News
Winter Regional Championships: Bishop Burton
- Written By: British Dressage
- Published: Mon, 26 Feb 2024 15:25
The 2024 Winter Regional Championships reached the midway point with the fourth fixture of the eight-part series taking place at Bishop Burton College in East Yorkshire (13 – 17 February 2024). Five days of top competition saw 22 further regional champions crowned as we approach the NAF Five Star Winter Championships at Addington Equestrian in April.
Emma Blundell’s MSJ Viva Dannebrog (Vitalis x Don Schufro), pictured above, delivered great results under rider Amy Woodhead to win both the Prestige Novice Gold (74.94%) and the Equi-Trek Elementary Gold (71.15%). The six-year-old mare, who finished fourth with Amy in the Small Final for 5YO at the 2023 FEI WBFSH Dressage World Breeding Championships, continues to display the ability that earned her the title of KBIS Young Horse 5YO Champion last September, 12 months on from winning the 4YO equivalent.
Amy took to social media to say; “Living proof that a chestnut mare can be a superstar – Thank you Vivienne (her home name).”
BD Youth National Academy athlete Sophie Isaacs did herself proud in the Silver sections of the Novice level classes. Riding her eight-year-old black gelding, Donaigo Ace, pictured above, the 22-year-old from Northumberland won the Prestige Novice Silver and the Baileys Novice Freestyle Silver regional titles.
“Shattered but on cloud 9 after the most insane day at Bishop Burton Winter Regionals on Friday,” said freelance rider Sophie, speaking on social media. “After a disappointing performance last year in the Prelim, I really went with no expectations at all other than to make it a more positive experience.
“Hugo had other plans though and thought he would do one better, going on to win not one but two classes! We scored 68.58% in the Novice straight and 71.20% in the Novice Freestyle (music by Equivisions) gaining our direct qualifying golden tickets for the Winter Championships. We walked away double regional champions!” added Sophie, who travelled directly from Bishop Burton to Kilbees Farm in Windsor for a BD Youth National Academy training weekend.
Former youth team rider Natasha Leak (30), who is based at Willerby Hill Equestrian Centre in the East Riding of Yorkshire, rode her 14-year-old British-bred gelding Belissimo, pictured above, into first place in both the Magic Prix St Georges Gold and the Superflex Intermediate I Silver with scores of 67.65% and 65.74% respectively.
Lauren Geraghty (18), pictured below, was the top-scoring competitor in the freestyle classes. Performing to music from the animated film How to Train Your Dragon, and produced by her mum Julie Geraghty of Equivisions, she won the Spillers Medium Freestyle Gold on a super score of 74.83% aboard WS Jackson, her British team partner at the 2022 FEI Pony European Championships in Strzegom, Poland.
“What a superstar Joey is,” said Lauren speaking on social media. “[I] Could not love him any more. We have qualified for every Championship since I have owned him. This will be his fifth consecutive Winter Championships. Addington here we come!”
Since Lauren moved on from Ponies, WS Jackson (by Chiskin Jaguar) was more recently ridden by Sofia Games in the FEI Pony classes at Hickstead and Wellington CDIs last year, and is continuing his Pony career with young Brit, Evie Head at the reins.
The second-highest score across the non-freestyle classes came courtesy of the HorseHage Preliminary Gold winners, Andrew Wright (39) and TH Leviosa (L’Espoir x Almaz), pictured above. TH Leviosa is a five-year-old chestnut mare owned and bred by Andrew’s father-in-law and List 1 Judge, Paul Hayler.
Congratulations to all of our qualified riders, regional champions and owners. British Dressage thanks organiser Tara Tate and the entire team at Bishop Burton College for hosting a successful Winter Regional Championships, as well as all the Winter Championships sponsors for their generous support.
