Petplan Summer Championships 24: Day Three

On day three we crowned six more incredible summer champions, who shared their inspirations stories from homebred horses to eventers who have turned a hoof to dressage! 

Petplan Elementary Freestyle Bronze 

Winner: Kate Johnston and Lotus Key SR, 71.667%  

The first winner of day three at the Petplan Summer Area Festival Championships was Kate Johnston and Lotus Key SR with a huge score of 71.677%. Speaking of her test today, Kate tells us, “I didn’t actually think that my test was a good enough winning test because I felt that I just miss-timed my mediums along with my music and then he lost a little bit of balance in his medium trot. He did a great medium canter, but it was so great he took off. But he did a really good medium and by then we were spot on with the music, so I was really pleased with that.” 

Rozz Kay was responsible for putting their music together, “it’s one of my favourite tracks to dance to at a party. I like to do things that are a little out of the ordinary. We thought the trot music suited him and his character and his powerful movement really well.” 

“She found the walk music which tied in with The Proclaimers then I found Nancy Sinatra’s ‘These boots are made for walking’ and I just thought that tied in to tell a story really well and it was quite a funky song. And when it says, ‘and ok let’s go walking’, to do that to a medium canter I thought it fitted beautifully and quite fun, I wanted it to be fun!” Kate continues.  

Reflecting of her test today, “I was very proud of him because he can be a plonker but he held it together and he was a super boy.” 

Lotus Key SR is known as Naughty Nibble at home, “he nibbles anything and everything! Kate tells us.  

Outside of dressage, the duo compete in the Working Hunters and show jumps. “We’re probably showjumping tomorrow at our local venue to try and qualify for the Blue Chip Championships. I used to race quite a lot, and I was very successful in my youth having won the Cheltenham Foxhunters a very long time ago in 1989, so I should really be faster, but I think it’s old age!” 

Speaking of her training and preparing for the championships, “I get a lot of help from Jess Carr, who is best friends with Amy Woodhead, so I go to Tracy Woodhead quite a lot for help so between the two of them they’ve managed to kick me into shape.” 

“They seem to like him in dressage, and I like winning, I work very hard to get the best result I can, so I’m very proud of him today.” Kate concludes.  

The reserve champions, with a close score of 71.154%, were Laura Bennett and Kanjer 111 with Rachel Moore and Djaikeh finishing in third place with 70.385%. 

Petplan Elementary Freestyle Silver

Winner: Chelsea Donovan and Frankie Zenturio, 70.705%  

Chelsea Donovan and Zenturio have done the double! The duo will be leaving Arena Uk with two titles after winning the Elementary Freestyle Silver with a great score of 70.705%. “It’s amazing, yesterday we won the Medium Freestyle Bronze, so to win again I am speechless to be quite honest” Chelsea shares. The combination produced the winning score despite “having an explosion in the medium” Chelsea tells us, “but we were able to get it back, so I was impressed.”   

The bay gelding is a homebred, Chelsea has been on the journey with him since the beginning,  “I was so proud of him, I bred him myself so everything we have done has been together.” The 12-year-old is showjumping bred, “we have done a bit of showjumping in our time” Chelsea explains, “but dressage is what I really enjoy and he loves learning new things.” This year's success at the Championships highlights their partnership, “we have had a great journey together so far, I can’t believe it.”  

Frankie Zenturio, otherwise known as Frank to his friends, is known to be “super cheeky” Chelsea describes the beautiful gelding as having a “massive personality.” Keeping everyone entertained on the year, “he is always doing something, from opening his door and chewing his rungs to throwing things around. He’s a big character.”  

In preparation for the championships, Chelsea talked us through her training process, “I try and keep his work quite a variety, we hack at least once a week, he goes on the water treadmill once a week too.” Recently Chelsea and Frank competed at Home Nations, “that was a good lead up because we did the medium test there and stayed away.” 

When speaking about why she chose to compete in the Area Festival series, Chelsea shares, “I like to have a go and I like to have fun. So, to go out and compete locally and aim for the bigger championships is great.” Claiming two wins at the championships is the icing on the cake, “to win two titles is absolutely unreal, he has made all my dreams come true.”Looking ahead, “we are hoping to work further up the levels, Prix St Georges is my dream, I would love to get there one day.” 

Sandie Gibbs and Dascha were in second place with a great score in 69.423% and on the third step of the podium was Emily Avery and KGB Sandro, receiving 68.911% from our judges Sandra Smith, Charlotte Nichols and John Robinson.  

Petplan Elementary Bronze 

Winner: Emily Kemp and Boleybawn Arctic, 69.657%  

This win was an incredible achievement for this pair who came to the championships on a wild card after working all year towards qualifying.  

