Summer Regional Championships: Hartpury University & Hartpury College

The concluding Summer Regional Championships of the year took place at Hartpury University and Hartpury College in Gloucestershire (01 – 03 August 2023). The show boasted a wealth of high-class competition as riders battled it out for the last available places at next month’s LeMieux National Championships at Somerford Park.

West Sussex-based Danish Olympian, Anders Dahl and Kokkedals Herzog (Tailormade Temptation x Blue Hors Hertug) maintained an unblemished competition record, with a winning ride in the Bret Willson Dressage International Advanced Medium Gold. Anders and his exciting eight-year-old, pictured above, secured their ticket with a winning 71.80% to take the class ahead of Sara Squires and Laetitius C (70.75%).

“I bought him as a very green horse,” commented Anders, who acquired the Danish-bred Kokkedals Herzog only eight months ago. “When I started competing him he was insecure but he’s gaining in confidence with every outing. He shows a lot of ability for the Grand Prix work, which is the long-term aim. I’m very excited about him for the future."

Looking ahead to next month’s LeMieux National Championships, Anders says; “He’s not 100% ready for the Nationals as he needs to be stronger still, but it’s a good step for him. It will be good for him to be away and I’m happy to see how it goes.”

The highest score across the Silver sections came courtesy of Lucy Scudamore and River Rise Atomic, pictured above, who sealed a decisive win in the BETTALIFE Novice Silver.

Lucy (26), who is head girl and travelling groom to Carl Hester, rode six-year-old mare River Rise Atomic (Uthopia x Amsterdam) to post a winning 73.64%, with Mark Ford and Alvescot Five Star (72.96%) and Joshua Kehoe with Frankfurt (70.25%) completing the top three. Known at home as ‘Kitty’, the Uthopia daughter is owned by Carl Hester and Andrew Fletcher.

“Carl bred her, he adores her, and I’ve stolen the ride for now!” smiled Lucy. “She’s a really big mare and had a foal at four to give her more time to mature. She's come back better than ever and is really exciting. She’s a kind person and she’s hot to ride with so much in the tank. She’s very exciting for the future and will make a lovely Grand Prix horse one day.

“She’s only been to three shows but she takes everything in her stride,” added Lucy. “She’s bold and confident, and always very pleased with herself.”

In the Bret Willson Dressage International Advanced Medium Silver, it was a close tussle for the top two spots with the win ultimately belonging to the Wiltshire-based combination of Fiona Gair and BRS Kingdom (70.26%), ahead of Brendan Tegg and Foxcourt Solar Eclipse (70.18%). The winning duo, pictured above, also earned a wildcard for the Medium Silver.

“I was delighted,” commented Fiona, who initially was a little disappointed to discover that both her classes at Hartpury were being held indoors. “In the Medium Freestyle at the Winter Championships, he was nervous in that arena, so I was thrilled to get those demons out the way. The confidence is now really coming.

“He is a horse I bought as a foal,” explained Fiona about the Dutch-bred, Dream Boy x UFO eight-year-old. “When I saw this very, very beautiful six-week-old foal, I couldn’t not have him. He’s my first proper dressage horse.”

Fiona, who runs a livery stable at home in Warminster, has produced ‘Rocky’ through the levels herself with the support of trainer Justine Sole. “He was a little unreliable in the early years, but he's really turned a corner as he builds in strength and confidence. He seems to have learnt to rise to the occasion.”

Local girl, Charlotte Dujardin presented her own and Peter Belshaw’s six-year-old Times Mon Amour (Martinez x De Niro) in the TopSpec Medium Gold, topping the high-quality field with 74.32%. Gareth Hughes and six-year-old KWPN gelding Mowgli-Olympia MC (Rousseau x Rubin Royal OLD), who he co-owns with Georgina Wilkinson, took the runner-up spot on 72.70%, while Sonnar Murray-Brown and the young mare Stolen Secret (Uthopia x Riccio), owned by Michelle Dawson, completed the top three on 72.07%.

