last year’s Pony Europeans, rode an interesting and expressive freestyle, duly awarded 73.70% from the judging panel of Patricia Wolters (NED), Mary Robins (NZL) and Richard Baldwin (GBR).

A Greatest Showman themed routine from Izzy and her 2019 FEI European Championship partner Mister Snowman (pictured above) earned 74.70% for second place adding to what has been an exciting start to the year for the combination. At Le Mans CDI in February, the cool-headed competitor got a Pony Individual PB, on that occasion toppling Benner from the top spot.

Continuing her domination of the Pony classes, Shona Benner and Der Kleine Sunnyboy WE delivered a stunningly good freestyle to an adaptation of Queen hits for 76.45% and victory, to conclude three great days of FEI Youth competition at Keysoe.

CDIY
FEI Young Rider Team Test
1. Rebecca Bell and Nibeley Union Hit, 69.608% (GBR)
2. Caitlin Burgess and Chocotof, 68.529% (GBR)
3. Camille Audo and Behroez, 68.382% (FRA)
4. Anna Jesty and Flow Motion, 67.843% (GBR)
5. Lara Kuropatwa and For Season, 67.745% (GBR)
6. Ruth Hole and Headmore Delegate, 67.255% (GBR)
7. Clare Hole and Winnetou G.E.P, 66.716% (GBR)
8. Alexandra Hellings and Uvender V, 66.667% (GBR)
9. Kaja Tharaldsen Olsen and Solhoej’s Lord Falcor, 66.618% (GBR)
10. Clare Hole and Pro-Motion, 66.471% (GBR)

FEI Young Rider Individual Test
1. Camille Audo and Behroez, 69.706% (FRA)
2. Rebecca Bell and Nibeley Union Hit, 69.216% (GBR)
3. Caitlin Burgess and Chocotof, 68.971% (GBR)
4. Lara Kuropatwa and For Season, 68.77% (GBR)
5. Ruth Hole and Headmore Delegate, 68.235% (GBR)
6. Anna Jesty and Flow Motion, 67.794% (GBR)
7. Clare Hole and Winnetou G.E.P, 67.745% (GBR)
8. Juliette Lindsay and Highcliffe Apollo, 67.598% (GBR)
9. Alexandra Hellings and Uvender V, 66.814% (GBR)
10. Mathilde Merethe Klaesson and Gentleman F, 66.127% (NED)

CDIY
FEI Young Rider Freestyle
1. Caitlin Burgess and Chocotof, 72.375% (GBR)
2. Camille Audo and Behroez, 71.250% (FRA)
3. Rebecca Bell and Nibeley Union Hit, 70.667% (GBR)
4. Clare Hole and Winnetou G.E.P, 68.667% (GBR)
5. Lara Kutopatwa and For Season, 68.542% (GBR)
6. Anna Jesty and Flow Motion, 68.167% (GBR)
7. Rose Hugh Smith and Ulyssa, 68.042% (GBR)
8. Juliette Lindsay and Highcliffe Apollo, 67.625% (GBR)
9. Angus Corrie-Deane and Tiny Tempur, 67.458% (GBR)
10. Nicole Verschoor and Gentleman F, 66.667% (NED)

CDIJ
FEI Junior Team Test
1. Maddy Frewin and Woodlander Rhythm n Blues, 67.071% (GBR)
2. Jessica McConkey and Lady Gaga, 66.874% (GBR)
3. Jessie Kirby and Belle Amie, 66.465% (GBR)
4. Lily Payne and Z Flemmenco, 66.162% (GBR)
5. Gemma Owen and Sirius Black, 65.505% (GBR)
6. Soraya Rogers and Evita, 65.354% (GBR)
7. Olivia Wrennall and Disneyland, 65.051% (GBR)
8. Chloe Naylor and Karisma, 63.990% (GBR)
9. Tarka Abraham and Donna Summer, 63.485% (GBR)
10. Emma Lowyck and Dior, 59.141% (BEL)

