last updated on September 13, 2010 12:04

Day two of the Dressage Deluxe National Championships saw Staffordshire based Paralympic dressage rider Lee Pearson MBE OBE CBE add another title to his illustrious career. 

The 24-time gold para equestrian medallist rode his six year old Dutch bred horse Zion to an emphatic victory on a score of 72.46%.

Winning the KBIS British Equestrian Para Dressage Grade Ib Championship with a comfortable lead over his competitors, Pearson commented; ‘The horse competed in the prelim championship yesterday with my groom Paulina so he felt tired today. I had to carry him a bit but he’s a workaholic and isn’t phased by this atmosphere.’

Pearson has been selected to represent GB at the 2010 World Equestrian Games, taking place in Kentucky, USA, 25 September to 10 October with his Paralympic horse Gentleman but has also been named reserve with second ride Zion. 

KBIS British Equestrian Para Equestrian Dressage Championship Grade III Deb Criddle and Pavaroti, 69.11%

Taunton based rider Deb Criddle took the KBIS British Equestrian Para Equestrian Dressage Grade III Championship.

Riding her own Pavaroti, a German bred gelding by Quavaroti, the two times Paralympian clinched the top spot with a score of 69.11% from fellow Paralympian Simon Laurens. The two team mates have been locked in fierce battle all season and today Criddle won out to claim the title despite her doubts.

"Things haven’t always been easy for us," she said of the impressive 12 year old. "He’s easily distracted and not good with other horses but once he’s on his own he relaxes. I wasn't so sure we could beat Simon [Laurens] so I'm so thrilled to get the win here today."

Criddle who lost her right arm and the full use of her right leg in a motorcycle accident in 1985, rides with shortened reins and a protective knee pad and also competes successfully in able bodied British Dressage classes up to medium level.

KBIS British Equestrian Para Equestrian Dressage Championship Grade II Natasha Baker and Cabral, 71.11%

Uxbridge based rider Natasha Baker secured the top spot in the 2010 KBIS British Equestrian Para Dressage Grade Ib Championship.

Riding former international eventer Christian Landolt and the Baker family’s Polish bred gelding Cabral, Natasha scored a victorious 71.11%. Having only partnered the eight year old bay for a year Natasha was thrilled with her national championship win ‘I decided to really go for it, ride 110% and it paid off,’ she told British Dressage. ‘we’ve had a good season. He’s an absolute angel, he really respects me and he’s such a sweetheart!’

Baker is a member of the World Class Development squad that aims to identify and nurture potential talent and has been selected as a reserve rider for the 2010 World Equestrian Games, taking place in Kentucky, USA, 25 September to 10 October. 

KBIS British Equestrian Para Equestrian Dressage Championship Grade IA Michael Murphy and Brockholm Royal Vagabond, 65.17%

13 year old Michael Murphy who attends Mill Hill County High School, London was crowned the 2010 KBIS British Equestrian Para Equestrian Dressage Grade Ia Champion.

The young rider who was born with Dejerine Sottas, a peripheral nervous system disease, showed determination as he scored a victorious 65.17% aboard Brockholm Royal Vagabond in their first trip to the nationals. The Murphy family have owned the 18 year old gelding for three years, ‘we have a really good partnership. He’s excellent and generally well behaved, however he was a bit fresh this morning,’ Michael told British Dressage.

KBIS British Equestrian Para Equestrian Dressage Championship Grade IV Sophie Wells and Valerius, 69.35%

Nottinghamshire dressage rider Sophie Wells added to her recent international success with a fantastic national win in the KBIS British Equestrian Para Dressage Grade IV Championship.

Sophie, who is travelling to the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky USA later this month with Jacqueline Walker’s Pinocchio, rode her WEG reserve Valerius to victory with a score of 69.35%. The Newark based rider, who lost some of her fingers at birth to amniotic band syndrome, made history this year as the first para equestrian rider to compete in the able bodied Young Rider Europeans 2010 on the British team and was a triple gold medallist at the 2009 Para Europeans.

