Winter Regional Championships: Netherton Equestrian

Jade Whitelaw, Karen Dewar, Eilidh Grant and Chrissie Havis were on top form at Netherton Equestrian's Winter Regional Championships in Perthshire (24 - 25 February 2024), each coming away with multiple wins.

Jade Whitelaw clocked up an impressive five regional titles. Winner of the HorseHage Prelimary Gold and Baileys Novice Freestyle Gold with her six-year-old Dutch mare, Nancy I (Incognito x Florencio), pictured above, the 28-year-old from Aberdeen also won the Equitex Advanced Medium Silver, the Nupafeed Advanced Medium Freestyle Silver and the SPILLERS Medium Freestyle Gold aboard KWPN gelding Late Night (Gunner KS x Rousseau).

“Nancy is rising six and these are her first wins at regionals – she was the bridesmaid last year,” commented a delighted Jade. “She was especially good in the Prelim although she was little tired on Sunday for the Novice. She just has a really good attitude and I’m excited for the future with her.”

Nancy was bought as a three-year-old from the Netherlands, as Jade explains; “She was my mum’s Covid purchase. She was bought unseen off a 30-second auction video, so I didn’t know what was going to come off the lorry! I needn’t have worried though because she’s proven to be very straightforward and she was easy to back. I’ve forgiven my mum now!”

Jade’s triple winning partner, Late Night, is a Dutch-bred eight-year-old chestnut, known at home as ‘Roodi’. “He is such a lovely horse who has done so much for me,” said Jade, who trains with Charlie Hutton and BD Training Director Harry Payne. “He’s very different to Nancy, as he can be a monkey, but he’s still very sweet. He’s a cool horse and I hope that in the near future he’ll be ready for PSG.”

Aberdeenshire rider Eilidh Grant (30) achieved a fantastic treble victory with her eight-year-old KWPN mare, Lebora (Expression x Oscar). The chestnut mare, known at home as Lacey, was piloted by Eilidh to win the Equi-Trek Elementary Gold on 70.42%, the PDS Saddles Elementary Freestyle Gold on 74.42% and the HorseHage Medium Gold on 68.15%.

Falkirk-based freelance coach and List 3 Judge, Karen Dewar was another rider to make an impression on the winners’ roll of honour. Following a treble win with her mare Kianca, pictured above, Karen took to social media to say; “Kianca the horse of my dreams – the real ‘Dream Girl’!”

Repeating a hugely successful Netherton Winter Regional Championships in 2023, when they enjoyed a clean sweep of the Novice Silver and Elementary Silver titles, the duo continued their winning form this year by taking the Equi-Trek Elementary Silver and the PDS Saddles Elementary Freestyle Silver on scores of 72.29% and 71.28% respectively.

“[I] Honestly can’t put into words how lucky I feel to have this horse. She has given me the most amazing few days competing!” commented Karen, who has owned the Dutch-bred Dreamboy mare since she was four and has trained her up the levels with the help of Ian Woodhead.

List 1 Judge, Chrissie Havis travelled home to Morpeth in Northumberland with two wins to her name after topping the leaderboard in the Silver sections of the Magic Prix St Georges and Superflex Intermediate I aboard her handsome skewbald gelding, Beckhouse Piano Blue. The British-bred 11-year-old, who is aptly known at home as Allegro, posted 67.50% in the Inter I and 65.44% in the PSG.

Congratulations to all our qualified riders, regional champions and owners. British Dressage thanks organiser Joanna Wilkie and the entire team at Netherton Equestrian for hosting a successful Winter Regional Championships, as well as all the Winter Championships sponsors for their generous support.

Results – top three
Saturday 24 February
Class 1: HorseHage Preliminary Silver
1. Louise Doherty and Playing it Cooley, 69.48%
2. Jen Cassidy and Hillside Jim, 67.81%
3. Larisa Cathro and Menai Crial, 67.76%

Class 2: HorseHage Preliminary Gold
1. Jade Whitelaw and Nancy I, 73.10%
2. Katie Turnbull and Ashton Melrose, 66.84%
3. Sarah Oakden and Moss-side Vallievore Lad, 66.32%

Class 3: Equi-Trek Elementary Silver
1. Karen Dewar and Kianca, 72.29%
2. Elaine Taylor and Cullenbay Rhodolite, 71.30%
3. Kirsty Stark and Harbour Lights III, 69.22%

Class 4: Equi-Trek Elementary Gold
1. Eilidh Grant and Lebora, 70.42%
2. Georgina Chalmers-Gray and Jekaterina, 69.69%
3. Chrissie Havis and Dudette, 66.20%

Class 5: PDS Saddles Elementary Freestyle Silver
1. Karen Dewar and Kianca, 71.28%
2. Sue Grice and Cwmenfys Matilda, 69.23%
3. Sarah Mclean and Hadewich, 66.03%

Class 6: PDS Saddles Elementary Freestyle Gold
1. Eilidh Grant and Lebora, 74.42%
2. Chrissie Havis and Dudette, 69.04%

Class 7: Equitex Advanced Medium Silver
1. Jade Whitelaw and Late Night, 67.11%

Class 9: Nupafeed Advanced Medium Freestyle Silver
1. Jade Whitelaw and Late Night, 66.39%

Class 11: Superflex Intermediate I Silver
1. Chrissie Havis and Beckhouse Piano Blue, 67.50%
2. Victoria Gladwyn and Sonnersted, 63.43%

Sunday 25 February
Class 13: Magic Prix St Georges Silver
1. Chrissie Havis and Beckhouse Piano Blue, 65.44%
2. Georgina Roden and LHH Harley, 62.30%
3. Linda Barnes and First Miss Sunrise AS, 62.21%

Class 14: Magic Prix St Georges Gold
1. Victoria Gladwyn and Sonnersted, 58.58%

Class 15: HorseLight Medium Gold
1. Eilidh Grant and Lebora, 68.15%
2. Jade Whitelaw and Late Night, 67.93%

Class 16: HorseLight Medium Silver
1. Aimee Aspinall and Lavanya MC, 72.21%
2. Karen Dewar and Kianca, 69.87%
3. Rose Foley and Cordici K, 68.29%

Class 17: Spillers Medium Freestyle Gold
1. Jade Whitelaw and Late Night, 71.05%
2. Eilidh Grant and Lebora, 70.67%
3. Chrissie Havis and Dudette, 67.56%

Class 18: Spillers Medium Freestyle Silver
1. Rose Foley and Cordici K, 72.55%
2. Lea Gray and Hopefull B, 70.33%
3. Karen Dewar and Kianca, 70.05%

Class 19: Baileys Novice Freestyle Silver
1. Imogen Casely and Parvadean Estelle, 72.96%
2. Jessie Clarke and Bunteeichen Nivaro, 72.31%
3. Ailsa Lorimer and Faside Vivre L’amour, 70.28%

Class 20: Baileys Novice Freestyle Gold
1. Jade Whitelaw and Nancy I, 73.61%
2. Lesley Wheatley and Detroit GH, 70.74%

Class 21: Prestige Novice Silver
1. Jessie Clarke with Bunteeichen Nivaro, 71.05%
2. Sue Grice and Cwmenfys Matilda, 67.47%
3. Imogen Casely and Parvadean Estelle, 67.35%

Class 22: Prestige Novice Gold
1. Carla Milne and Lord Nelson M, 70.37%
2. Jade Whitelaw and Nancy I, 70.31%
3. James Oakden and Cooley Cormint, 66.91%

VIEW FULL RESULTS

Photos © HKF Photography