Winter Regional Championships: Bishop Burton College

The 2022 Winter Regional Championships continued last week with the fourth fixture of the eight-part series taking place at Bishop Burton College in East Yorkshire (22 – 26 February 2022). Five days of competition saw twenty further winners crowned and many coming a step closer to their NAF Five Star Winter Championships goals.

Anne-Marie Cowan and Lumière L (pictured above) shone bright to claim three of the titles on offer - the Baileys Novice Freestyle Gold (76.29%), the Equi-Trek Elementary Gold (74.16%) plus the PDS Saddles Elementary Freestyle Gold (74.93%).

“I’m in awe of this horse,” said Hartlepool-based Anne-Marie, who trains with both Carl Hester and Isobel Wessels. “He is such a darling and such a lovely horse to work with and train. He’s been like it since he was three.”

Lumière L (Guardian S x Highline) is a six-year-old KWPN gelding owned by Anne-Marie along with her mother, Lesley Perry. “I got him completely by accident,” said Anne-Marie, about an unexpected turn of fate that united the pair. “I had bought a mare in Holland who later had to have some time off while I was pregnant with my son, Oliver. When I brought her back into work, she’d grown so big and sharp that she went to my friend in Holland to be sold. Instead, she said ‘would I like to swap her for a three-year-old?’, and that was Lumière! I’m so lucky that he’s come into my life. I adore him.”

Her winning freestyles, featuring hits from Lady Gaga for the novice, and Beyoncé and Destiny’s Child for the elementary, are both created by Gaynor Colbourn. “I knew we had two good music floorplans, and I enjoy riding to them so much,” she said. “The results were the cherry on the top.”

Double winners, Jessica Griffiths and RS Fürst Love (pictured above) took the Prestige Italia Novice Silver and the Baileys Novice Freestyle Silver, both by a large margin on scores of 73.27% and 73.88% respectively.

“It feels a bit unbelievable really. He’s still fairly green and only started competing last summer but his confidence and attitude has really grown,” said a delighted Jessica, who bought the Fürst Romancier x Diatano gelding, now seven, as an unbacked three-year-old after spotting him advertised for sale in a Facebook post.

“We weren’t really looking but saw the ad and, as he was only 20 minutes away, decided to go and have a look. At the time he was quite little, and I thought he may not be big enough, but we took a risk and he just kept growing! He’s turned out better than we could have hoped for.”

Jessica, a List 4 judge and BDCC Level 3 coach, who trains with Amy and Tracy Woodhead, commissioned Ros Emery-Kay to compile her music. “During lockdown, Ros donated proceeds from her freestyles to the NHS, so this prompted me to do it. It’s upbeat, electric violin music which is great to ride to.”

Mount St John Jazz Dance (Jazz x Hemmingway), aka Jillz (pictured above) was beautifully presented by Amy Woodhead to claim both the HorseLight Medium Gold and the Equitex Advanced Medium Gold for owner Emma Blundell. Amy and Jillz, an eight-year-old mare and new addition to the MSJ team, posted scores of 71.66% and 73.03% respectively. “Such a super talented horse,” said Amy on social media.

Victoria Maw (27) and Benito Dorato (pictured above), a nine-year old Oldenburg son of Benicio, who she owns with Jane Maw, topped the leaderboard in both the Nupafeed Advanced Medium Freestyle Gold (69.38%) and the Magic Prix St Georges Gold (70.98%).

“He [Benicio] felt a little overwhelmed in the advanced medium freestyle so I had to improvise some of the canter work,” said Victoria, “but we still finished on the music, the changes were beautiful and his quality saw him through.”

“The PSG was only his third PSG,” she explained. “He’s still green and still trying to find his balance, but he did me a lovely test. When we finished, I was incredibly proud of him.”  

Victoria, a BDCC Level 3 coach who trains with Tracy Woodhead, bought ‘Benny’ when he was just three days old from breeder Maria Burczyk in Germany. Their career together so far has seen them win a regional title at every level from Novice to PSG.

BD newcomer Charlie Trevor (pictured above) took the KBIS Preliminary Silver title on his first ever time competing at a BD regional championship. With Lord Percy the Pig, a six-year-old gelding who he co-owns with his wife Dawn Trevor, he posted the winning score of 70.17% to secure a golden ticket to Hartpury on his first attempt.

“I was very happy with him,” said Charlie about the homebred, three-quarter Irish Draught chestnut. By the Irish Draught stallion Avanti Amorous Archie and out of Dawn’s half-bred mare, the gelding is proving to be quite the pro between the white boards. “He did his first test just seven months ago so doesn’t have a lot of experience, but he coped well with the atmosphere, rose to the occasion, and did a very good job.”

“He’s done so well,” he continued. “He was backed quite late and we have no training facilities at home. We’re on the edge of the Pennines, near Barnard Castle, and much of our schooling is done on bumpy fields or we box him off to use an arena.”

“I had 15 years off competing and 12 years off a horse until we started Percy,” said Charlie (46) who has a background in eventing and, together with Dawn, runs his own leather goods company, Equus Leather. “Right from the start, I could feel Percy’s potential for dressage as he gives an amazing feeling. It’s very natural for him.”

