Vale View’s inaugural Premier League a success

The penultimate Premier League fixture of 2021 took place last week at the Leicestershire venue of Vale View Equestrian (16 – 19 June 2021) which boasted four great days of competition streamed live to viewers by Horse & Country.

Charlotte Dujardin and her Tokyo-nominated direct reserve, Gio, aced Thursday’s LeMieux Grand Prix with a new personal best of 81.93% from the judging panel of Nick Burton at C, Jo Graham at H and Richard Baldwin at B. The delightful Apache x Tango 10-year-old (pictured above) shows such expression and willingness in his work with Charlotte, making the combination a joy to watch. The talented team of Gareth Hughes and the Kroll family’s stallion KK Dominant achieved second on a strong score of 73.43% with Myerscough winner Amy Woodhead and Emma Blundell’s Mount St John Kom Fairytale taking third on 71.90%.

Emma, the driving force behind the Mount St John Stud, enjoyed a successful show herself with her wonderful mare, Mount St John VIP. On day one, they won both the Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges and Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I. Emma credits the 10-year-old Vivaldi daughter, formerly ridden by Charlotte Dujardin, for rekindling her love of competing and helping her to fulfil some of her personal competitive goals – a great tonic as she continues to recover from the after-effects of contracting COVID last year.

Another double winner was Robyn Smith (25) from East Kilbride in Scotland who had a great week with her Florencio I-sired, Francesco 77 (pictured above). Not only did the partnership claim Wednesday’s Haygain Inter II on 71.36% but they also won Friday’s U25 Grand Prix on 69.26%. “To say I am delighted is an understatement,” said Robyn on social media. “It has been a long journey with my little superstar stallion but oh boy it has been worth it so far!”

For Nikki Barker and Viv Gleave’s Durable (pictured below), a 70%-plus score for sixth place in the Grand Prix preceded a Grand Prix Special victory with a mark of 72.68% on their first ever attempt at the test. Amy Woodhead and Mount St John Kom Fairytale took the runners-up position on 69.58% and Alice Oppenheimer with Headmore Dirubinio (68.56%) completed the top three.

The Grand Prix was only Nikki and Durable’s second one since Nikki and her husband Will became parents to baby daughter Beatrix in March. “I was a little ring-rusty in the Grand Prix,” admitted Nikki, “but Paul Fielder was there to help me and gave me a pile of instructions on the second day, which made a huge difference and ‘Danny’ felt super.

“The Special actually suits him [Durable] well. He tries so hard. He’s a big, huge-moving horse and this test allows you to be a bit freer,” she explained. “He’s very supple, so it can be easy to lose a shoulder or the hindquarters, but when it’s all together, he feels amazing.”

“It’s lovely for Viv too. With a young horse, you start out with the dream, so for those things to come to fruition, it is very rewarding.”

Describing show life with baby in tow, Nikki says, “She’s very good. My friend Lisa Marriott said to me, “Take the baby everywhere with you, just like a handbag!” and she’s right! Luckily my groom has also done childcare, and she’s brilliant. She’ll be plaiting horses one minute, taking care of Bea the next… it’s great teamwork.”

The Grand Prix Freestyle belonged to Steph Croxford and Mr Benn II (pictured above) whose expressive programme set to The Jam and Dexys Midnight Runners was awarded just shy of 70.00%, ahead of Sarah Rao and Alfranco (68.59%) and Belinda Brereton with Captain Negro C (67.71%). The winning pair didn’t quite achieve the clear round they were looking for but nevertheless, 11-year-old ‘Thug’, as he’s affectionately known, shows great highlights and Steph always manages to inject an element of fun into her routines.

Becky Moody and Jagerbomb (Dante Weltino x Jazz) continued their run of success with a resounding win in Thursday’s Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges on 72.54%. With a seven-year-old qualifier win at Myerscough and a PSG win at Somerford, their Premier League form indicates an exciting future. They have also won an Advanced Medium Winter Regional title to secure themselves a place at the NAF Five Star Winter Championships next week.

Saturday’s Saracen Horse Feeds Inter I was won by Kate Lister from Warwickshire and Fiskus (pictured below). They scored 72.19%, just shy of three percent ahead of their closest rival. Fiskus (First Selection x Laurentianer) is a nine-year-old German born gelding owned by Kate herself.

The BD FEI young horse classes attracted a competitive entry. The highest score of 77.60% was awarded to Amy Woodhead and Mount St John Diamonds are Forever in the qualifier for horses aged five. The mare, by Diamond Hit, was crowned Shearwater four-year-old champion last year at Keysoe. She was bought as a foal from Germany by Emma Blundell to bring the prolific stallion’s bloodlines into the Mount St John breeding programme.

Delighted with second place was Charlie Hutton who travelled from his base in Scotland with MSJ Faricio, his British-bred Benicio x Franziskus gelding. This promising partnership scored 76.60%.

Congratulations to Julie and her team on a hugely successful Premier League debut!

