The Bourne Supremacy

Kent-based British Pony rider Bonnie Bourne has returned victorious from Nice CDI in France (21 – 24 February 2019) with a hat-trick of wins for Great Britain.

Riding her 16-year-old gelding Fin C WE (Famos x Eiger III), Bonnie had much to celebrate in the beautiful setting of the French Riviera venue having achieved three CDI personal best scores. The winning pair claimed Friday’s Pony Team Test with 68%, Saturday’s Individual with 71.48% and Sunday’s Freestyle with a score of 73.47%. 

Bonnie is trained by Joyce Wood and also receives support from Tracey Collis at Westcroft Development and Performance who travels with Bonnie to ‘away’ shows as driver, groom and coach.

“We couldn’t be happier,” said Bonnie’s mother, Jenny. “Her aim was to get 70% so to do this and win all three classes by a good margin was way beyond our expectations. Bonnie rode with much more confidence in the Individual Test and was also thrilled with the Freestyle result. The only time she’d previously ridden the routine was at Hickstead CDI and it really didn’t come off. We were thrilled that it went well this time.

“Ros Emery-Kay compiled the music and it’s just a bit different. It has Kid Creole and the Coconuts’ Annie I’m Not Your Daddy for the canter and Michael Buble’s Sway for trot, and it got a really good reaction.

“Fin hasn’t been an easy pony, but they’ve really grown as a partnership and have much more confidence in each other,” she added. 

Bonnie, who previously enjoyed success to FEI level with the Welsh palomino Twyford Salamander, is in her second competition season with ‘Fin’ with whom she’s been selected for the 2018/2019 Pony Prime Squad.

Results
FEI Pony Team Test
1st Bonnie Bourne with Fin C WE, 68.00% (GBR)
2nd Astrid Antunes Millou with Bandro Hit Linaro, 65.47% (FRA)
3rd Alexandre Cheret with Butterfly Dew Drop, 64.71% (FRA)

FEI Pony Individual Test
1st Bonnie Bourne with Fin C WE, 71.48%
2nd Astrid Antunes Millou with Bandro Hit Linaro, 68.19% (FRA)
3rd Alexandre Cheret with Butterfly Dew Drop, 67.34% (FRA)

FEI Pony Freestyle
1st Bonnie Bourne with Fin C WE, 73.47% (GBR)
2nd Alexandre Cheret with Butterfly Dew Drop, 70.52% (FRA)
3rd Layla Schmid with Ashen Dew Drop, 67.52% (FRA)