The HorseLight Medium Silver was a close-fought contest with the top three all within half a percent of each other. Alison Timmins with Johnny Fletch, and Natasha Leak with Future Gravitas were both within touching distance of the win, in second and third, though Jessica Parr and Foxcroft Juvat (pictured above) held their ground to take the honours on 67.83%.

Foxcroft Juvat (Fairytale x Animo) is an eight-year-old British-bred mare bred by Tracey Jordon of Foxcroft Stud in Lincolnshire, who co-owns her with Jessica.

Thanks go to the team at Bishop Burton College, the Winter Championship class sponsors and all involved with the Regional Championships. Congratulations to all qualified combinations and to everyone who took part.

Top three results
KBIS Preliminary Silver
1. Charlie Trevor and Lord Percy the Pig, 70.17%
2. Jodie Carter and Dakota Ink Spots, 67.75%
3. Megan Bainbridge and Harry’s Silver Fox, 67.64%

KBIS Preliminary Gold
1. Samantha Jimmison and Magnetiet, 71.49%
2. Jordan Kavanagh and Flash Dance GH, 70.80%
3. Charlotte Wood and Alfred De Niro, 70.74%

Prestige Italia Novice Silver
1. Jessica Griffiths and RS Fürst Love, 73.27%
2. Hilary Janion and Active Zeitgeist, 70.30%
3. Andrew Wright and FJ Diablo, 69.75%

Prestige Italia Novice Gold
1. Emma Corbett and Tantoni Salamanca, 72.71%
2. Amy Woodhead and Koningin Rava LH, 71.97%
3. Hannah Esberger-Hancock and Parklodge Easy Echo, 71.17%

Equi-Trek Elementary Silver
1. Zoe Rymer and JSR Joie de Vivre, 70.00%
2. Laura Wright and Chilternview Elite Star, 69.16%
3. Samantha Smith and Sylvester, 68.90%

Equi-Trek Elementary Gold
1. Anne-Marie Cowan and Lumière L, 74.16%
2. Sarah Payne and Woodlander Wild Romance, 71.35%
3. Hannah Esberger-Hancock and Parklodge Easy Echo, 69.74%

HorseLight Medium Silver
1. Jessica Parr and Foxcroft Juvat, 67.83%
2. Alison Timmins and Johnny Fletch, 67.70%
3. Natasha Leak and Future Gravitas, 67.43%

HorseLight Medium Gold
1. Amy Woodhead and Mount St John Jazz Dance, 71.66%
2. Jennifer Martell and MSJ Formula One, 69.14%
3. Melissa Chapman and TCE Shine a Light, 67.162%

Equitex Advanced Medium Silver
1. Georgia Atkin and Gilles-S, 66.62%
2. Rachel Bowles and First Belle, 65.96%
3. Gracie Morgan and Black Sabbath, 65.21%

Equitex Advanced Medium Gold
1. Amy Woodhead and Mount St John Jazz Dance, 73.07%
2. Melissa Chapman and TCE Jubilant Al Sno, 70.70%
3. Sophie Wells and Classic Jillz Geuzenhof, 70.04%

Magic Prix St Georges Gold
1. Victoria Maw and Benito Dorato, 70.98%
2. Melissa Chapman and TCE Jubilant Al Sno, 67.41%
3. Jane Critchley and Tantoni Dallaglio, 66.66%

Superflex Intermediate I Gold
1. Roxanne Shipley and Headmore Dream On, 70.93%
2. Becky Moody and Jagerbomb, 70.88%
3. Sophie Barker and Royal Standard, 66.91%

Baileys Novice Freestyle Silver
1. Jessica Griffiths and RS Fürst Love, 73.88%
2. Alex McNamara and Termon Captain, 69.07%
3. Mark Ineson and Jack Morka, 68.98%

Baileys Novice Freestyle Gold
1. Anne-Marie Cowan and Lumière L, 76.29%
2. Melissa Chapman and Majesteit TCE, 74.90%
3. Sarah Payne and Woodlander Wild Romance, 73.70%

PDS Saddles Elementary Freestyle Silver
1. Samantha Smith and Sylvester, 72.17%
2. Charlotte Clark and Mr Snowman, 71.09%
3. Heather Hopkinson and Brackenspa Houdini, 68.97%

PDS Saddles Elementary Freestyle Gold
1. Anne-Marie Cowan and Lumière L, 74.93%
2. Sarah Payne and Woodlander Wild Romance, 69.93%
3. Paul Hayler and Caruso de Vargas, 69.55%

Spillers Medium Freestyle Silver
1. Sophie Young and Atos, 71.33%
2. Jessica Parr and Foxcroft Juvat, 70.22%
3. Jessica Parr and Gabber D, 70.22%

Spillers Medium Freestyle Gold
1. Melissa Chapman and TCE Shine a Light, 69.50%
2. Lara Edwards and Florenc PFB, 68.88%

Nupafeed Advanced Medium Freestyle Silver
1. Lily Payne and Woodlander Wavavoom, 69.94%
2. Pamela Lupton and Gladiator DHI, 67.16%
3. Georgia Atkin and Gilles-S, 65.94%

Nupafeed Advanced Medium Freestyle Gold
1. Victoria Maw and Benito Dorato, 69.38%
2. Sally Walker and Wilton Wood Blaze, 68.22%
3. Emma Bond and Diamond Harlequin, 65.72%

FULL RESULTS

Photo © Kevin Sparrow