Addington Manor PL: Young stars set the pace

A sunny weekend at the Buckinghamshire venue Addington Manor provided the setting for another thrilling Premier League event featuring 21 classes packed full to brimming (11 – 13 May).

With the Shearwater Semi-Finals on the horizon, the action in the Young Horse scene is beginning to heat up. Walking away from Addington with a clean sweep of five-year-old young horse victories was Norfolk-based rider Mark Mills (pictured) who took the Hickstead National, International and Shearwater qualifiers with David Patrick’s Washington D.C. The eye-catching stallion by Wynton was originally purchased by David from the Brightwells sales in 2015 as a two-year-old.

In Friday’s classes, the duo was the sole combination to break the magic 80% barrier after scoring 80.60% in the Hickstead National British Young Horse qualifier before going on to earn 81.40% in the International Young Horse qualifier. Sunday’s Shearwater qualifier saw the dark bay notch up another 80% to finish in front of Michael Eilberg with MSJ Dante VX and Heidi Fellows with Woodcroft Fireball who also earned superb scores. The young stallion is a resident of The Dressage Company, owned and ran by Mark and his wife Liz, where he stands alongside several other impressive stallions including Carl Hester’s former ride T Movistar. Speaking on The Dressage Company Facebook page Mark said, ‘We are all justifiably excited about this young stallion with a big future! It’s so lovely for owner David Patrick who purchased Washington from the Brightwells auction in 2015 and has been produced by us since then.’

The four-year-old Shearwater qualifier was won by Sarah Rogers with Dr Wilfried Bectolsheimer’s T-Hawk AXE. The dark bay jumped from an initial placing of third into the lead after a sublime performance in the ride off. Lucinda Elliot placed second with Judith Davis’ delightful mare Hawtins Lirica whilst Becky Moody took third spot with the licensed son of Desperado, James Bond.

Ashley Jenkins and His Highness showed consistency in the six-year-old classes to take a win in the National British Young Horse qualifier with 74.40% before going on to gain their semi-final ticket in the Shearwater qualifier with an immense 82.40%. The talented bay gelding (Wynton x Fabriano) is owned by Jamie Reynolds and Cherry Elvin.

In the advanced classes, Vicky Thompson-Winfield continued her ace season by adding a further three victories to her Premier League tally. Exquisite-D topped two Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges direct qualifying classes, whilst the stunning palomino Artist, owned by Samantha Francis, won Saturday’s Saracen Horse Feeds Inter I earning a more than credible 72.63% from judges Claire Ballantyne (E), Penelope Lang (C) and Steph Cooper (M).

Olympic medalist Laura Tomlinson enjoyed a fruitful weekend with two of her rising stars, Fallatijn Van Kairos and Duval’s Capri Sonne JR, who each took home a win. Lara Butler matched Laura’s double by winning both the LeMieux Grand Prix qualifier and Grand Prix freestyle with Rubin Al Asad. To complete the qualifiers, Nicola Buchanan and Half Moon Dark Magic secured their Saracen Horse Feeds Inter I ticket on Friday whilst the Equine Construction Advanced Medium direct qualifier belonged to Nicola Mahoney with Caroline Dunkerton's Dimaggio sired Diablo VIII.

British Dressage thanks Addington Manor and all judges, volunteers and sponsors who contributed to another great event. Congratulations to all those who took part and enjoyed some super results. 

Winners

5yo National British Young Horse
Mark Mills with Washington DC, 80.60%

6yo National British Young Horse
Ashley Jenkins with His Highness, 74.40%

5yo FEI International Young Horse
Mark Mills with Washington DC, 81.40%

6yo FEI International Young Horse
Sally Hardwick with Dance On Top, 74%

Fairfax Saddles FEI PSG
Laura Tomlinson with Fallatijn van Kairos, 70.92%

Saracen Horse Feeds FEI Intermediate I
Nicola Buchanan with Half Moon Dark Magic, 71.14%

Cavalor FEI Intermediate II
Laura Tomlinson with Duval’s Capri Sonne JR, 72.54%

FEI Pony Team Test
Annabella Pidgley with Ine, 70.94%

Advanced Medium 92
Vikki Pengilly with Zion E, 69.41%

Fairfax Saddles FEI PSG
Vicky Thompson-Winfield with Exquisite, 69.52%

Saracen Horse Feeds FEI Intermediate I
Vicky Thompson-Winfield with Artist, 72.63%

LeMieux FEI Grand Prix
Lara Butler with Rubin Al Asad, 71.07%

FEI Pony Individual 
Annabella Pidgley with Cognac, 72.60%

Equine Construction Advanced Medium 98
Nicola Mahoney with Diablo VIII, 72.50%

Advanced 105
Emily Harris with Freya FST, 67.87%

Fairfax Saddles FEI PSG
Vicky Thompson-Winfield with Exquisite, 70%

4yo Shearwater Young Horse
Sarah Rogers with T-Hawk AXE, 77.40%

5yo Shearwater Young Horse
Mark Mills with Washington DC, 80.40%

6yo Shearwater Young Horse
Ashley Jenkins with His Highness, 82.40%

PSG Freestyle to Music
Debbie Poynter with Keystone For Real, 70.79%

Grand Prix Freestyle to Music
Lara Butler with Rubin Al Asad, 76.79%