Grand Prix glory and rising stars headline Hartpury

The NAF Hartpury International Festival of Dressage (30 June – 5 July) once again showed off top quality talent for the last Premier League competition of the season as riders bid for the final direct qualifications to the September LeMieux National Championships.

Kevin Sparrow 

Laura Tomlinson had standout results, claiming first and third place in the LeMieux Grand Prix. Aboard her own and Ursula Bechtolsheimer’s Full Moon II (Furtsenball x Gribaldi) and Forest Hill (Furstenlook x United), Laura strode her way to a commanding victory, leading the class by three percent. Aboard Full Moon II, Laura scored 72.174% and then 69.087% with Forest Hill. Alongside these two fantastic results, Laura was also runner-up in the D&H Intermediate I with her own and Ursula Bechtolsheimer’s Ostmarks Digal (Grand Galaxy Win x De Noir), scoring 72.059% in the horse’s debut at the level, in front of judges Penelope Lang (H), Debbie Wardle (C) and Leanne Wall (B).

When reflecting on her results, Laura commented, “Forest Hill, my 10-year-old homebred has just started at GP level in the last two months, and he felt like he is getting more confident at that level. Bits of his test felt solid and bits where he just needs to up his strength and impulsion to get more marks”

“Full Moon felt great. I opted to do the Premiere League on him instead of the CDI as he has done a few bigger shows without any time at home to work on things that need improving. I wanted to go in the arena with more of a training feel in mind and not the pressure of international competition. It definitely paid off; our work over the last few weeks has really increased his ability to give me a bit more power in the right moments. He felt much more confident to produce the pirouettes, piaffe and passage that I get from him at home, so I was very happy. I’ll do a few more smaller shows between now and the Nationals and hope to consolidate that feeling.”

Elsewhere in the Big Tour classes, Carl Hester collected another win aboard his new ride Monet X (Guardian S x Bretton Woods) in the Stubben Intermediate II. Owned by Susan Singer, Daniel Bremner and Lucy Bremner, the nine-year-old gelding scored 72.941%. In the LeMieux Grand Prix Special, Matt Frost collected another win aboard his own Kerouac (Sezuan x Sorento) having finished second in the LeMieux Grand Prix the day before with 69.391%. In the Special, Matt impressed judges Debbie Wardle (C), Leanne Wall (H) and Maria Eilberg (B) to score 70.533%.

Alongside the Big Tour classes, the Elite Stallions Young Horse Prix St Georges series that is held annually at the Hartpury International Festival of Dressage always proves popular and competitive, and this year was no different. In the qualifying round on Thursday, Amy Woodhead took the win aboard Emma Blundell’s MSJ Viva Dannebrog (Vitalis x Don Schufro) with 72.941% in front of judges Richard Baldwin (GBR – H), Kjell Myhre (NOR – C) and Kristi Wysocki (USA – B). Dannie Morgan finished in second place with his own Fever Tree (Foundation x Dayano) with 72.059% and Jody Haswell finished in third with her own Valentinio on 71.078%. The final was held as part of Hartpury’s gala evening, and it was Wellington’s gala evening winner that once again took first place; Dannie Morgan. Dannie achieved 72.206% to take a commanding lead in front of judges Kjell Myhre (NOR – H), Michael Osinki (USA – C) and Nick Burton (GBR – B). “I’m really over the moon with him”, Dannie commented, “he’s a special horse and this class is one that I have been aiming for over the last few years, and one that I really wanted to try and win with him so it was really exciting to be able to achieve that. It’s a good class because it’s a good marker of where they are at with their training and how they compare to other horses who are also coming up through the ranks that also have that potential to keep moving forwards to the Grand Prix. It felt like one of the best tests we have done, he’s developing all the time in his balance and his strength so we were able to show some of our best work to date which is really exciting. I’m incredibly grateful to the help I receive from my trainers, Carl and Sadie, who also had a fantastic week at Hartpury”.

Amy Woodhead followed in second place with MSJ Viva Dannebrog with 70.343% and Jessica Wade finished in third place aboard Nicola Hunt’s Maclaren II (Indian Rock x Ferro).

In other Small Tour classes, Kate Cowell won Tuesday’s Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges aboard her own and Trish Andrews’ nine-year-old gelding Samarkand (San Amour I x Don Frederico) with 69.853%. Bryony Goodwin closely followed in second with Antonia Brown and Catherine Witt’s Krack DE (by Krack C) scoring 68.667% and Anna Wilson finished in third place aboard her own Escojunio Ballante (Escolar x Diamond Hit) with 67.647%. In Friday’s Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges, Sadie Smith claimed top spot aboard Carl Hester’s Jaguar I (Lord Leatherdale x Negro) with 69.461%, Fiona Brennan followed closely behind with her own and Adele Rawlinson’s Leroy (High Five US x Tolando) scoring 69.019%. In third place, Amy Woodhead claimed another podium placing of the week, scoring 68.873% aboard Emma Blundell’s Mount St John Salomea (Sezuan x Schiffon). And finally in Saturday’s D&H Intermediate I, Kate Cowell added to her success from the week, earning yet another direct qualification to the LeMieux National Championships by taking the win aboard Joanna Barry and Lady Mary Hope’s Hidalgo II (Rousseau x Donnerhall). Scoring 70.539%, Kate showed a clear lead ahead of Bryony Goodwin who finished in second place with Krack DE on 68.873%. Lily Kelly  finished in third place aboard her own Newton Tiger (Blue Hors First Choice x Sandro Hit) with 68.627%.