Top-three results

Wednesday
Class 1: TopSpec Medium 75
1. Victoria Maw and Benito Dorato, 72.43%
2. Jane Green and Hacendado XVI, 69.05%
3. Darren Hicks and Woodcroft Django Mon Ami, 68.51%

Class 2: Andrews Bowen Advanced Medium 96
1. Victoria Maw and Benito Dorato, 71.36%
2. Angus Corrie-Deane and Jack Johnson, 68.55%
3. Jane Critchley and Firstino, 67.59%

Class 3: Advanced 102
1. Jennifer Martell and Integro, 70.20%
2. Sarah Higgins and Samuel, 67.65%
3. Matthew Burnett and Nibeley Black Pearl, 65.34%

Class 4: Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges
1. Emma Blundell and Mount St John VIP, 72.37%
2. Lucinda Elliot and Hawtins Bellegra, 71.23%
3. Jennifer Martell and Integro, 70.57%

Class 5: Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I
1. Emma Blundell and Mount St John VIP, 71.45%
2. Lily Hewitt and Sir Charlie Chaplin, 69.12%
3. Sharon Lindop and Spielbanker, 68.73%

Class 6: Haygain Intermediate II
1. Robyn Smith and Francesco 77, 71.36%
2. Natasha Rumble and Show Boy, 69.37%
3. Sarah Rao and Alfranco, 67.32%

Thursday
Class 7: Andrews Bowen Advanced Medium 98
1. Antonia Brown and SJL Jackson, 69.82%
2. Nikki Barker and Dan Icarus, 68.95%
3. Angus Corrie-Deane and Jack Johnson, 68.60%

Class 8: Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges
1. Becky Moody and Jagerbomb, 72.54%
2. Amy Woodhead and Mount St John Furstin Fugger, 69.78%
3. Sarah Higgins and Netzo, 69.30%

Class 9: Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I
1. Lucinda Elliot and Hawtins Bellegra, 69.08%
2. Amy Woodhead and Mount St John Furstin Fugger, 68.16%
3. Jennifer Martell and Integro, 68.07%

Class 10: LeMieux Grand Prix
1. Charlotte Dujardin and Gio, 81.93%
2. Gareth Hughes and KK Dominant, 73.43%
3. Amy Woodhead and Mount St John Kom Fairytale, 71.90%

Class 11: BD International Young Horse 5yo
1. Amy Woodhead and Mount St John Diamonds are Forever, 77.60%
2. Charlie Hutton and MSJ Faricio, 76.60%
3. Antonia Brown and SJL Liberty, 72.00%

Class 12: BD International Young Horse 6yo
1. Ann Staines and Kartouche V, 74.40%
2. Emma Thomas and Aragorn de Esperanza, 73.20%

Class 13: BD International Young Horse 7yo
1. Sophie Taylor and Jerrydale, 71.43%
2. Kirsten Mayne and Risa de Susaeta, 66.60%

Friday
Class 14: Andrews Bowen Advanced Medium 92
1. Angus Corrie-Deane and Jack Johnson, 68.47%
2. Nikki Barker and Iwan, 67.25%
3. Victoria Johnson and Temujin, 66.44%

Class 15: Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges
1. Jennifer Martell and Fiderstan, 70.83%
2. Sarah Higgins and Netzo, 69.21%
3. Hannah Esberger-Hancock and Iggy Pop Bek, 68.68%

Class 16: Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I
1. Kate Lister and Fiskus, 72.19%
2. Amy Woodhead and Mount St John Furstin Fugger, 69.21%
3. Belinda Brereton and Deco II, 68.90%

Class 17: Grand Prix Special
1. Nikki Barker and Durable, 72.68%
2. Amy Woodhead and Mount St John Kom Fairytale, 69.58%
3. Alice Oppenheimer and Headmore Dirubinio, 68.56%

Class 18: U25 Grand Prix
1. Robyn Smith and Francesco 77, 69.26%
2. Natasha Rumble and Show Boy, 66.20%
3. Georgie West and Skyla, 65.81%

Class 19: FEI U21 Individual Test PYO
1. Darcey Blaze Marcus and Valido’s Starlight, 73.34% (Ch)
2. Crystal Robinson Long and Baldovino, 71.58% (Ch)
3. Jessica Hickey and Ziezo I, 68.51% (YR)

Saturday
Class 20: Andrews Bowen Advanced Medium 96
1. Belinda Brereton and Deco II, 70.75%
2. Meghan Anderson and Urban V, 65.22%

Class 21: Advanced Medium Freestyle
1. Charlotte Neal and Walter’s Fable, 68.39%
2. Louise Riley-Hunt and Zamira, 62.89%

Class 22: Prix St Georges Freestyle
1. Emma Bond and Drago’s Felix, 68.63%
2. Jessica Hickey and Ziezo I, 67.19%

Class 23: Intermediate I Freestyle
1. Belinda Brereton and Deco II, 70.67%
2. Sarah Rao and Faydirmie ZH, 70.50%

Class 24: Haygain Intermediate II
1. Kate Cowell and Dramatic Conquest, 69.47%
2. Anne-Marie Cowan and Woodcroft Royal Charter, 65.96%
3. Sarah Rao and King Ron P, 65.66%

Class 25: Grand Prix Freestyle
1. Steph Croxford and Mr Benn II, 69.92%
2. Sarah Rao and Alfranco, 68.59%
3. Belinda Brereton and Captain Negro C, 67.71%

Class 26: FEI U21 Team Test PYO
1. Coco Mussell and Zolansky, 74.60% (Ch)
2. Ruby Hughes and Hilkens Showgirl, 70.81% (P)
3. Demi Howard-Cartwright and Fin C We, 70.47% (P)

Full results

Photo © Kevin Sparrow