Times Mon Amour, pictured above, or ‘Monet’ as he is known at home, was crowned the 2021 Shearwater 4YO Champion, and he also won the Novice Gold title at the 2022 NAF Five Star Winter Championships.

Charlotte took to social media to say; “So much love for this super talented young horse, who at only six years old really tried in his second show this year.”

The FEI levels included a victory by Rebecca Edwards who took the Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I Gold regional title aboard her Blue Hors Zack daughter, the 11-year-old Laerke Stensvang, pictured above. Rebecca and ‘Lark’ posted a winning 69.61% to take the class ahead of close runner-up Dan Greenwood who piloted Cherry Elvin and Jamie Reynolds’ His Highness (Wynton x Fabriano) into second place on 69.61%.

Results
Top three places
The Centre Line Preliminary Silver
1. Isabella Balian and Beechwood Joey, 71.21%
2. Sophie Lee-Amies and Kjango, 70.69%
3. Mary Maud and Kemberton Lady Chamsin, 68.97%

The Centre Line Preliminary Gold
1. Megan Burbridge and Otis VD Anjershof, 73.28%
2. Samantha Brown and Demelza Dream, 71.95%
3. Tereza Hejdukova and Euripides, 71.61%

BETTALIFE Novice Silver
1. Lucy Scudamore and River Rise Atomic, 73.64%
2. Mark Ford and Alvescot Five Star, 72.96%
3. Joshua Kehoe and Frankfurt, 70.25%

BETTALIFE Novice Gold
1. Davy Harvey and Hawtins Letizia, 73.27%
2. Bryony Goodwin and Dion II, 72.96%
3. Alice Peternell and Vespasanio, 72.59%

HorseQuest Elementary Silver
1. Charlotte Monk and First Class V, 71.93%
2. Alicia Roberts and Godin Linda, 70.94%
3. Mark Ford and Alvescot Five Star, 70.83%

HorseQuest Elementary Gold
1. Bryony Goodwin and Dion II, 72.92%
2. Jessica Wade and MacLaren II, 72.19%
3. Hayley Watson-Greaves and Lamborghini, 72.14%

TopSpec Medium Silver
1. Brendan Tegg and Foxcourt Solar Eclipse, 71.22%
2. Harvey White and Davos, 70.50%
3. Virginie de Senneville and Fire Kracka, 70.45%

TopSpec Medium Gold
1. Charlotte Dujardin and Times Mon Amour, 74.32%
2. Gareth Hughes and Mowgli-Olympia MC, 72.70%
3. Sonnar Murray-Brown and Stolen Secret, 72.07%

Bret Willson Dressage International Advanced Medium Silver
1. Fiona Gair and BRS Kingdom, 70.26%
2. Brendan Tegg and Foxcourt Solar Eclipse, 70.18%
3. Myles Graham and Jon Bon Jovi, 69.34%

Bret Willson Dressage International Advanced Medium Gold
1. Anders Dahl and Kokkedals Herzog, 71.80%
2. Sara Squires and Laetitius C, 70.75%
3. Kikka Suomio and Marylin-Bell, 70.00%

Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges Silver
1. Keeva Dedicoat and Folt, 71.08%
2. Alex Chick and Giovanni BM, 69.41%
3. Sara Squires and Laetitius C, 67.50%

Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges Gold
1. Robert Barker and Herbstrot, 70.00%
2. Richard Barrett and Vianello II, 69.61%
3. Kate Cowell and Joolz, 69.26%

Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I Silver
1. Alice Knight and SJL Dom Perignon, 67.75%
2. Bryony Jones and Northcliff Samantha, 67.70%
3. Olivia Sealy and KL Mac, 66.91%

Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I Gold
1. Rebecca Edwards and Laerke Stensvang, 69.61%
2. Daniel Greenwood and His Highness, 69.31%
3. Jane Morris and Silverstar Z, 68.97%

VIEW FULL RESULTS

Photo © Kevin Sparrow Photography