Sheepgate showcases up and coming talent

Now in its 18th year, the BD Sheepgate Under 25s Championships continues to attract the UK’s up and coming young riders, as was evidenced over six days of thrilling competition at Sheepgate Equestrian last week (19 – 24 August 2019).

Fifteen year old Betsy Smetham dominated the British Dressage Supporters Club-sponsored FEI Pony Championship. Aboard Amber V (by Orchard Limb-Lopper), her attractive Dutch bred palomino gelding she delivered two strong scores - 68.12% to win the Pony Team test and 70.16% for the Pony Individual, securing the overall FEI Pony Championship in the process. The Kent based pair also achieved second in the Digital Horse Open Freestyle Challenge, scoring 72.50%.

Betsy and Amber V (pictured above), who is known as Jack, have enjoyed a cracking year so far with promising results at Premier League shows and a top-five placing on their international debut at Hickstead CDIO last month.

“Jack and I have had the best time at Sheepgate U25’s Championships this year, I’m so so pleased that all our work is finally coming together! With a podium finish in every test, and coming away as FEI Pony Champions, I don’t think the week could have gone any better!”

Runaway winner of the Digital Horse Open Freestyle was Oxfordshire rider Maddy Frewin with Christine Kirk’s 12 year old British bred gelding Woodlander Rhythm n Blues, by Woodlander Rockstar. The pair’s captivating Bollywood-inspired freestyle, compiled by Julie Geraghty of Equivisions, was awarded with 76.83% earning them a huge plus-four percent lead. They also the dominated the FEI Junior divisions to take the overall Dengie FEI Junior Championship title.

“It’s been a great start the Sheepgate Under 25s Championships. R ’n’ B gets more expressive in his work, gaining higher marks. Four tests over two days with results ranging from 70.70% to 76.83%, becoming FEI Junior Champion and Open Freestyle Challenge Champion. Over the moon with how consistent his work is now becoming,” said Maddy on Maddy Frewin Dressage.

Taking the honours in the TopSpec FEI Young Rider Championship was Rebecca Baybutt, from Merseyside, with Michelle Swire’s 17 year old Medoc-sired gelding Hey Mambo. They posted two solid scores to take the overall title. Rebecca was part of the winning Northern Platinum team which took the Sheepgate Tack & Togs Medium and above title spearheaded by reigning Equi-Trek Elementary Silver title holders, Bethany Edginton and Frankel.

The FEI Children on Horses title was won by Sophia Marston with her British bred mare Solitaire II (San Amour x Hotline) on scores of 70.38% and 69.81%. Sophia and Solitaire, who train with Michael Eilberg, won the individual Novice and Children on Horses titles at the BD Youth Home International in July.

This unique and popular championships offers an amazing week of competition and friendship for riders and their families. British Dressage thanks Bruce Grant, Sarah Payne, Alex Jewell and the enthusiastic team at Sheepgate Equestrian, and the companies who supported through sponsorship and prizes

Congratulations to all the winners and well done to everyone who took part!

Monday
Class FEI 2a: British Dressage Supporters Club FEI Pony Championship – Team Test
1st Betsy Smetham with Amber V, 68.12%
2nd Mollie Witham with DZL Royal Sunrise, 67.44%
3rd Claudia Davis with Rubinia 37, 67.14%

Class FEI 3a: Dengie FEI Junior Championship – Team Test
1st Maddy Frewin with Woodlander Rhythm n Blues, 72.34%
2nd Emily Coller with Flabbergasted II, 66.49%
3rd Charlotte Neal with Walter’s Fable, 65.36%

Class FEI 4a: TopSpec FEI Young Rider Championship – Team Test
1st Rebecca Baybutt with Hey Mambo, 66.32%
2nd Alicia Lee with Bonita VI, 65.70%
3rd Shona Leckie with Adventure, 65.53%

Class 5a: FEI Children on Horses – Team Test
1st Sophia Marston with Solitaire II, 70.38%
2nd Annabel Coller with My Delilah, 68.27%
3rd Charlotte Hill with Bonhard Alexander, 60.77%

Class 3a: Tucker M & E Building Services Ltd Open Freestyle Challenge – Nov/Elem
1st Sophia Marston with Solitaire II, 74.04%
2nd Rose Foley with Cordici K, 73.46%
3rd Chloe Vell with Joep, 71.94%

Class 4a: Digital Horse Open Freestyle Challenge – Med/Adv Med
1st Maddy Frewin with Woodlander Rhythm n Blues, 72.35%
2nd Claudia Davis with Rubinia 37, 69.39%
3rd Betsy Smetham with Amber, 66.97%

Class 5: KBIS Insurance Services Ltd British Dressage U25s National Advanced Medium Championship
Harriette Williams with Creto
Shona Leckie with Adventure
Shona Lecie with Apart

Tuesday

Class FEI 6: Cheval Unique FEI PYO – PSG/Inter I/Inter II/U25 GP

Class FEI 2b: British Dressage Supporters Club FEI Pony Championship – Team or Individual
1st Betsy Smetham with Amber, 70.16%
2nd Mollie Witham with DZL Royal Sunrise, 68.94%
3rd Claudia Davis with Rubinia 37, 66.10%

Class FEI 3b: Dengie FEI Junior Championship – Team or Individual
1st Maddy Frewin with Woodlander Rhythm n Blues, 70.70%
2nd Charlotte Snape with Camelot III, 68.46%
3rd Matilda Haley with Go, 64.95%

