Young competitors make an impression at Myerscough

The first Premier League Show of 2019 has reached its conclusion after five days of competition at Myerscough College in Lancashire (6 – 10 March 2019). Several younger riders were on winning form and Charlotte Dujardin was the convincing winner of the Grand Prix aboard a catch ride.

Lucy Pincus (22) enjoyed a highly successful show with Sheepcote Fiesta (pictured), her father David’s 13-year-old Fürst Heinrich-sired mare. On Saturday they scored 67.32% to win the Cavalor Intermediate II, a class which turned out to be quite a Pincus family domination. Thanks to the efforts of Lucy and her mother Serena, the family and their home-bred horses took four of the top five places with Lucy also fourth on Sheepcote Doncalisto (by Don Schufro), and Serena third and fifth respectively with Sheepcote Fantasia and Sheepcote Corelator. The only rider to squeeze between them was Becky Moody who claimed the runner-up position, close behind the winner, with Jo Cooper’s talented 10-year-old Eureko (by Uphill).

Lucy, from Herefordshire, has partnered Sheepcote Fiesta through the ranks from a novice in 2012 to the budding Grand Prix horse that she is now. They made their international debut at Hickstead last July where they were well placed in the CDIu25 ranks, as was Lucy with her other top ride, Sheepcote Doncalisto.

“I am so over the moon with how our first big show and the first Premier League of 2019 went!” said Lucy on Lucy Pincus Dressage following Saturday’s win. “Sheepcote Fiesta and I won the Inter II! And Sheepcote Doncalisto came fourth. Well done to my mum, third with Sheepcote Fantasia and fifth with Sheepcote Corelator. Four Sheepcote Equestrian horses in the top five!”

Adding to the haul, Lucy and Sheepcote Fiesta went on to also take Sunday’s U25 Grand Prix with a score just shy of 70% - a clear five percent lead and the unanimous winners for judges Helen Bradley at M, Jennie Loriston-Clarke at E and Switzerland’s Hans Voser at C.

Another young rider from Herefordshire, Olivia Towers, rose to the fore winning both Saturday’s Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges and the Prix St Georges Freestyle, both with scores of 69%-plus. Her winning partner Mercian Calisso (by Timeless) – a 12-year-old KWPN gelding owned by Elizabeth Towers and known as ‘Wilfred’ – has been produced by Olivia for the past seven years.

Olivia took to Facebook to say; “I don't think it is much of a secret how this day went! Wilfred was up first in the PSG and after a shaky warm-up (due to me more than Wilf!) we went in and had a fault-free test with some lovely canter pirouettes! He scored an impressive 69.5% and ...... ended up winning!

"Myerscough has always been one of my favourite shows for how much effort they put in and also how much effort they make in the prize giving. So I am glad this was where Wilfred and I shared our first lap of honour.”

Thursday’s Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges belonged to Nicola Mahoney with Charlotte Dunkerton’s 14-year-old Dimaggio son, Diablo VIII. This combination, who won at Addington High Profile in January, achieved the second highest score of the show with a PB of 74.34%.

On Sunday, Charlotte Dujardin was pure class winning the competitive LeMieux Grand Prix with the 12-year-old Trakehner gelding Erlentanz (by Latimer) by scoring 77.57%. Erlentanz is familiar to many as the ride of World Class Podium Potential rider Sonnar Murray-Brown but Charlotte has temporarily been handed the reins by owner-rider Sonnar as he recovers from a broken leg.

Second place belonged to Becky Moody and 12-year-old Carinsio (Painted Black x Beaujolais) who has made a recent return to competition following time out with a minor injury. The gelding who Becky co-owns with Julie Lockey achieved a very pleasing score of 71.20% for second with Matt Frost and Tribiani making up the top three.

British Dressage thanks all the class sponsors as well as the team at Myerscough for putting on a fantastic event. Congratulations to all the winners listed below, and to all those who took part.

Wednesday 6 March
Class 1: Medium 75
Laura Rowe with Showstar, 70.07%

Class 2: Equine Construction Advanced Medium
Rebecca Hughes with Tantoni Dallaglio, 71.49%

Class 3: Advanced 102
Sarah Higgins with Elixer, 67.72%

Class 4: Equine Construction Advanced Medium 92
Fiona Brennan with De Angelis II, 70.95%

Thursday 7 March
Class 5: Equine Construction Advanced Medium 96
Fiona Brennan with De Angelis II, 70.18%

Class 6: Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges
Nicola Mahoney with Diablo VIII, 74.34%

Class 7: Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I
Becky Moody with Full Fusion BS, 71.14%

Class 8: Shearwater Young Dressage Horse – six year olds
Rebecca Jackson with Heli

Friday 8 March
Class 9: Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges
Olivia Towers with Mercian Calisso, 69.04%

Class 10: Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I
Abigail Hutton with Farrell, 71.49%

Class 11: Shearwater Young Dressage Horse – four year olds
Jessica Dunn with MSJ Furstin Florida

Saturday 9 March
Class 12: Shearwater Young Dressage Horse – five year olds
Matt Frost with G Star

Class 13: Cavalor Intermediate II
Lucy Pincus with Sheepcote Fiesta, 67.32%

Class 14: Pony Individual Test
Lavinia Johnson with Dublin, 68.74%

Class 15: Prix St Georges Freestyle
Olivia Towers with Mercian Calisso, 69.54%

Class 16: Intermediate I Freestyle
Jessica Dunn with LG Alicante Valley, 69.46%

Class 17: Grand Prix Freestyle
Matt Frost with Tribiani, 72.42%

Sunday 10 March
Class 18: Under-25 Grand Prix
Lucy Pincus with Sheepcote Fiesta, 69.77%

Class 19: Pony Team Test
Steffi Tomlinson with Vivassa, 68.85%

Class 20: LeMieux Grand Prix
Charlotte Dujardin with Erlentanz, 77.57%