Results – top three
Tuesday 13 February
Class 1: HorseLight Medium Gold
1. Holly Woodhead and MSJ Gold Standard, 68.29%
2. Natasha Leak and Kapoeria, 68.29%
3. Melissa Chapman and Majesteit TCE, 68.29%
Class 2: HorseLight Medium Silver
1. Jessica Carr and RS Fürst Love, 67.88%
2. Heidi Hutchinson and Florida of Westoak, 67.75%
3. Georgie Rockingham and September Song, 65.77%
Class 3: Spillers Medium Freestyle Gold
1. Lauren Geraghty and WS Jackson, 74.83%
2. Jessica Parr and Gabber D, 70.11%
3. Bobby Hayler and Delta Force TH, 69.11%
Class 4: Spillers Medium Freestyle Silver
1. Georgie Rockingham and September Song, 69.50%
2. Emma Littlewood and Camacho, 69.22%
3. Heather Hopkinson and Brackenspa Houdini, 67.50%
Wednesday 14 February
Class 5: Equitex Advanced Medium Gold
1. Melissa Chapman and Koning II, 69.96%
2. Melissa Chapman and Majesteit TCE, 65.92%
Class 6: Equitex Advanced Medium Silver
1. Jessica Parr and Juvat FCS, 68.33%
2. Amelia Moncrieff and Littletree J’Adore, 65.88%
3. Patsy Bartram and Greenacres Cadiz, 65.48%
Class 7: Nupafeed Advanced Medium Freestyle Gold
1. Lizzie Hughes and Torino, 66.89%
2. Emma Bond and Diamond Harlequin, 66.56%
Class 8: Nupafeed Advanced Medium Freestyle Silver
1. Patsy Bartram and Greenacres Cadiz, 69.33%
2. Jessica Parr and Gabber D, 68.50%
3. Jessica Parr and Juvat FCS, 67.89%
Class 9: Magic Prix St Georges Silver
1. Emily Clarke-Attwood and Inspector Gadget II, 63.09%
2. Tracy Rabone and Florenzius, 59.07%
Class 10: Magic Prix St Georges Gold
1. Natasha Leak and Belissimo, 67.65%
2. Anne-Marie Cowan and Kracka GH, 66.57%
3. Jennifer Folman and Favory Gazdag, 64.61%
Class 11: Superflex Intermediate I Silver
1. Natasha Leak and Belissimo, 65.74%
2. Sally Walker and Wilton Wood Blaze, 63.92%
3. Emily Clarke-Attwood and Inspector Gadget II, 62.60%
Class 12: Superflex Intermediate I Gold
1. Anne-Marie Cowan and Kracka GH, 69.46%
2. Melissa Chapman and TCE Jubilant Al Sno, 66.76%
Thursday 15 February
Class 13: HorseHage Preliminary Gold
1. Andrew Wright and TH Leviosa, 72.07%
2. Natalie Sweeney and Most Wanted, 69.66%
3. Lucy Robinson and Feuertanz II, 69.54%
Class 14: HorseHage Preliminary Silver
1. Susan Soley and Ellie VII, 68.74%
2. Sabine Searle and Darrenvale Prudence, 68.10%
3. Zoe Hennchen and Lady Pollyanna SR, 67.93%
Class 15: Prestige Novice Gold
1. Amy Woodhead and MSJ Viva Dannebrog, 74.94%
2. Laura Woodcock and Lightning Texel W, 69.57%
3. Lucy Robinson and Feuertanz II, 68.09%
Friday 16 February
Class 16: Prestige Novice Silver
1. Sophie Isaacs and Donaigo Ace, 68.58%
2. Rose Punchard and Spot Awole, 68.21%
3. Shaun Malpass and Sorrelcourt I Zantos, 68.15%
Class 17: Baileys Novice Freestyle Gold
1. Robert Gilsenan and Fangio WD, 72.41%
2. Anne-Marie Cowan and Oriente do Seixo, 72.22%
3. Ellie Roberts and Koning Albert, 69.63%
Class 18: Baileys Novice Freestyle Silver
1. Sophie Isaacs and Donaigo Ace, 71.20%
2. Amy Wray and Miners Gold, 70.09%
3. Shaun Malpass and Sorrelcourt I Zantos, 69.17%
Class 19: Equi-Trek Elementary Gold
1. Amy Woodhead and MSJ Viva Dannebrog, 71.15%
2. Natasha Leak and Kapoeria, 71.04%
3. Laura Woodcock and Lightning Texel W, 68.33%
Saturday 17 February
Class 20: Equi-Trek Elementary Silver
1. Samantha Jimmison and Maya VD Watermolen, 68.33%
2. Anna Harris and City of Angels, 68.28%
3. Charlotte Wood and Alfred de Niro, 67.97%
Class 21: PDS Saddles Elementary Freestyle Gold
1. Lisa Clarkson and Fürst Bendito, 71.73%
2. Anne-Marie Cowan and Oriente do Seixo, 70.00%
3. Natalie Widdowson and Nelson van de Gathe, 68.01%
Class 22: PDS Saddles Elementary Freestyle Silver
1. Louise Jackson and Rupert Bear IV, 72.12%
2. Robert Gilsenan and Fangio WD, 70.71%
3. Charlotte Wood and Alfred de Niro, 69.74%
Photos © Kevin Sparrow Photography
