News
Lanning wins Nirvana Spa feature class at Wellington Premier League
- Written By: Helen Triggs | British Dressage
- Published: Fri, 28 Jun 2024 17:25
The Wellington Festival of Dressage offers a great opportunity to see top riders and para riders as it encompasses a CDI and CPEDI, as well as the hotly-contested Premier League classes. The Premier League competition (4-7 June) saw some exciting established stars, potential new challengers and some interesting young horses.
For many years, Wellington has promoted freestyle competition, being one of the first venues to include them in their programmes. To win the Nirvana Spa PSG Freestyle at their Gala Evening is a much sought-after accolade, with Charlotte Dujardin winning it last year with Alive and Kicking. For this year’s winner, Sara-Jane Lanning, it was a goal finally achieved. She has competed in this class with numerous horses and achieved placings many times. Until this year the red ribbon eluded her.
The horse that finally satisfied her ambition was a new purchase, the 17-year-old Dayano gelding Choice I - pictured above, who she purchased only two weeks before from one of her clients. “I’ve been trying to win it for years!” commented Sara-Jane. “It’s my local show and I love competing here.
“I produce my own music and am keen that each horse’s music suits its personality. For Choice I chose James Bond, Pink Panther and Austin Powers film tunes and it was so much fun to ride. At this level of freestyle, you need changes in the music for each of the movements so I made it quite difficult for myself. We made a huge mistake at the beginning when Choice shied at the photographer, but I managed to think quickly and he recovered the marks in the rest of the test.
“I had a thoroughly lovely time and smiled all the way through the test. I think he’s only done one freestyle before but he felt like he was smiling too.”
Gørklintgårds Scorpion’s success in the Grand Prix was his first Premier League win. The 10-year-old (Santos x Don Schufro) is owned by Julia Harrison-Lee and has been ridden for a year by Nathalie Wahlund who represented Sweden in the Under 25 Europeans in 2019 and 2021.
“He’s still quite green but taking to it very well and he’s very exciting for the future” commented Nathalie who now rides for Italy and is based with Sarah Millis. “The prize giving for the CDI was going on while we were warming up and it was the first time he’d experienced something like that but he handled it well.
“He gave me the best feeling we’ve had in a test. I feel he’s making progress every time. He’s a really fun horse to work with because he loves his work.”
Out in front
In the Stübben Intermediate II, Sadie Smith and Swanmore Dantina (Dante Weltino x Charatan W) - pictured below - were in a class of their own. Their winning score of 75.98% put them way ahead of the field and was only their second attempt at this level.
“She’s qualified for the Nationals so I’ll keep her ticking away at home. We’ll try Grand Prix when she’s ready and strong enough.”
Annabella Pidgley was another high scorer with both her horses. Kadans II won Tuesday’s Inter I with a very impressive 75.59% and her latest acquisition, Fifty-Fifty won both five-year-old classes with scores above 93%.
Stallion Kadans (Franklin x Jazz) came to Annabella in August 2023 and she has been taking her time to get to know him. “It’s important he gets confidence in the ring and gets more established,” she explained. “He gave me the best feeling ever so I withdrew him from the rest of his classes and he spent the rest of the week in the field! He’s the sweetest stallion.”
New star
Her young horse winner Fifty-Fifty (Fürst Toto x Royal Classic) only arrived with Annabella two weeks ago so they are still getting to know each other. “He coped amazingly well at the show and it was lovely to feel his confidence,” said Annabella. “I’ll keep developing him slowly. Competing isn’t his main focus so I just want to give him a nice time at the shows.”
Jessica McConkey scored a PSG personal best with Wilson Stensvang (Wilkens x Don Schufro) of 74.26% and also won Wednesday’s Inter I. “He was on top form,” she said. “I haven’t had him out a lot this year. We’ve been training with Andrew Gould which has made a lot of difference.
“I was treating it as a training show to work on his pirouettes and he got 8s for them! I’ve trained Wilson myself so it’s been a learning curve. He’s now working on the Under-25 Grand Prix movements.”
