Young talent takes centre stage at Sheepgate BD Under 25s Championships

Six days of exciting competition at Sheepgate Equestrian in Lincolnshire (19 - 24 August 2024) delivered many personal bests and individual and team triumphs as British Youth riders enjoyed the camaraderie and fun. Over 670 tests were ridden, from Prelim to Grand Prix 16-25, giving our potential stars of the future their chance to shine.

Double winner Daisy Hills has owned Midtgaards Gijon - pictured above - for less than a year but has established a strong partnership with the Gribaldi x Michellino 14-year-old. The pair won the Advanced Medium and Young Rider Championships.

Daisy mainly used to event until 18 months ago but has decided dressage is the direction she wants to go with ‘Gi’. “I’d only ridden at Elementary so I’ve been learning from him. He’s been a dream,” said Daisy who is a student at Harper Adams University. “He just lights up when he goes in the ring and loves showing off. It feels like we’ve created a great partnership.

“I’ve been working on his weaker movements, like his canter pirouettes, and he got good marks for those.” Daisy was based with international Grand Prix rider Louise Bell over the summer and trains with Leanne Wall when at her home base in Kent. The pair has been invited to ride in the Young Rider class at the National Championships.

Top score

Martha Jones posted a fabulous score of 76.60% to secure the Children On Horses Championship title, with 16-year-old Campsterhoven’s Martijn (Heitrak’s Marvin x Leuns Veld’s Lord) - pictured below - at their first big competition together. She was also part of the winning Novice Team, Wales Parkes.

“He blew us all away as he hasn’t been out for four years until I started competing him in June,” explained Martha, 14, who trains with Laura Parkes and keeps Martin at Haerr Equestrian. “He was originally from Holland and was on Dutch pony teams. He just blew us all away in his test – I knew it was a nice test but didn’t expect to get that score. He did his best warm-up ever and tried his hardest in the test.”

Evelina Shrieve and her Inter I Champion, Insist TC, will be heading to the Nationals at PSG silver level later in the month. In three years, she has brought the Apache 11-year-old from Elementary to small tour with the help of Samantha Thurman-Pickett. She works for the Thurman-Bakers at their Turville Valley Stud.

“He was a bit of a blank slate when I got him,” she recalled. “We’ve been climbing the levels together. This was his first ever Inter I and I entered on a bit of a whim. I thought it was a lot to ask of him but he delivered. He was perfect from start to finish.”

Marie-Ayesha Barilits-Gupta’s 19-year-old Rob Roy II (by Rubins Cortes) loves to be in the ring and together the pair won the Junior Championship and were reserve champions in the Young Rider Championship. “He was really happy in the Sheepgate environment and came into his tests with a positive attitude,” said Marie-Ayesha who trains with Suzanne and Natasha Kalderen at their yard near Oxford.

“We try and keep his work varied as he knows all the movements so we keep him as happy and relaxed as we can. He’ll have a bit of a rest now after a busy summer before we go to Arena UK High Profile in December.”

The Medium Championship was won by Olivia Rimmer and Wadacre Stud’s Wadacre Fantasia (Furstenball x Rohdiamant) - pictured below. The mare is a performance-tested State Premium mare and was among the top 2% of mares in Germany.

Dream Horse

Olivia has been riding her for five months and describes her as a ‘dream horse’. “She’s amazing” enthused Olivia who rides for the Stud. “She’s cuddly in the stable and gorgeous to ride. I’ve never ridden a test like her first one – our score of 72% was a personal best. Then winning the Championship was surreal. I made a mistake so had to bring myself back together and try and win in other ways. I rode for my life!”

Jill Williams gave the ride on Elementary Champion Koning Albert (Freeman VDL x Sir Corland) to Ellie Roberts when she helped out schooling the nine-year-old show jumping stallion. “Ellie rides him twice a week and once a month has a lesson with Jezz Palmer,” commented Jill. “She’s starting doing Medium movements with him and he loves the sideways stuff. He’s not flamboyant but very correct and very reliable. They’ll do some Medium freestyles this winter.”

Olivia Vials and Dylano (Tuschinski x Egmont) - pictured below - travelled six hours from North Wales to get to Sheepgate and won the Novice Championship and was part of the winning Novice Team Championship squad, Wales Team Parkes. She has owned ‘Lenny’, her 16-year-old Dutch warmblood for two years and they started their BD career together last year.

“I’ve been learning and we’ve worked hard,” said Olivia, who trains with Rui Campeo and Laura Parkes. “I used to showjump but I’ve got the dressage bug now. We’ve qualified for the Petplan Area Festival Championships at Arena UK.