Class FEI 4b: TopSpec Young Rider Championships – Team or Individual
1st Alicia Lee with Bonita VI, 68.29%
2nd Rebecca Baybutt with Hey Mambo, 67.89%
3rd Emily Bradshaw with Enjoy Amaris V, 67.50%

Class FEI 5b: Children on Horses Championships – Team or Individual
1st Sophia Marston with Solitaire, 69.81%
2nd Annabel Coller with My Delilah, 68.01%
3rd Charlotte Hill with Bonhard Alexander, 62.50%

Class 3b: Tucker M & E Building Services Ltd Open Freestyle Challenge – Nov/Elem
1st Chloe Peat with Cremmdalla Crem, 73.62%
2nd Rose Foley with Cordici K, 69.66%
3rd Chloe Vell with Joep, 68.39%

Class 4b: Digital Horse Open Freestyle Challenge – Med/Adv Med
1st Maddy Frewin with Woodlander Rhythm n Blues, 76.83%
2nd Betsy Smetham with Amber, 72.50%
3rd Charlotte Neal with Walter’s Fable, 72.33%

Class 8: The Wolds Exclusive Blng British Dressage U25s Medium Championship
1st Bethany Edginton with Frankel, 70.88%
2nd Chloe Milne with Cremmdalla Crem, 69.75%
3rd Laura Woodcock with Salvator, 69.12%

Wednesday

Class 10: Sue Carson Saddles Preliminary section A
1st Ellie Smith with Casper XV, 72.40%
2nd Emma O’Connor with Elwell Master Craftsman, 40.00%
3rd Anna Roberts with Landsbury Dizzy Rascal, 69.80%

Class 10: Sue Carson Saddles Preliminary section B
1st Maggie Howell with Hendricks, 68.80%
2nd Anna Bates with Gitina, 68.40% (69)
=3rd Megan Field with Gwithian Gallant, 68.40% (68)
=3rd Tallulah Murrell with Celestial Navigation, 68.40% (68)

Class 11: Sue Carson Saddles Novice
1st Emily Collings with Chiddock Hour Glass, 70.17%
2nd Sophia Marston with Solitaire II, 69.66%
3rd Emily Coller with Ashley, 68.62%

Thursday

Class 17: Catago British Dressage U25s National Preliminary Championship
1st Flora Hayes with Haybells Cinderella, 69.37%
2nd Rebecca Hutchinson with Shanbally Shadow, 69.20%
3rd Ruby Lewin with CNS Cob Marley, 69.14%

Class 19: Dodson & Horrell British Dressage U25s National Elementary Championship
1st Alexandra Bradbury with Santa Tropez HFD, 74.83%
2nd Matilda Haley with Go, 72.41%
3rd Abigail Taylor with Wind dance, 71.38%

Friday

Class 21a: Digital Horse Open Freestyle Challenge – Nov/Elem
1st Jack Wainwright with Hero, 75.83%
2nd Nalani King with Florence IV, 71.94%
3rd Sally Howell with Son of Orion, 70.00%

Class 22a: Tucker M & E Building Services Ltd Open Freestyle Challenge – Elem/Med
1st Ellie Roberts with Tyngwndwn Golden Boy, 73.27%
2nd Emily Sutherland with Grace X, 71.35%
3rd Erin George with Sir Chancealot, 68.08%

Class 23: Uvex British Dressage U25s National Novice Championship
1st Eliza Mackworth-Praed with Thacka Playboy, 71.45%
2nd Noah Brook with Gabana HFD, 70.97%
3rd Maddy Frewin with Tottola, 70.86%

Saturday

Class 21b: Digital Horse Open Freestyle Challenge – Nov/Elem
1st Phoebe Corner with Small-land Tapdance, 68.39%
2nd Jack Wainwright with Hero, 68.06%
3rd Logan Wilkieson with Burnockmill Brigadoon, 68.00%

Class 29: Freestyle to Music – Prelim
1st Logan Wilkieson with Burnockmill Brigadoon, 71.11%
2nd Katherine Kirby with Archie XIX, 67.78%
3rd Megan Davie with Jetstream, 67.78%

Class 30: Freestyle to Music – Nov
1st Tichy Sanders with Penrherber Chaconne, 71.94%
2nd Tabitha Leicester with Elegant, 69.72%
3rd Sally Howell with Son of Orion, 68.33%

Class 31: Woodhouses Freestyle to Music – Elem
1st Rose Foley with Cordici K, 73.27%
2nd Amy Charlton with Vanabyt van het Kleuterhof, 72.50%
3rd Ellie Roberts with Tyngwndwn Golden Boy, 71.54%

Class 32: Sheepgate Tack & Togs Children on Horses – Team/Individual Test
1st Eliza Ireson with Saoirse Serenade, 63.46%

Sheepgate Tack & Togs Team Results
Prelim
1st Scottish Kelpies
Rhona Forbes with Lownthwaite Savin
Reece Cunningham with Inside Out II
Niamh Murray with Colourville Zarina
Abigail Gray with Glyncoch Red Rascal

Novice
1st North West Swallows
Amy Charlton with Vanabyt van het Kleuterhof
Madelaine Hinchliff with Fiorendo
Freya Shaw with Estelle Royal Princess

Elementary
1st Central Cobras
India Keates-Robinson with Cubea N
Emily Collings with Chiddock Hour Glass
Amy Aufiero with Celeste V
Demi Howard-Cartwright with The Longhouse Rosadonna

Med/Adv Med/Adv/PSG
1st Northern Platinum
Bethany Edginton with Frankel
Joshua Mellor with Wallenstetin
Charlotte Snape with Camelot III
Rebecca Baybutt with Hey Mambo

Click for full results