Jessie will be representing Britain at the Under-25 Europeans with Samantha Geddes’ Dior III, formerly ridden at Grand Prix by Tom Goode. “It’s made a massive difference riding him and learning from Tom and Emile [Faurie].”
Christian Landolt’s Liss La Belle (Lissaro x Laurentianer) had 21 months away from competition with two unfortunate injuries, one after the other. The 13-year-old now seems back on track and won a PSG class with Lisa Hopkins on her first time back in the ring, giving her direct qualification to the Nationals.
“It was amazing to win – I wasn’t expecting it,” explained Lisa. “There are still a couple of weaker movements but the test reminded me that as long as the basics are solid, it’s all still in there. There’s still a few more per cent to come in the future.”
Davy Harvey took home two red rosettes. He won Advanced Medium 98 with his own Hercules and a PSG with Judy Peploe’s Diamond Blue.
Davy has had Foundation-sired Hercules for two years and this was his first Premier League show with him. “He was very jolly,” said Davy. “He loves to show off and had a whale of a time.”
He has been riding Diamond Blue (by Don Frederic) for three years and in 2023 they were Advanced Medium victors in both freestyle and straight classes at the Winter Championships and Advanced Medium Champions at the Nationals. Diamond Blue then had a nine month break from competition. “It was a long winter and he had a couple of viruses,” explained Davy. “He grew in confidence as the week went on and on the last day I was able to go for it. He was a bit green in his Inter I class but we were very excited to do his first one.”
Back on track
Graaf Lincom CL has had an even longer competition break – between September 2019 and November 2023. “He had lots of unsolved problems with his shoulder joints and is a bit of an enigma for vets,” explained Nathalie Kayal who has stuck with the Fürst Romancier x Junior STU 11-year-old through thick and thin. “He’s the most wonderful horse and I love him to bits. He’s loving being back on the circuit. The minute we start to plait him he starts doing a Disney dance like a child going to Florida. He’s never phased in the ring – the more flowers the better.
“I’m so pleased to be back out competing. It’s a privilege to ride a horse like him. He makes my job as a rider easy. I try and let him lead as natural a life as possible. It’s more important that he’s happy as he’s a true member of the family.”
The young horse classes featured some exciting future prospects, including the impressive black stallion Galaxico, being stood by Elite Stallions at Newton Stud for the 2024 season. Galaxico (Grand Galaxy Win T x Samarant) won the KBIS 4YO class with a stunning score of 89.60, piloted by Beth Bainbridge.
“He’s stolen my heart,” said Beth. “He has a wonderful work ethic and I was so proud of him at the show. It’s a lot for a four-year-old to cope with but he kept on my aids and listening to me. I saw him at the stallion licensing two years ago and wrote love hearts all over his page in the catalogue! It’s a dream that he’s here and that I’m riding him. He’s good fun to ride and has a really nice character.”
Sam Rahmatalla was full of praise for Forget Me Not NE (Dot) winning the KBIS 6YO class on 82.60. She wrote on social media: “Her biggest show yet and she goes and wins, was not expecting that! I took her to give her exposure to the bigger atmospheres, so was over the moon to qualify for the semi-finals. Super comments from the judges. A very good day!”
Avery Maude and The Longhouse Chinoiserie (Hilkens Charismatic x Doylan Little Treasure) demonstrated their growing confidence with a win in the KBIS Young Dressage Pony 6YO class. Commenting on social media she said: “Exactly a year ago, we came to this show and wobbled around the five-year-old class. A few weeks ago, I had a quick look at the six-year-old test to compare it with where Chino was in her training and was pleasantly surprised to see that she was on target, and then thought we could actually do the movements reasonably well enough to get round the test just to give it a go. My only aim was to have Chino super comfortable in the atmosphere and I knew that if she was, a clean test would be achievable.
“I am so proud to say she was a superstar and did her absolute best to win the class with over 71%. The young pony classes are usually quite small but ours was the only one at this show with a few in it so I had no expectation to win, we just wanted a good experience for her so I’m over the moon.”
