McConkey makes her mark in Aachen

British Junior rider Jessica McConkey delivered two personal best scores at last week’s Aachen CDI-PJYR in Germany (6 – 9 December 2018).

With her 2018 FEI Junior European Championship partner Lady Gaga II (Quaterback x Solos Landwind) - pictured - she achieved scores of 69.596% and 67.451% in the Team and Individual tests respectively, amongst strong competition at the iconic venue.

Held in the Albert-Vahle-Halle on the showgrounds of the Aachen CHIO, the four-day festival dubbed Aachen Young Stars attracted many of the sport’s best young riders from across the Continent.

“[I] could not be happier with the outcome of today’s test!” said Jess on Jessica McConkey Dressage Facebook following the combination’s assured Junior Team Test performance on the first day of competition. “We both managed a PB international score and sixth place at Aachen Young Stars! Millie is on top form at the moment and definitely loves the prize-giving a little too much!” she added, reflecting on the mare’s exuberant lap of honour.

The class victor was the home nation’s Romy Allard with Summer Rose OLD (Sir Diamond x Rubinstein I), a combination which was so influential in Germany’s team silver medal win at this year’s FEI Junior European Championships in Fontainebleau. It was the German star who also took the following day’s Junior Individual, scoring 72.598%, with the British pairing securing a creditable eleventh spot with 67.451% - another international PB.

In the final day’s Freestyle, Germany’s Elisabeth von Wulffen took the honours aboard the Belissimo M x Florestan I gelding, Babylon 26 (74.542%), with compatriots Lucie-Anouk Baumgürtel and Romy Allard making up the top three. The British combination showed super work for 12th place and certainly look exciting prospects for the future as the nine-year-old mare gains more experience.

“So our Freestyle to Music test could be considered as entertaining!” said Jess. “Millie was super-hot once the music had started but she did begin to calm down and settle throughout the test. This level of competition is still very new to Millie and big atmospheres can be a little exciting to her to begin with. However Aachen Young Stars has been such a great way to end our season together, and gaining a PB in two of our tests was an added bonus! Thank you to the selectors so much for this amazing opportunity, now to focus on our training over the winter."

Results:

Junior Team Test
1st Romy Allard with Summer Rose OLD, 73.030% (GER)
6th Jessica McConkey with Lady Gaga II, 69.596% (GBR)

Junior Individual Test
1st Romy Allard with Summer Rose OLD, 72.598% (GER)
11th Jessica McConkey with Lady Gaga II, 67.451% (GBR)

Junior Freestyle
1st Elisabeth von Wulffen with Babylon 26, 74.542% (GER)
12th Jessica McConkey with Lady Gaga II, 67.708% (GBR)