Talent triumps at Equissage Pulse Para Winter Championships

The first major Para dressage fixture of 2019 didn’t disappoint as the Equissage Pulse Para Winter Championships returned to Myerscough College last week lighting up the main arena with a showcase of British talent.

The Gold sections were dominated by British team riders and familiar faces. Sir Lee Pearson stormed to victory in the Grade II Championships after posting 71.76% on Breezer III, as well as taking the third and fifth spots with Julie Daly’s B Grandeur and his own Para World Equestrian Games partner Styletta. Erin Orford and her WEG star Dior claimed the Grade III competition, whilst Tryon reserve rider Izzy Palmer notched up a title of her own in the Grade IV on board Sophie Wells’ Touchdown M. In the Grade I Gold it was Caitlyn Saddington to take the spoils after a superb test with Diana Barley and Erin Orford’s Nirvana Morroko; the judges duly awarded them 69.29%.

Molton lady Charlotte Cundall repeated her National Championship with Brenda Reddy’s Bambam; another great score and another Grade V title was added successfully to their collection. Charlotte made the week worthwhile by also picking up four top four placings in the North West Winter Regional Championships, plus a golden ticket to the NAF Five Star Winter Championships. Speaking on her Facebook page she said, “WHAT A WEEK!! I just love my ponies so much and literally cannot believe how lucky I am to have such fabulous dancing partners and an incredible team around me. Thank you to my absolutely amazing sponsors and supporters for all that you do for me and The Lady Joseph Trust and Brenda Reddy for allowing me to ride your boys - I am so grateful.”

In the Silver section Natalie South broke the magic 70% barrier with Deborah Hall’s skewbald gelding Stady Boy to take the Grade II ahead of Natalie Povey and Kyrby Brown, whilst Vanessa Palmer and Encore impressed in Grade III. Jamie Winduss and Julie Frizzell each logged 67% scores to claim the Grade I and Grade V titles, with Sara Bates and Tango III earning the top spot in the Grade IV class.

The Bronze Championships were a close fought affair across all five grades. Grade III rider Tom Dyer stood out with Henry XVII, the duo topped the Grade III Championship with a whopping 73.89%, the highest score of the show. Sophie Lingfield and Trust April took an emphatic victory in the Grade I competition scoring 66,72%; the duo are part of the Chigwell Riding Trust For Special Needs and certainly made their journey worthwhile. Jane Ogden and her own charming 19 year old Fairview Romeo were the standout combination in the Grade II section, Lindsey McLaren and the Rubinstein son Rockefeller took the spoils in the Grade IV and Chloe Chadwick earned the highest Bronze score, a stellar 67.5%, en route to winning the Grade V Championship with her dancing partner of six years, the lovely Irish Sports Horse Inosent Flight.

British Dressage thanks Para Dressage Championship sponsors Equissage Pulse as well as the team at Myerscough for making the event a success for all involved. Congratulations to all title winning combinations and to those who took part. 

Equissage Pulse Para Winter Champions

Gold

Grade I          Caitlyn Saddington with Nirvana Morroko, 69.29%
Grade II         Lee Pearson with Breezer III, 71.76%
Grade III        Erin Orford with Dior, 69.26%
Grade IV        Izzy Palmer with Touchdown M, 71.34%
Grade V         Charlotte Cundall with BamBam, 69.17%

Silver

Grade I          Jamie Winduss with Wonnacott, 67.75%
Grade II         Natalie South with Stady Boy, 70.54%
Grade III        Vanessa Palmer with Encore, 67.4%
Grade IV        Sara Bates with Tango III, 69.66%
Grade V         Julie Frizzell with Namibian, 67.5%

Bronze

Grade I          Sophie Lingfield with Trust April, 66.72%
Grade II         Jane Ogden with Fairview Romeo, 63.97%
Grade III        Tom Dyer with Henry XVII, 73.89%
Grade IV        Lindsey McLaren with Rockefeller, 65.88%
Grade V         Chloe Chadwick with Inosent Flight, 67.5%