" I had no expectation I just wanted to try and do our best really.” said Emily as she described the feeling as she realised they could be in with a chance of winning “I was on early, I think I was seventh in, so the whole day has been so nerve-wracking, I have no words, I didn’t expect it whatsoever. I thought ‘ok cool we are top ten,’ we are fine we could do this. It got more towards the last five and as much as you want everyone else to do well, it was so nerve-wracking coming closer to the end and we won!”  

As she reflected on her test Emily shared how their training has begun to really show results, “He tried his hardest, we have actually changed a lot recently with his way of going and he gave me a great feeling in the warm up, so it is trying to get that in the test. It was quite spooky out there but he really stayed with me, there were a few mistakes but nothing we can’t fix for another day.”  

The combination came into dressage last winter, to keep busy during the winter off-seasion eventing. However, decided to continue with the dressage after seeing success and enjoying it. 10-year-old Boleybawn Arctic, or Artie as he’s known at home, has been with Emily since he was five and they have really got to know each other over that time as Emily shares with us how despite being “grumpy in his stable” he is really “just a cuddle bug.” 

For Emily the area festivals are a chance to gain confidence and experience as they move up the levels and progress together: “I chose the Area Festivals so that we could have a play at the harder level stuff, because we only started doing Elementary this year and we have probably done less than ten tests. So it was a great thing to aim for.” 

Speaking about her next goal Emily said, “We hope to qualify at Medium level for the Winter Area Festivals” Emily shared how we may also see the pair finding their beat and trying for some freestyles, “I have never tried those, and I think they are quite fun to do.”  

Emily Lay and Kingsdale were our reserve champions, with a score of 68.922% with Vicki Hancox and Curious George closely following in third place with a score of 68.725%.  

Petplan Elementary Silver 

Winner: Molly Rose and Wantsley, 69.461% 

Molly Rose and her dancing partner Wantsely, won the Petplan Elementary Silver with a brilliant score of 68.461% from the three judges, Caroline Paterson, Steph Cooper and Lotte Olsen. Reflecting on her test Molly shared that the bay gelding was, “such a good boy.” 

Wow by name and wow by nature the 22-year-old took the atmosphere all in his stride, “the whole of today he has felt so relaxed” Molly explains. The busier atmosphere can be “a massive struggle for him” Molly tells us, “As it can cause him to become a bit tight.”  So, to put his best hoof forward today and come away with a win is such a big achievement, “he literally just came in the arena and it’s like he knew when it really matters.”  

Winning today meant a huge amount to Molly: “It's amazing. It's literally been a dream of mine since I was a kid, and I've been close to it a couple of times; in the top 10 on my other horse at a different level. But to have it on him, especially means a lot, because I feel like he's always been second best to my other horse, so to finally actually beat him to it. I think it's really special.”  

Molly and Wow’s journey began three years ago. Owned by Joe West, Molly tells us, "I was lucky enough that I got on the ride on him.” Wow was previously an international eventing horse, but following an injury has now turned his hoof to dressage. The two of them have competed at the Area Festivals at Medium level, and a few junior FEI Premier Leagues, but this year Molly was just looking to have some fun: “He spends a lot of time in the field, hacking, but we weren't ready to retire him yet. He still canters up the ramp whenever we go out. So we just couldn't retire, and we're really happy we haven't.” 

This year has been a special year for the duo Molly explains, “he's had such an incredible season, he finished in the top three at the Senior Home Nations as well. He won the Area Festival to get here, he's just been amazing, and it's just nice to see him having so much fun and getting the success he really deserves.”  

At home the cheeky chappy loves to be the centre of attention Molly shares, “he stands and kicks the door a time anyone walks past because it all has to be about him. He's just so cute and funny. He's like a cartoon character that's come alive, and so to see him do well after so he has been so close.” Their amazing bond has helped them achieve the incredible success they have had over the last three years, “it just feels really special, because he's just such a lovely, character.”   

Molly who is currently 19-years-old is studying sports business and playing hockey at university, balancing university, social life and the horses at the same time, “I've got three horses at home, I've got a baby that I'm producing to event and one other who's competing at Prix St Georges level, so my life, basically, is the horses.” 

Looking towards next year, “I'd love to do regionals with him, and hopefully qualify for internationals. But we've taken it year by year, just letting him tell us what he wants to do because he's got nothing to prove and he owes us nothing. His owners are happy just to see him happy.”  

Lindsey Cheffings and Prima were our reserve champions, with a score of 69.069% and with our top three finishing within 1% of one another, Beth Miller finished in third place, scoring 68.970%.

