Summer Regional Championships: Somerford Park

On the most exciting sporting weekend of the year so far, the action at Somerford Park didn’t fall short as fourteen new North West Regional Champions were crowned across two packed days of competition (13 – 14 July 2019).

Frenchman Thomas Bobis (pictured) enjoyed an outstanding Summer Regional Championship debut on his birthday claiming two titles and the highest score of the show with the Eilbergs’ promising six year old, MSJ Distinction. In the Dodson & Horrell Novice Gold, the duo made their mark with 72.47% before going on to top Sunday’s Childéric Saddles Elementary Gold on an impressive 75.94%. Twenty four year old Thomas, a stable rider at Pink Green Farm for Eilberg Dressage, made the move to the UK in autumn last year and has reaped the rewards since building up a strong record of scores and placings on board several of Michael Eilberg’s rising stars, notably MSJ Distinction, the full brother to Michael’s former leading lady Woodlander Dornroeschen. Praising ‘Troy’ and Thomas’s success on Facebook, the Eilbergs’ said “The star of our trip to Somerford Park Regionals was definitely our own MSJ Distinction ridden by Thomas Bobis. After winning the Novice Gold on the first day, he continued his great form to smash the Elementary Gold with 75.9%! He [Thomas] rode a great test and really held his nerve. So happy for this horse who is a full brother to our very special Rosie and looks set to follow in her footsteps.”

Lancashire lady Katie Bagot also become a dual North West Regional Champion with her own Rousseau sired gelding Zomaar earning top marks in the Childéric Saddles Elementary Silver B and the TopSpec Medium Silver to win both tests with ace scores of 73.44% and 69.23%. Section A of the Childéric Saddles Elementary Regional Championships belonged to Helen Hopewell and Freshman (Andretti x Samber); BHSAI Helen successfully runs Hugmore Livery in Holt and trains with Jackie Beaven.

A year to remember continued for Sarah Higgins and Sarah Rao as three titles for three horses went their way over the weekend. Penny Lindop’s Easter Bunny II was the first winner of the show for Sarah Higgins in the Equine Construction Advanced Medium Gold, the 10 year old gelding scored 70.09% to stay ahead of TopSpec Medium Gold winners Emma Jablonski and Higgens van de Uilenhoek. Sarah’s second win came on board Sarah Rao’s Alfranco in the Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I Gold, the combination will contest their second major BD championship of the year as they head to Stoneleigh in September following two fifth place results in the small tour levels at the NAF Five Star Winter Championships in the spring. #thechinesedressagegirl herself Sarah Rao won a sash of her own in the Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges Gold as a fine test with Waldessarini delivered the sole plus 70% in the sixteen-strong class.

BD Wales rider Laura Fisher is another to enjoy a memorable 2019 season to date. With her Petplan Equine Area Festival Prix St Georges Bronze and Ideal Saddles Combined Training Novice/90cm Champion Sam The Man Veldhoek, Lara picked up yet another championship ticket with a win in the Equine Construction Advanced Medium Silver.

With 53 competitors in total, the battle for the Backinaction Preliminary Silver tickets and titles was as close as the history making fixture finales at Lord’s and Wimbledon. Section B saw Ben Cousins with Chevalian Bold Z triumph by the narrowest of margins as the West Midlands rider beat second placed rider Francesca Turner on collectives with just one mark in it. The Section A title belonged to former Nettex RoR Associated Champions, Cheshire teen Emily Entwistle and Tarass D’Alben, with the winning score a rock solid 69.31%.

British Dressage thanks the team at Somerford Park, plus all national class sponsors for their generous support of the summer championship series. Congratulations to all qualified riders and to those who took part. 

Regional champions:

Backinaction Preliminary Silver A
Emily Entwistle with Tarass D’Alben, 69.31%

Backinaction Preliminary Silver B
Ben Cousins with Chevalian Bold Z, 70.06%

Dodson & Horrell Novice Silver A
Charlotte Donovan with Just It’s Mie, 69.94%

Dodson & Horrell Novice Silver B
Ricki Riley with My Noble Valentine, 70.68%

Dodson & Horrell Novice Gold
Thomas Bobis with MSJ Distinction, 72.47%

Childéric Saddles Elementary Silver A
Helen Hopewell with Freshman, 69.17%

Childéric Saddles Elementary Silver B
Katie Bagot with Zomaar, 73.44%

Childéric Saddles Elementary Gold
Thomas Bobis with MSJ Distinction, 75.94%

TopSpec Medium Silver
Katie Bagot with Zomaar, 69.23%

TopSpec Medium Gold
Emma Jablonski with Higgens van de Uilenhoek, 72.12%

Equine Construction Advanced Medium Silver
Laura Fisher with Sam The Man Veldhoek, 68.55%

Equine Construction Advanced Medium Gold
Sarah Higgins with Easter Bunny II, 70.09%

Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges Gold
Sarah Rao with Waldessarini, 70.22%

Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I Gold
Sarah Higgins with Alfranco, 69.56%