Summer Regional Championships: Bury Farm

During the tail end of the heatwave, the odd light shower may have cooled things a little for the second half of Bury Farm’s Regional Championships (6 – 9 August 2018), but not the dressage which remained a highly competitive affair throughout all four days.

One hard fought class was the Dodson & Horrell Novice Gold where two talented young horses came within a whisker of each other – Glasgow MH (pictured) ridden by World Class Podium Potential rider Alex Hardwick and Donner HD ridden by Simone Ward. Both combinations breached 74% but it was Alex and Glasgow who had the edge.

Owned by Alex’s mother, Sally Hardwick, the compact chestnut who’s known at home as ‘Buddy’ and is also dubbed ‘the little red rocket’, earned 74.506% from judges Debbie Wardle, Pat Watts and Christian Landolt much to the delight of his rider.

“The little red rocket only went and won the Novice Gold!” she said, via Facebook. “Buddy (Glasgow) was a complete star and gave his all. Big big thank you to Mumma for allowing me to have the ride on him. I might just have to hold on to him for a little while longer - at least for the Nationals! Massive well done to everyone competing today. Boy it was a hot one!”

Glasgow MH is a seven-year-old Dutch-bred son of Uphill with a tidy competition record to date. Here at Bury Farm, he also achieved second place in the Childéric Saddles Elementary Gold securing a second opportunity at the Nationals next month.

The Childéric Saddles Elementary Silver regional title went to equine vet Gemma Carman with her British bred Ekko Falkenfurst - an eight-year-old son of Faberge 50 out of Rebecca Bates’ former Junior and Young Rider horse, Bungee. Gemma (29), who lives a stone’s through from Stoneleigh Park where the LeMieux National Championships takes centre stage next month, fits her riding in around work at equine veterinary practice, Spring Paddocks Equine in Bishop’s Itchington.

In fabulous form, the pair also placed second in the Dodson & Horrell Novice Silver resulting in two tickets to the Nationals. “It’s a win and another golden ticket for Gem Carman & Ekko Falkenfurst!” said Rebecca and Keri Bates on Ekko Equestrian Facebook. “They absolutely smashed it and won the Elementary Silver today at Bury Farm Regionals!

“We’re so proud to train this pair and to have bred and produced ‘Mylo’. Mylo was purchased by the Carman family four years ago and what an incredible journey they have had over the years. This will be the second time they are heading to Nationals. We are so proud that Ekko horses are making the headlines, that's five different Ekko horses at nationals every year since 2015.”

World Equestrian Games team silver medallist Gareth Hughes will return to the Nationals this year with Sintano Van Hof Olympia, the Sandro Hit x Silvano eight-year-old who he owns with Judy Firmston-Williams. In front of judges Wendy Filtness, Sophie Dickinson and Fiona Wilson, the pair took the Equine Construction Advanced Medium Gold with 73.947% ahead of Jayne Turney and Penhaligon’s Jupiter in second.

Congratulations to all the qualified riders and regional champions. British Dressage thanks the team at Bury Farm Equestrian and all involved for a successful Regional Championships, and the Nationals sponsors for their generous support.

Regional champions:

Backinaction Preliminary Silver
Laura Green with Ireldo L, 71.264%

Dodson & Horrell Novice Silver
Trisha Polson with Crime Suspect, 70.988%

Dodson & Horrell Novice Gold
Alex Hardwick with Glasgow MH, 74.506%

Childéric Saddles Elementary Silver
Gemma Carman with Ekko Falkenfurst, 71.615%

Childéric Saddles Elementary Gold
Ashley Jenkins with His Highness, 73.698%

TopSpec Medium Silver
Maria Pook with So Enamoured, 71.577%

TopSpec Medium Gold
Abi Hutton with Suspension Giraldo, 72.568%

Equine Construction Advanced Medium Silver
Kirsty Imm with Barnebie, 70.395%

Equine Construction Advanced Medium Gold
Gareth Hughes with Sintano Van Hof Olympia, 73.947%

Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges
Nicola Mahoney with Dream Of Joy, 70.00

Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I Gold
Nikki Barker with Durable, 71.754%