“A friend told me about these Championships – I’d never heard of them! Lenny loved the atmosphere at the show and I’ve met some amazing people. All the team members got on so well.” Olivia, who works on the family dairy farm, has also done a lot of showing with Lenny, as well as keeping him happy with showjumping and cross country.

Ella Clarke posted scores above 70% with her seven-year-old Keyland San Diego (San Amour x Sandro Hit) on their way to securing the Preliminary Championship. The partnership has been together for 12 months and it hasn’t always been an easy journey.

“He’s not been an easy horse to train as he can be extremely lazy!” explained Ella who runs the livery barn at Somerford Park. “I took him for the experience and the result wasn’t what I expected. Even though it was very windy, he took it all in and coped well and did his best dressage.” Ella plans to step up to Elementary later in the year.

Last year, Pony Champion Ella Fraser had a difficult time, forgetting her test, but this year she put that behind her to score an impressive 69.33% with Browershaven’s Viceroy to clinch the title. Selected for pony teams, Ella is hoping she and ‘Leo’ will soon be starting their international career.

“Leo is very chilled at competitions,” said Ella. “Sometimes he can be a bit unpredictable but he always gets it right in the end. We did our best work and both of us were very happy to be at Sheepgate.”

Team triumphs

The team competitions were hard fought as always. Victory in the Elementary went to North & East’s Eiffel Tower, with the team made up of Emily Avery riding KGB Sandro, Hannah Macmillan riding Brookborough Lad, Freya Percival riding Happy Vemma and Harriet Drewery riding Oosting Amigo.

Freya Percival was awarded the prize for highest placed under 17 and had five podium places in total. “We’ve worked hard in training to grow our confidence and harmony,” recalled Freya who trains with Vikki Hayton. Happy Vemma is a Johnson mare who came to Freya two years ago.

“She really tried for me every day. She can be hot to handle sometimes but she got on with her job and did her best for me. She has a great work ethic.”

In the Novice Team Championship, Welsh team Parkes snatched the victory by the tiniest of margins from South & East Maltesers. The team was made up of Millie McLardie riding Loughmelvin Alys May, Olivia Vials riding Dylano, Martha Jones riding Campsterhoven’s Martijn and Phoebe Simcox riding Reitlands Diamond Hit. The highest place individual was Meghan Waring riding Fenjay Olympus.

Prelim honours were taken by North and East’s Trocadero team, made up of Lucy Hainsworth riding Gurteen Freddie, Millie Oxtoby riding Gobell Billy, Phoebe Walker riding Macarena-CEN and Elizabeth Britton riding Delphdale Alice.

The highest placed individual at this level was Joshua Bailey with his six-year-old mare, Noraalfee (Il Divo x Oscar) who he has been competing since January this year.

“She was bought in 2022 and hadn’t done anything. I’ve been bringing her on slowly,” said Joshua who is an agricultural apprentice at Brooksby College and is a fourth-generation farmer. “She’s a kind and loving mare with three lovely paces. She rode every step in the test with confidence – she knew every footfall was important. She understands me and I understand her.”

Joshua is now including cross-country and show jumping into her training and, with the help of their trainers Keri and Rebecca Bates, look set for a bright competitive future.

Thanks to the staunch efforts of the team at Sheepgate Equestrian, this was another excellent Championship - it’s a mammoth task to run such a large show. Congratulations to all those who took part.

Results

Individual Championships

Preliminary Championship
1. Ella Clarke and Keyland San Diego, 71.81%
2. Charlotte Dorey and Deards Silver Bounce, 69.24%
3. Ruby Jefferson Pillai and Mis Fantastic, 69.24%

For Certain Cup (Highest placed D Squad Rider (to the end of the calendar year of 11th Birthday)
Emily Sandiford riding Waragon

Novice Championship
1. Olivia Vials and Dylano, 70.00%
2. Shona Leckie and Dream of Success MFS, 69.93%
3. Jess Bowes and Natalie-K Van De Bremheuvel, 69.24%

Rainbow Plate (Highest placed 17 and under) – Freya Percival riding Happy Vemma
Gunnerby Galivanter Trophy (Highest placed pony) – Gracie Stanbrook riding Patience Sweeney
Dawson Plate (Most deserving unplaced rider) – Sophia Sutton riding Zothen’s Dance Lad

Elementary Championship
1. Ellie Roberts and Koning Albert, 69.51%
2. Emily Kemp and Boleybawn Arctic, 69.36%
3. Hannah Macmillan and Brookborough Lad, 69.07%