Thanks go to the organisers and team at Hartpury for delivering a superbly run event, and congratulations to all riders and connections for their hard work and excellent performances throughout.

Results – top three

Tuesday 30 June

Advanced Medium 4

1. Georgia Stokes and SOS San So Amorous, 72.237%

2. Lucy Bremner and Tomasz, 71.711%

3. Katharine Lewis and SLS Maurits, 70.526%

Advanced Medium 5

1. Bryony Goodwin and Marciano A, 73.947%

2. Lucy Bremner and Tomasz, 73.947%

3. Georgia Stokes and SOS San So Amorous, 71.053%

Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges

1. Kate Cowell and Samarkand, 69.853%

2. Bryony Goodwin and Krack DE, 68.677%

3. Anna Wilson and Escojunio Ballante, 67.647%

Wednesday 1 July

Advanced Medium 6

1. Michael Eilberg and EDH Malakai, 70.047%

2. Davey Harvey and Zinkwazi, 69.120%

3. Tom Goode and Veto, 68.565%

Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges

1. Lucy Amy and Ladine, 69.706%

2. Kate Cowell and Hidalgo II, 69.657%

3. Lucy Palmer and La Vida Loca, 69.412%

Prix St Georges Freestyle to Music

1. Hayley Watson-Greaves and Lamborghini, 64.792%

2. Steph Bradley and VSH Beaulero, 62.667%

Stubben Intermediate II

1. Lucy Amy and Rudy, 72.402%

2. Tom Goode and Margot, 71.471%

3. Anders Dahl and Ellely's Focus, 70.735%

Thursday 2 July

Elite Stallions Young Horse Prix St Georges

1. Amy Woodhead and MSJ Viva Dannebrog, 72.941%

2. Dannie Morgan and Fever Tree, 72.059%

3. Jody Haswell and Valentinio, 71.078%

D&H Intermediate I

1. Amy Woodhead and MSJ Viva Dannebrog, 73.529%

2. Laura Tomlinson and Ostmarks Digal, 72.059%

3. Louise Gallavan-Gelder and Fabergé TF, 68.382%

LeMieux Grand Prix

1. Laura Tomlinson and Full Moon II, 72.174%

2. Matt Frost and Kerouac, 69.391%

3. Laura Tomlinson and Forest Hill, 69.087%

Friday 3 July

Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges

1. Sadie Smith and Jaguar I, 69.461%

2. Fiona Brennan and Leroy, 69.019%

3. Amy Woodhead and Mount St John Salomea, 68.873%

Stubben Intermediate II

1. Carl Hester and Monet X, 72.941%

2. Sarah Rogers and Maizauber, 70.981%

3. Rebecca Jane Edwards and Laerke Stensvang, 69.265%

LeMieux Grand Prix Special

1. Matt Frost and Kerouac, 70.532%

2. Kimberley Siddorn and Dutch class, 68.617%

3. Matt Frost and Helga, 68.369%

Saturday 4 July 

FEI Children on Horses Team Test

1. Isadora Lawrence and Piccasso, 69.700%

2. Josie Hallett and St Nazaire C, 65.875%

3. Sophie Mansell and Millfield Lancelot, 64.350%

FEI Pony Team Test

1. India Adams and Reitland’s Don Totilas, 68.143%

2. Mimi Kempster and Che Bello, 67.476%

3. Amelia Dovey and Pencwarre Butty Bach, 67.428%

FEI Junior Team Test

1. Lily Cawley and Quimbaya 6, 68.687%

2. Crystal Robinson Long and Nabucco, 66.666%

3. Niamh Lenane and Promesse De Massa, 65.404%

FEI Young Rider Team Test

1. India Hamilton-Burnet and Kissingdale, 66.765%

2. Madison Eagle and Royalty, 66.520%

3. Mia Smith and Dutch Discovery, 66.176%

Elite Stallions Young Horse Prix St Georges Final

1. Dannie Morgan and Fever Tree, 72.206%

2. Amy Woodhead and MSJ Viva Dannebrog, 70.343%

3. Jessica Wade and Maclaren II, 68.774%

D&H Intermediate I

1. Kate Cowell and Hidalgo II, 70.539%

2. Bryony Goodwin and Krack DE, 68.873%

3. Lily Kelly and Newton Tiger, 68.627%

Sunday 5 July

FEI Children on Horses Individual Test

1. Isadora Lawrence and Piccasso, 66.704%

2. Josie Hallett and St Nazaire C, 63.584%

3. Daisy Bellamy and Doruto, 62.847%

FEI Pony Individual Test

1. Avah Heath and WFD Just Dillon, 69.009%

2. Mimi Kempster and Che Bello, 68.829%

3. Lacey Owen-Morgan and Sulaatik’s Vingino, 67.748%

FEI Junior Individual Test

1. Lily Cawley and Quimbaya 6, 68.823%

2. Sophia Longworth and Harald, 68.480%

3. Crystal Robinson Long and Nabucco, 67.353%

FEI Young Rider Individual Test

1. Megan Field and Bright Time, 67.206%

2. Mia Smith and Dutch Discovery, 67.010%

3. Penny Smith and Rembrandt GSH, 66.079%

FULL RESULTS