last updated on August 20, 2010 10:27

Ben Martin, winner of the novice open at Oldencraig added the medium restricted to his haul at Addington EC with Amarlis Racord, owned by Annabel Jenks. The win came despite what started as the day from hell for Ben as he explained, “my original plan was to leave at 7.30am for my test at 11.50am. I was just about to go when we realised my dog which is due to whelp was missing.” A frantic search ensued and the dog was finally found two hours later. “I nearly didn’t bother going,” added Ben, “it usually takes a good two hours to get to Addington but we left at 9.45am broke the record and got there in 1hr 45min, which by the time I got on meant I had two horses before me. Luckily I am good under pressure, he was a complete superstar and just to round the day off well when I got back home the dog had a puppy!”

Jessica Smith won the preliminary with her own five year old Baldovino. The Breitling gelding was bought twelve months ago, Jess concentrated on preliminary and novice with the horse rather than the Young Horse classes, “he was a complete star,” said Jess, “I couldn’t believe how grown up he was with everything considering his age.”

The advanced medium restricted saw Sally Barnes ride the British bred Dimaggio mare Keystone Diaz to victory. The eight year old mare has only had four outings at the level so the win was even more special, “she’s won them all,” said Sally a freelance instructor, “she has always enjoyed doing changes she is in her element now that she is meant to do them.”

Three judges could not separate the top two in the elementary restricted. Frances Miles (Volente) and Verity Boys (GDH Flashdance) tied on 68.7%, as even the collectives could not separate the pair.

Here is the full list of winners:  

Centaur Biomechanics Preliminary
Jessica Smith and Baldovino, 69.24%

Dodson & Horrell Novice Restricted
Rebecca Bell and Valido’s Sunshine, 69.17%

Dodson & Horrell Novice Open
Arabella Whelan and Belladonna Hit, 70.24%

Stretch & Flex Elementary Restricted
Verity Boys and GDH Flashdance, 68.96%

Frances Miles and Volente, 68.96%

Stretch & Flex Elementary Open
Gareth Hughes and Cruise, 69.79%

Haygain Medium Restricted
Ben Martin and Amarlis Racord, 69.55%

Haygain Medium Open
Carl Hester and Supernova II, 72.61%

Martin Collins Advanced Medium Restricted
Sally Barnes and Keystone Diaz, 67.19%

Martin Collins Advanced Medium Open
Samantha Thurman-Baker and Spring Pascal, 70.70%

Jeffries Saddlery Prix St Georges
Paul Hayler and Fabioso, 69.04%

Bates Saddles Intermediate I
Michael Eilberg and Woodlander Dornroschen, 68.95%

A full list of results can be viewed here.