Wellington’s Festival of Dressage is always a highlight of the year, with a lot going on for both riders and spectators. Thanks to the organisers, judges, writers and stewards for such a well-run show and congratulations to all the competitors.
Top three results
Tuesday 4 June
Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges
1. Jessica McConkey and Wilson Stensvang, 74.26%
2. Annabella Pidgley and Espe, 72.74%
3. Sarah Millis and Le Zorro, 72.25%
Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I
1. Annabella Pidgley and Kadans, 75.58%
2. Sarah Rogers and Viva Lotta, 73.28%
3. Spencer Wilton and Woodcroft Django Mon Ami, 70.88%
Bret Willson Dressage International Advanced Medium 98
1. Davy Harvey and Hercules III, 71.75%
2. Matt Frost and Kerouac, 70.61%
3. Jezz Palmer and Romanno Weltino, 70.08%
Advanced Medium Freestyle
1. Nathalie Kayal and Graf Lincom CL, 71.44%
2. Emily Ormerod and FLS Samphire, 71.11%
3. Nicky Thayer and Estribo, 66.27%
Wednesday 5 June
KBIS Young Horse Dressage Horse 4YO
1. Beth Bainbridge and Galaxico, 89.60
2. Bea Snudden Burnham and Popeye VZH, 84.40
3. Max Campbell and Porsche VS, 80.00
KBIS Young Dressage Pony 4YO
1. Michelle Wakefield and Sweet Sensation, 71.4
KBIS Young Dressage Horse 5YO
1. Annabella Pidgley and Fifty-Fifty, 93.20
2. Charlotte Dicker and Ostara I, 86.00
3. Gijs Van Vooren and Hawtins Sassari, 78.80
KBIS Young Dressage Horse 6YO
1. Sam Rahmatalla and Forget Me Not NE, 82.60
2. Daniel Sherriff and Nothing Compares 2U, 80.40
3. Kate Purchase and Nethercote, 79.20
KBIS Young Dressage Pony 6YO
1. Avery Maude and The Longhouse Chinoiserie, 71.4
2. Carrie Passmore and Broomwich Wizard, 70.40
3. Charlotte Cutts and Beechmount Blaze 62.00
Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges
1. Lisa Hopkins and Liss La Belle, 71.37%
2. Fiona Brennan and Gestion, 69.7%
3. Matt Frost and Kerouac, 68.28%
Saracen Feeds Intermediate I
1. Jessica McConkey and Wilson Stensvang, 72.64%
2. Becky Edwards and Laerke Stensvang, 70.24%
3. Spencer Wilton and Woodcroft Django Mon Ami, 69.51%
Thursday 6 June
BD FEI International YH 5YO, sponsored by Highfield Park
1. Annabella Pidgley and Fifty-Fifty, 93.00
2. Charlotte Dujardin and Secret Agent, 92.50
3. George Blackburn and Faust V, 83.60
BD FEI International YH 6YO, sponsored by Berkshire Equine
1. Louise Bell and Peaky Blinder, 76.10
2. Abbie Newbury and Seagry Viceroy, 71.20
3. Rebecca Cowderoy and Nights Dream, 71.00
Stübben Intermediate II
1. Sadie Smith and Swanmore Dantina, 75.98%
2. Becky Edwards and Dita Von Teese, 68.92%
3. Edward Johnson and Newton Domino, 68.82%
Friday 7 June
Nirvana Spa Prix St Georges Freestyle
1. Sara-Jane Lanning and Choice I, 71.20%
2. Nathalie Kayal and Woodcroft St Emillion, 69.04%
3. Belinda Brereton and Galaxy Moone, 68.54%
LeMieux Grand Prix
1. Nathalie Wahlund and Gørklintgårds Scorpion, 69.57%
2. Laura Tomlinson and Soergaards Bon Royal, 68.08%
3. Alice Oppenheimer and Headmore Bella Ruby, 67.10%
Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges
1. Davy Harvey and Diamond Blue, 71.81%
2. Olivia Oakley and Full House, 70.73%
3. Belinda Brereton and Galaxy Moone, 69.11%
Photo © Charlotte Bury Photography
