Blue Chip Novice Restricted Winter Dressage Champion
Lorraine Allan & Nouveau 69.88%

Riding Nouveau, her own 15-year-old Dutch-bred gelding by Holland, Lorraine Allan scored 69.88% to lead the field of 21 national finalists in the Blue Chip Novice Restricted Winter Championship.

“I was so pleased with him today,” said a delighted Allan “I travelled from Jersey with three horses a couple of weeks ago. I was jumping at Weston Lawns in Warwickshire last week, rode another horse here in the combined training on Wednesday and to win today before going home is wonderful!”

“He’s a grade A show jumper although he hasn’t jumped for a couple of years. He’s had to have time off and only came back into work about six months ago. Since then he has done dressage only,” explained Allan. “Since giving up the show jumping, he’s become a lot sharper which has helped.”

Allan, who trains with Roland Tong and fits her riding around her work as an accountant, said “Nouveau is a great horse to train - he loves to learn anything new. We’re working towards elementary and medium next.”
 

Equissage Elementary Restricted Music Freestyle Champion
Michelle Harris & My Rubicon 69.17%

Riding My Rubicon, her own ten-year-old Hanoverian gelding, Gainsborough dressage rider Michelle Harris won the Equissage Elementary Restricted Music Freestyle with a score of 69.17%. First to go, she impressed the judges with her freestyle programme, choreographed to music from the Guinness TV ads. She held the lead all the way to the competition’s nail-biting conclusion.

“I’m so happy – I can’t believe I’ve won!” said an ecstatic Harris “Being first to go I didn’t put my self under any pressure. We had few minor mistakes in the test and still got a good mark which is really encouraging.”

Harris, who runs a livery yard and used to compete in working hunter classes said: “I was looking for my first dressage horse and found him at the Verden sales in Germany. He’s a wonderful horse – as well as competing, we hack out and do sponsored rides – he’s amazing!

“Today he was lying down asleep in his stable so I had to wake him to get ready for our test. It took a lot of encouragement and a pack of Polos to get him to his feet!

“My aim now is to master our flying changes before moving up to advanced medium…and keep on enjoying my horse.”
 

South Essex Insurance Brokers Elementary Open Champion
Ruth Edge, joint first with Charlesfield Dante & Zero on 69.17%

Riding two of her specialist dressage horses, Sharone Whitfield’s Charlesfield Dante and her own Dutch-bred gelding Zero, leading event rider Ruth Edge was awarded two identical scores to take equal first place in the SEIB Elementary Open Championship.

“I think the horses had been talking to each other,” joked Edge “I can’t believe how we did it!”

“Both horses are fairly different in character,” explained Edge. “Dante is very much a showman. This is only his fourth show and he’s loving it whereas Zero is more nervous and a bit shy - he made a couple of mistakes through tension but made up for it elsewhere.”

“I didn’t know which would do better – they’re only six-year-olds and I’m thrilled with both of them. They both rose to the occasion.”

Edge will be competing at Weston Park Horse Trials on Sunday before returning to Hartpury in the afternoon to contest the medium open with Zero. “They’ve given me an early draw at Weston Park so I can get back,” explained Edge. “As the advanced horse I’m taking is already qualified for Badminton and not needed to run cross country, I’ll be able to get back in time.”
 

Petplan Equine Medium Restricted Champion
Colin Hicks & Ballantina 70.76%

Colin Hicks and Ballintina, a ten year old British-bred mare by Half Moon Bertoni scored 70.76% to head a field of 26 in the Petplan Equine Medium Restricted Championship.

“She was fantastic today and tried so hard for me,” said Hicks.

“I bought her as four-year-old and it’s a bit of a running joke that she’s my free-ads bargain,” quipped Hicks “she’s had a couple of years out to have a foal. Her foal, by Johnson (Jazz/Flemmingh) is beautiful, a double of her mother. We’ll certainly be keeping her.”

Hicks who has a doctorate of psychology, is based at Bowlake Equestrian just outside Winchester with his partner David Stone.

“I have ridden since a small kid but this horse started my interest in dressage, that’s how it all started. She is amazing to train - one of the nicest horses going. She almost tries to give too much power in her work. We’re aiming to move up to advanced medium then prix st georges by the end of the year.”
 

Petplan Equine Novice Open Champion
Janine Jansen and Velocity IV 72.59%

Janine Jansen and Velocity IV completed their double at this year’s winter championships, adding the Petplan Equine Novice Open Area Festival Championship to the Petplan Equine Elementary Open Area Festival Championship they won on Thursday.

The pair from Newton-Abbot in Devon beat a field of 30 competitors to lift the title with a score of 72.59%.

“I am completely elated,” enthused Jansen “we have hopes and dreams but it’s great to realise them! The competition today was really hot so I’m thrilled to have won again. I made a mistake in round one of the competition which put me in second position. I think it actually did me good – it gave me a kick up the backside and I made sure I went for it in the second test!”

“I have great support from my work colleagues,” said Jansen “though they think I’m quite mad doing all this riding!”
 

Emily Harris, 19 from Sway in Hampshire won the Magic Prix St Georges Freestyle Championship 9 April 2010 in a front of a sell-out evening crowd. Riding Judith Sharrock’s Washington 103, a 15-year-old German-bred gelding by Walt Disney, the pair scored 71.17% riding to a compilation of Ventures tracks that included Tequila and Fever.

“I’m thrilled to have won tonight,” said Harris, “he’s just improving all the time”

Harris, who has just returned from the Spanish Sunshine Tour where she enjoyed great success winning seven international young rider classes said: “Washington was already established in his work but doing well at the three CDIs in Spain has confirmed what an amazing horse he is.”

Currently riding full time whilst on her gap year before studying French at Warwick University, Harris will next compete at The College Premier League and also Young Rider CDIs in the summer.

Harris, who trains with Ferdi Eilberg, her father Andrew and Jan Dupont said: “Both my parents were event riders so I’ve always been around horses. Dressage is my passion and my ambition is to be the very best I can be.”