Summer Regional Championships: Keysoe

The final Regional Championships of the summer took place last week at Keysoe Equestrian in Bedfordshire (11 – 13 August 2018), settling the final qualifications for the LeMieux National Championships in September.

The Mount St John and Michael Eilberg collaboration continues to flourish, which was evident at Keysoe with Michael achieving outstanding results with several of the stud’s competition mares. Over the three days he achieved six tickets to the Nationals with four horses, each of them showing the talent which has become synonymous with the Mount St John name.

Michael (31) dominated a highly competitive TopSpec Medium Gold taking the top two places with Atterupgaards 02 and Mount St John Valencia. Eight-year-old Atterupgaards 02 (pictured) was Michael’s winning ride with a score of 76.71%. Bred by embryo transfer from Fiona Bigwood’s Rio 2016 Olympic team silver partner, Atterupgaards Orthilia, and by prolific sire Belissimo M, the mare has inherited many qualities that her parentage would suggest. Previously ridden by Mount St John’s former head resident trainer Jayden Brown, who has since returned to Australia, Michael has taken up the reins for the next stage of 02’s education.

In the Equine Construction Advanced Medium Gold on day three, it was Mount St John Valencia’s turn at the top. Partnered by Michael she won the class on 73.29%, with Lara Butler and Amiek C second (71.49%) and Michael with Atterupgaards 02 third (69.52%). Eight-year-old Mount St John Valencia (Vivaldi x Ferragamo) is described by the Eilberg team as ‘rather special - such a talent and the loveliest horse to deal with’.

Katrina Cantrell enjoyed a highly successful show too with an emphatic double victory. The 45-year-old from Ascot in Berkshire claimed both the Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges Gold and the Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I Gold with Christine Cantrell’s Woodlander Donna Summer. ‘Donna’ was expertly piloted by Katrina to achieve scores of 69.47% and 70% respectively. “Wow what a week!” she said on Facebook, “Donna and I have just come back from Keysoe regional champs gaining two new titles, PSG and Inter I Gold, securing our place at the National Champs! I am over the moon with Donna, I had two great rides and she coped so well with the atmosphere.”

Young rider Alexzandra Houldcroft (22), from Wythall in the West Midlands, won the Backinaction Preliminary Silver regional title with her British-bred seven-year-old Cavallina Herself. Cavallina, who was bred by Alexzandra’s trainer Paul Friday, is by Cardinar and out of a Weltmeyer mare. “I’m absolutely buzzing to be writing this, we only went and won our Regional at Keysoe today on 70%!” she said on Facebook. “Cavallina felt much more established and we cannot wait to get to the National Championships!”

Congratulations to all the qualified riders and regional champions. British Dressage thanks the team at Keysoe and all involved for a successful Regional Championships as well as the Nationals sponsors for their generous support.

Regional champions:

Backinaction Preliminary Silver
Alexzandra Houldcroft with Cavallina Herself, 70.40%

Dodson & Horrell Novice Silver
Charlotte-Elizabeth Barber with CE Florisou, 75.00%

Dodson & Horrell Novice Gold
Michael Eilberg with MSJ Dante VX, 73.95%

Childéric Saddles Elementary Silver
William Roberts with Afortinius, 70.47%

Childéric Saddles Elementary Gold
Alex Hardwick with Polar Star III, 73.28%

TopSpec Medium Silver
Rebecca Lee-Wolf with Fire, 67.66%

TopSpec Medium Gold
Michael Eilberg with Atterupgaards 02, 76.71%

Equine Construction Advanced Medium Silver
Jayne Turney with Cruz III, 72.15%

Equine Construction Advanced Medium Gold
Michael Eilberg with Mount St John Valencia, 73.29%

Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges Gold
Katrina Cantrell with Woodlander Donna Summer, 69.47%

Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I Gold
Katrina Cantrell with Woodlander Donna Summer, 70.00%