Summer Regional Championships: Sparsholt College

BD Southern’s Summer Regional Championships took place last weekend at Sparsholt College, Winchester, and saw hot competition to brighten up the somewhat gloomy British weather (19 – 21 July 2019).

The Equine Construction Advanced Medium Gold and Silver classes were a showcase of talented under 25s riders. In the Gold section Ellie McCarthy’s Donna Summer gave new rider Tarka Abraham a super ride to take the title on a super score of 69.78%. Seventeen year old Tarka is enjoying a stellar first BD season, having recently taken up the reins of experienced campaigner ‘Rio’, a former Youth European Championship team horse for both Ellie and Olivia Oakeley. Speaking on social media, proud owner Ellie commented “So unbelievably proud of Tarka and Rio today! They won the [Equine Construction] Advanced Medium Gold regionals and have qualified for the National Championships in September! After only six months of her riding him and having never competed BD before March - clearly your hack galloping round the forest yesterday with him was perfect preparation!”

Fellow former European Championships representative, Georgia Davis (23) claimed the Equine Construction Advanced Medium Silver with rising star Keystone Diego, by Dimaggio. The duo were awarded 70% from the judges panel, Alison Duck, James Rooney and Sue Wood. Hampshire based Georgia (pictured) bought ‘Doogie’ as a foal and has produced him through the levels whilst working as a freelance rider and coach.

Notching up another win for the U25s, Dylan Deutrom produced a strong performance in the Dodson & Horrell Novice Silver to take home the spoils with Matt Hicks and Sarah Warry’s six year old Identiek BH (Furst Heinrich x Florencio). Their winning score of 70.67% was enough to put them on the top step of the podium in a highly competitive class where only 4.5 marks split the top six combinations.

Coming to Sparsholt off the back of a Petplan Equine Area Festivals win at Elementary level, Sam Mirehouse and Pauldarys Tiger Two Sox were convincing winners of the Dodson & Horrell Novice Silver. Sam and her 11 year old by Pauldarys Tiger Aspect placed first ahead of runners up Sam McEwan with Sunnystone The Highwayman and Childéric Saddles Elementary Silver winners Zoe Kiff and Platinum Barbarian who took third spot in their second class of the week.

Andrew Gould booked his LeMieux National Championships ticket on board Terry and Joan Barnett-Knott’s Blue Hors Dexter in Friday’s Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges qualifier; the former breeding stallion by Don Schufro excelled in the Sparsholt arena to earn 69.86%. Whilst after taking second place in the Prix St Georges, Damian Hallam went one better in the Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I with Keith Miller’s Black Jack Sollenburg scoring an ace 68.68% to steal the top spot. Debbie Poynter and the British Hanoverian Keystone For Real placed second, with Lucy Amy and Extra Time claiming third.

The highest score of the show belonged to Backinaction Preliminary Silver winner Sallie Snow, who earned a magnificent 75.11% with her own 17 year old Welsh Cob Winmark Jade.

British Dressage thanks the team at Sparsholt College 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.

Regional champions:

Backinaction Preliminary Silver 
Sallie Snow with Winmark Jade, 75.11%

Dodson & Horrell Novice Silver 
Sam Mirehouse with Pauldarys Tiger Two Sox, 69.69%

Dodson & Horrell Novice Gold
Dylan Deutrom with Identiek BH, 70.67%

Childéric Saddles Elementary Silver 
Zoe Kiff with Platinum Barbarian, 70.36%

Childéric Saddles Elementary Gold
Nicola Buchanan with St Giles Bon Bon, 71.51%

TopSpec Medium Silver
Lauren Ruffle with Freeman H, 68.28%

TopSpec Medium Gold
Alistair Ridyard with Golden Ray, 71.12%

Equine Construction Advanced Medium Silver
Georgia Davis with Keystone Diego, 70%

Equine Construction Advanced Medium Gold
Tarka Abraham with Donna Summer, 69.78%

Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges Gold
Andrew Gould with Blue Hors Dexter, 69.86%

Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I Gold
Damian Hallam with Black Jack Sollenburg, 68.68%