Valerius, a Dutch bred Gelding by Flemmingh was bought by Sophie as a four year old three years ago and is currently based with British Dressage Para Director Angela Weiss. ‘He’s hasn’t done or seen much yet so we brought him to the nationals for the experience. He felt good, however, one of the flags caught his eye and he lost his concentration and spun around,’ Sophie told British Dressage. ‘He wasn’t naughty, more genuinely scared. He offered more than usual at this competition. Since moving to Angela’s four months ago he’s really coming together and we’ve had three good wins.’

The pair are currently training at Intermediate I level at home, Sophie said of her liver chestnut 8 year old, ‘he’s showing a lot of promise and is a very exciting prospect.’

Dodson & Horrell Novice Open Championship Christian Landolt and Don Jovi, 74.71%

 Gloucestershire based rider Christian Landolt claimed the Dodson & Horrell Novice Open Championship title ahead of 30 contenders. Riding Grandmother Nicole Landolt’s Dutch bred gelding Don Jovi, Tetbury resident Landolt scored an outstanding 74.41% far surpassing other competitors in his class.

Famed as an international eventer and list 1 FEI judge, Swiss rider Landolt told British Dressage that he is slowly moving towards dressage. Destined for dressage success, his ride Don Jovi hails from spectacular bloodlines, sired by Don Ruto with Negro as his dam-sire. ‘He’s a hugely talented horse but he’s very lively, his temperament is difficult and challenging,’ Landolt said of the dark brown 6 year old. ‘However, as an eventer I like them sharp.’

Despite these claims Landolt played safe and appeared in the prize giving aboard Natasha Baker’s ride Cabral, a horse he part owns with the family, quipping “It’s always worth having a para horse in the stable for these occasions!”

Bates Saddles Intermediate I  Championship Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro, 73.37%

Gloucestershire dressage rider Charlotte Dujardin has stormed to a second victory at the nationals.

Riding Carl Hester and Roly Luard’s highly talented Valegro, an eight-year-old Dutch-bred gelding by Negro, she won the Bates Saddles Intermediate I Championship with a score of 73.37%.

Dujardin and her closet rival second placed Gareth Hughes both impressed and were rewarded with marks to put them well ahead of the field of 32. The top 15 will compete in the Intermediate I freestyle class on Saturday 11 September. Full start lists can be viewed at bdchampionships.com
 

Haygain Medium Restricted Championship Stuart Walker and Donatello, 67.51%

West Lothian dressage rider Stuart Walker rode Donatello, Denise Shawns’ eight-year-old German-bred gelding to victory in the Haygain Medium Restricted Championship with a score of 67.51%.

Walker who trains with Shawns and also Worcestershire-based dressage icon Ferdi Eiberg said: “I travelled down from Scotland to Ferdi’s three days before the championships so was feeling very positive after three days of help - and our warm up went well – Donatello was feeling really prepared today.”

“Very relaxed and laidback,” is how Walker describes the Danny Wilde sired horse, “although when ridden he then becomes powerful, excited and ready to work.”

Donatello, whose dam is by the renowned stallion Rubinstein, remains unbeaten at medium level so far this season. 
 

Dodson & Horrell Novice Restricted Championship Rachel Taylor and Tirclyn Sportsman, 68.21%

Rachel Taylor from Guildford in Surrey clinched top spot in the Dodson & Horrell Novice Restricted Championship. Riding equine lecturer Ella-Louise Mayhead’s eye catching Welsh Section D Tirclyn Sportsman, the Merrist Wood alumni and events employee scored 68.21% to take the title. “He can be quite difficult and gets wound up easily so I’m really pleased it’s all come together for us here today. I have to work hard to keep him consistent, he’s very supple and flexible but he can also become tense and worried rather easily too” Taylor said of the seven year old gelding.

Full results for the Dressage Deluxe National Championships can be viewed here.