Summer Regional Championships: Richmond EC

As the 2019 Summer Regional Championship season approaches the halfway marker, last week attention was on Richmond Equestrian Centre in North Yorkshire for Regional Championship number four (19 – 21 July 2019).

The 29-strong Dodson & Horrell Novice Silver belonged to local lady Nicola Naprstek (pictured) with her 11 year old Don Henrico-sired gelding, Don Cru. Nicola, who runs a private yard in North Yorkshire, enjoyed considerable success as an under 21 rider and has kept her name in the game since. Now 41, she’s competed up to Inter I and qualified various horses for regional and national championships.

“I’m over the moon…it’s quite a comeback for me,” said Nicola who has recently returned to competition after having some time out of the saddle with husband Mark Smith and 18 month old son, William. “The horses took a back seat while we had William. I played with them at home but took a break from competing, so Don Cru is quite low mileage.

“He’s a lovely horse, is quite sensitive and has developed a lot recently. He did a lovely test at Richmond. There was one small blip in the middle halt but the rest of the test felt super. I’m very happy with him.”

Nicola bought Don Cru as a two year old from Gamblethorpe Hanoverians near Leeds. “I fell in love with him straight away. I loved his head and knew from day one that he was special.”

Amy Woodhead headed two classes with her rides, Branduardi and Don Cara M. With Branduardi she won the Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I Gold and with Don Cara M, the TopSpec Medium Gold.

Branduardi (Breitling W x Weltmeyer) and Amy, who are in the third year of their partnership, rode a test full of quality for owner Victoria Wright earning a mark of 68.29% to put them in front of Louise Davison with De Galles (67.89%) and Lisa Megginson on Breit Crusador (67.06%). Branduardi, whose career is balanced with life as a breeding stallion, is a reliable Small Tour partner for Amy who he’ll be appearing with at Stoneleigh for a third consecutive year.

Don Cara M impressed too with his plus-69% winning round in the TopSpec Medium Gold. Owned by Rowland Kinch, the 10 year old Dutch bred son of Don Jovi has been a resident at the Woodhead family home, Weelsby Park in Grimsby, since 2017.

Katie Owens, an apprentice rider at Moody Dressage, enjoyed a regionals to remember with a victory in the Equine Construction Advanced Medium Silver aboard her British bred mare Saffira (by Showmaker). Katie and ‘Stevie’, as Saffira is known at home, scored 69.43%.

“It was the best feeling this morning to wake up and remember that my beautiful girl Stevie and I are regional Advanced Medium champions and have our ticket to the Nationals! Can’t describe the love I have for this girl she is a dream come true,” said Katie on Facebook.

Becky Moody meanwhile took the Childéric Saddles Elementary Silver Gold with her six year old KWPN gelding Immerado BKO (by Desperado). Nicknamed Marvilicious in the famously inventive Moody style, Immerado is a gorgeous bay talent that many would wish to have in their stable. Seventy-three percent was the score on the board for the pair despite a blip in the rein back.

British Dressage thanks the team at Richmond as well as the National class sponsors for their generous support. Congratulations to all competitors and good luck to those heading to the LeMieux National Championships at Stoneleigh Park.

Buy your LeMieux National Championships tickets here.

The winners:

Friday 19 July
Class 1: Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges Gold
Rebecca Hughes with Ibisco, 69.21%

Class 2: Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I Gold
Amy Woodhead with Branduardi, 68.29%

Class 3: TopSpec Medium Silver
Steffi Tomlinson with Vivassa, 69.28%

Class 4: TopSpec Medium Gold
Amy Woodhead with Don Cara M, 69.28%

Class 5: Equine Construction Advanced Medium Silver
Katie Owens with Saffira, 69.43%

Class 6: Equine Construction Advanced Medium Gold
Emma Blundell with Mount St John Furstin Fugger, 70.39%

Saturday 20 July
Class 7: Dodson & Horrell Novice Gold
Victoria Maw with Benito Dorato, 74.14%

Class 8: Childéric Saddles Elementary Gold
Becky Moody with Immerado BKO, 73.49%

Class 9: Childéric Saddles Elementary Silver
Aimee Gascoigne with Mount St John Diva Dannebrog, 70.63%

Sunday 21 July
Class 10: Dodson & Horrell Novice Silver
Nicola Naprstek with Don Cru, 69.81%

Class 11: BackinAction Preliminary Silver
Fiona Boddy with Krafty Saratoga, 71.09%