Medium Championship
1. Olivia Rimmer and Wadacre Fantasia, 68.78%
2. Lily Crisp and LE Chiffre, 68.15%
3. Charlotte Calvert and Quando, 67.75%

Medium Cup – Olivia Rimmer riding Wadacre Fantasia

Advanced Medium
1. Daisy Hills and Midtgaards Gijon, 67.68%
2. Tabitha Leicester and Eires Rock, 67.50%
3. Rose Doley and Suarez, 67.41%

Intermediate I Championship
1. Evelina Shrieve and Insist TC, 67.94%
2. Emily Clarke Attwood and Inspector Gadget, 67.89%
3. Megan Field and Bright Time, 63.33%

Grand Prix 16-25 Championship
1. Morgan Haerr and Floran, 58.63%

Young Rider Championship
1. Daisy Hills and Midtgaards Gijon, 67.55%
2. Marie-Ayesha Barilits-Gupta and Rob Roy II 66.62%
3. Megan Field and Bright Time FST, 66.03%

Junior Championship
1. Marie-Ayesha Barilits-Gupta and Rob Roy II, 67.22%
2. Madison Eagle and Royalty II, 66.52%
3. Marie-Ayesha Barilits-Gupta and Waverley Furst Dance, 66.16%

Pony Championship
1. Ella Fraser and Brouwershaven’s Viceroy, 69.33%
2. Lexi Howe and Rosewater Rockstar, 64.76%
3. Jasmine Bone and Rackwood Danny Boy, 63.86%

Children on Horses Championship
1. Martha Jones and Campsterhoven’s Martijn, 76.60%
2. Phoebe Simcox and Reitlands Diamond Hit, 71.90%
3. Sophia Sutton and Magic Heidihof’s Aleandro, 69.80%

Elementary Team Championship
1. North and East Eiffel Tower (424.94)
Emily Avery and KGB Sandro
Hannah Macmillan and Brookborough Lad
Freya Percival and Happy Vemma
Harriet Drewery and Oosting Amigo

2. North and East Pont Alexandre III (406.77)
Natasha Bonnick and SirNunn Ginger Snap
Sophia Sutton and Zothen’s Dance Lady
Sophie Isaacs and Donaigo Ace

3.North and West Dalera (401.41)
Jazz McClarly Mapp and Murisca
Sienna Pownall and Riggshield Bella Jean
Alina Kozersky and Tandridge Diplomat
Ava Porter and Sutherland (S&W)

Individual Placings
1. Freya Percival and Happy Vemma, 143.69
2. Hannah MacMillan and Brookeborough Lad, 141.19
3. Sophie Isaacs and Donaigo Ace, 139.02

Novice Team Championship
1. Wales Team Parkes (414.65)
Millie McLardie and Loughmelvin Alys May
Olivia Vials and Dylano
Martha Jones and Campsterhoven’s Martijn
Phoebe Simcox and Reitlands Diamond Hit

2. South and East Maltesers (414.33)
Siobhan Quinn and St Andrews Relentless
Charlotte Dorey and Deards Silver Beards
Georgia Boult and Leading Darco

3. North and East Roland Garros (409.35)
Meghan Waring and Fenjay Olympus
Rosie Shaw and K Mlyn’s Kashira
Sadie Campin and Dior Delight
Ellen Jewson and Cobra Girl

Individual Placings 
1. Meghan Waring and Fenjay Olympus, 140.77
2. Georgia Boult and Leading Darco, 140.20
3. Olivia Vials and Dylano, 139.71

Preliminary Team Championship
1. North and East Trocadero (426.46)
Lucy Hainsworth and Gurteen Freddie
Millie Oxtoby and Gobell Billy
Phoebe Walker and Macarena-CEN
Elizabeth Britton and Delphdale Alice

2. North and East South Paris (418.22)
Sadie Campin and Dior Delight
Tia Howe and Hufus
Joshua Bailey and Noraalfee
Lola Brown and Hexagon’s Johnny K

3. Scotland Bravehearts and Dragons (411.22)
Emily Streeter and Tooreen Bell
Elise Cunningham and New Champ
Ailey McFadzean and Lyrical Dance
Caitlin Powell and OSO Never Enough (Wales)

Individual
1. Joshua Bailey and Noraalfee, 147.63
2. Siobhan Quinn and St Andrews Relentless, 143.46
3. Elizabeth Britton and Delphdale Alice, 143.04

FULL RESULTS

Photos © Jasmine Punter Photography