FEI Junior Individual Test
1. Maddy Frewin and Woodlander Rhythm n Blues, 69.706% (GBR)
2. Jessica McConkey and Lady Gaga, 68.775% (GBR)
3. Gemma Owen and Sirius Black, 67.647% (GBR)
4. Soraya Rogers and Evita, 66.716% (GBR)
5. Jessie Kirby and Belle Amie, 65.931% (GBR)
6. Emma Lowyck and Dior, 65.833% (BEL)
7. Chloe Naylor and Karisma, 64.451% (GBR)
8. Lily Payne and Z Flemmenco, 64.167% (GBR)
9. Olivia Wrennall and Disneyland, 62.892% (GBR)

FEI Junior Freestyle
1. Jessica McConkey and Lady Gaga, 73.417% (GBR)
2. Jessie Kirby and Belle Amie, 71.792% (GBR)
3. Maddy Frewin and Woodlander Rhythm n Blues, 71.792% (GBR)
4. Gemma Owen and Sirius Black, 70.750% (GBR)
5. Soraya Rogers and Evita, 68.542% (GBR)
6. Chloe Naylor and Karisma, 66.875% (GBR)
7. Lily Payne and Z Flemmenco, 66.542% (GBR)
8. Emma Lowyck and Dior, 66.500% (BEL)
9. Olivia Wrennall and Disneyland, 66.375% (GBR)
10. Tarka Abraham and Donna Summer, 64.875% (GBR)

CDIP
FEI Pony Team Test
1. Shona Benner and Der Kleine Sunnyboy WE, 72.571% (GER)
2. Isobel Lickley and Mister Snowman, 71.571% (GBR)
3. Annabella Pidgley and Cognac IX, 69.190% (GBR)
4. Mette Dahl and George Clooney B.S, 68.476% (GBR)
5. Myles Graham and Harnells Erasmus, 68.333% (GBR)
6. Shauna Fitzgibbon and Damocles LL, 67.476% (IRL)
7. Oscar O’Connor and Top Hero 2, 66.905% (IRL)
8. Isabella Murray and German Highlight, 66.524% (IRL)
9. Martha Jobling-Purser and Valido’s Starlight, 65.810% (IRL)
10. Gracie Morgan and Ella, 65.619% (GBR)

FEI Pony Individual Test
1. Shona Benner and Der Kleine Sunnyboy WE, 72.027% (GER)
2. Isobel Lickley and Mister Snowman, 70.495% (GBR)
3. Annabella Pidgley and Cognac IX, 69.505% (GBR)
4. Martha Jobling-Purser and Valido’s Starlight, 67.432% (IRL)
5. Mette Dahl and George Clooney B.S, 67.387% (GBR)
6. Cillian Curran and Blokland’s Hoeve’s Amor, 65.315% (IRL)
7. Rachel Carr and Calelvador May Blossom, 65.180% (IRL)
8. Oscar O’Connor and Top Hero 2, 64.955% (IRL)
9. Shauna Fitzgibbon and Damocles LL, 64.640% (IRL)
10. Myles Graham and Harnells Erasmus, 64.279% (GBR)

FEI Pony Freestyle
1. Shona Benner and Der Kleine Sunnyboy WE, 76.458% (GER)
2. Isobel Lickley and Mister Snowman, 74.708% (GBR)
3. Annabella Pidgley and Cognac IX, 73.708% (GBR)
4. Martha Jobling-Purser and Valido’s Starlight, 69.917% (IRL)
5. Mette Dahl and George Clooney B.S, 69.417% (GBR)
6. Myles Graham and Harnells Erasmus, 69.333% (GBR)
7. Gracie Morgan and Ella, 68.375% (GBR)
8. Rachel Carr and Calelvador May Blossom, 68.208% (IRL)
9. Oscar O’Connor and Top Hero 2, 67.500% (IRL)
10. Betsy Smetham and Amber, 66.375% (GBR)

Full results

Photo © Kevin Sparrow