  

Petplan Prix St Georges Silver 

Winner: Theresa Smyth and Impress II, 67.402% 

Theresa Smyth and Impress II (Known as Alan at home) were in disbelief after clinching the top spot in the Prix St Georges Silver as Theresa explains, “I kept checking the scores because I just couldn’t believe it, I’m really glad we made the journey. He just amazes me every time we come to a big show, he just gets on with it and gains more confidence every time.” 

The journey for this pair has been one of patience and understanding: “He’s 11, we bought him from Anna Ross Davis in Devon when he was a five-year-old. He was quite famous when we bought him because it took them a year to back him and they bought a special teddy because they couldn’t get on him. He’s a sensitive one, it's taken a little while to get there. I’m so happy with how he’s done and how he’s coped with all the situations that I’ve put him in." 

Building a solid partnership and instilling that trust and confidence in Impress has been crucial to their success: “Things that you don’t expect him to be scared of, he’s scared of. Last year it was like the floor was lava, he was scared of everything. He just takes it all in his stride, the things that I’m not expecting. He’s a funny character, sometimes I can catch him in the field, sometimes I can’t. But we’re getting a little bit more normal! I used to have four horses and now I’ve only got him and I think he likes that one-on-one experience.” 

It has taken lots of time and determination but the bond the pair have developed and trust in each other is paying off.  “He has been my most challenging, there were times I was ready to give up, and I felt like I couldn’t do it with him but he’s really turned into a partner and I’m really enjoying the journey with him. I’m proud of him. He goes into those big atmospheres, and he just tries really hard.” Says Theresa as she reflects on how far they've come. 

Taking us through her plans with Alan, Theresa said, “He’s qualified for the Prix St George regionals and the Inter I Area Festivals for next year, the plan is to just train over the winter and hopefully start playing with the piaffe and passage. He finds the changes really easily and the pirouettes are coming so hopefully he might be my first one to go to Grand Prix. I’ve had some bad luck over the last few years so it would be really great if we could do that. “ 

Closely following with 67.304%, our reserve champions were Joanne Ivimey and Dailey Diamond 3, and Leonie Brown and Wishaw Lord Nelson finished third place with 66.814%. 

Petplan Prix St Georges Freestyle Silver 

Winner: Emma Woolliscroft and Just Magic BH, 68.459%

For Emma this win was all the more special due to her connection to her music as she shared, “I grew up with Irish music. My dad's a professional arts musician and all tracks are music that I used to listen to when I was a child, so it means a lot to me to win with that music.” 

Her bond with music and her bond with her dancing partner, known as Jeri at home, is what gave her the courage for this freestyle: “I've always enjoyed doing music because I've got a musical background, and I find it's a good way for riders to express themselves. But since having him, because he makes me feel more confident and we've grown as a pair together, it's just nice to try different music and do something a bit different.” 

sharing how much their connection has grown in the short time they’ve been together both in and out of the saddle, Emma said, “He's just such a character. He always tries, and he's my everything. I can't thank this horse enough for everything he's done for me over the last couple of years,” adding, “I can feel that he's starting to trust me more... he's so cheeky, but he makes he makes me laugh every day.” 

Reflecting on the most memorable part of her test, Emma recalled it being, “Probably the first bit where I was a bit ahead of the music, so there wasn't a particular moment where I went, 'Wow, yes, I'm on it.' It was more like, 'Oh god, how am I going to get back to where I'm supposed to be?' This is probably relatable to many, but her ability to move on from the small mistakes put her in the top spot: “I wasn't expecting it, because I had a mistake in my fours, which is totally on me. Luckily, I had a joke alliance to repeat them. You need to move on; it’s one movement, isn't it?” 

The combination’s joy and positive outlook on life was evident in the lap of honour as they savoured every second. Taking us through this moment Emma said, “You've got one life. If you have a good moment in your life, enjoy it to the fullest. Is what I say. I'm not afraid to make a fool up myself. I mean, we spend so much, there's blood, sweat and tears that goes into this, and we spend so much time with our horses, and it's all meant to be fun. And when you get a moment like that, enjoy it.” 

Summarising what it is about the Area Festivals that keeps her wanting to come back Emma said, “I absolutely adore them because it's just so well ran, and it's a nice atmosphere” adding that for her it’s the supportive environment and togetherness that make them stand out, “You get to know people quite well, and you see them going through their good times, their bad times. And it's just nice to have such a supportive environment of friendly people and happy horses who are all enjoying their jobs.” 

Sharing the celebratory lap of honour were Dawn Grundy and Waverley Florisgold in second place with 68.292% and Claire Knowles and Singing Skyjacker in third place, scoring 67.583%.  

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