Hickstead Premier League

A bustling Hickstead Premier League took place last week, with the prestigious South of England venue enjoying great weather and great competition (19 – 23 June).

Bounding to a debut Premier League win in the LeMieux Grand Prix was the popular duo of Louise Bell and her stunning roan, Into The Blue. The direct qualifier proved competitive from start to finish but none could top the brilliant 69.88% awarded to Louise and ‘Dynamo’ by the five-strong judges panel made up of Mark Ruddock, Mary-Anne Horn, Alain Francqueville, Linda Whetstone and Marion Terry. For Louise, waiting for a Grand Prix Premier League win was a little like waiting for buses as the following day she grabbed another in the Grand Prix Freestyle; the score this time was a phenomenal 74.17%.

Speaking proudly from her Facebook page, Louise said, “Well… Into The Blue and I are now officially double champions! We won the LeMieux Grand Prix today at the wonderful Hickstead Premier League and yes Alfie made it on the podium too Nationals here we come! So happy, what a horse!! Hickstead Champion both sides of the hedge! Special moment as this is my first Grand Prix win at premier league level and even more special to be here at Hickstead! What a day!”

The first of three Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges competitions was won Katie Bailey with Leslie Forlee’s Belissimo M son, Bocelli IV. The experienced pair confirmed their security at the level with a great score of 72.37% to finish ahead of Vicky Thompson-Winfield with Oldencraig Exquisite and Fiona Bigwood with Daytona Platinum.

The other two Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges fixtures featured Anders Dahl and Vicky Thompson-Winfield taking home the spoils. Debbie Poynter, Hannah Biggs and Jonny Clarke-West each earned a win in the Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I classes, whilst Matt Frost and Tribiani triumphed in the Cavalor Intermediate II.

Hampshire-based Sara-Jane Lanning topped the podium in the Equine Construction Advanced Medium 96 with her own and Andrew Griffin’s Mi Amigo, a 16-year-old gelding by the Danish stallion Zardin Firfod. Sara-Jane and Mi Amigo recently enjoyed four top ten placings at the NAF Five Star Winter Championships including a magical third place in the Nupafeed Advanced Medium Freestyle Gold class.

In the Under 25s ranks, Bonnie Bourne notched up two pony wins with Fin C WE whilst former Pony team gold medalist Clare Hole won the Junior Individual test with Pro-Motion. Amidst taking his A-level exams, Angus Corrie-Deane won the Prix St Georges / Young Rider Championship test with his own Tiny Tempur, an eye-catching Hanoverian gelding bred by Fiona Bigwood’s mother Penny.

With only two Premier League shows remaining in 2018, the standard of competition was high at Hickstead with many riders hoping to gain direct qualification tickets to the LeMieux National Championships. British Dressage thanks all National sponsors as well as the team at Hickstead for another thrilling event.

Results

Intermediate A
1st Henrietta Cheetham with Schattentanzerin, 70.56%

Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges
1st Anders Dahl with Florina, 69.34%

Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges
1st Katie Bailey with Bocelli IV, 72.37%

Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I
1st Debbie Poynter with Keysoe For Real, 71.80%

Intermediate B
1st Sara-Jane Lanning with Try Me Once, 69.64%

Hickstead National Young Horse 5 Years Q
1st Jessica Thompson with AD Destination, 79.00%

Hickstead International Young Horse 5 Years Q
1st Jessica Thompson with AD Destination, 80.60%

Hickstead National Young Horse 6 Years Q
1st Edward Creamer with Hocus Pocus IV, 77.80%

Hickstead International Young Horse 6 Years Q
1st Edward Creamer with Hocus Pocus IV, 79.20%

Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges
1st Vicky Thompson-Winfield with Oldencraig Exquisite, 72.76%

Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I
1st Hannah Biggs with Don Caledonia, 71.05%

Cavalor Intermediate II
1st Matt Frost with Tribiani, 72.37%

Prix St Georges 
1st Angus Corrie-Deane with Tiny Tempur, 70.35%

LeMieux Grand Prix
Louise Bell with Into the Blue, 69.88%

FEI Under 25s Grand Prix
1st Lucy Pincus with Sheepcote Fiesta, 66.72%

FEI Junior team test
1st Anne-Marie Rawlins with Georgie, 70.05%

FEI Pony team test
1st Bonnie Bourne with Fin C WE, 69.44%

Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I
1st Jonny Clarke-West with Zick Zack Toftegaard, 70.22%

Equine Construction Advanced Medium 96
1st Sara-Jane Lanning with Mi Amigo, 72.11%

FEI Young Rider Individual test
1st Angus Corrie-Deane with Tiny Tempur, 67.19%

FEI Junior Individual test
1st Samantha Wilson with Delhurens Sunshine, 66.84%

FEI Pony Individual test
1st Bonnie Bourne with Fin C WE, 68.17%

Prix St Georges Freestyle
1st John Chubb with Wringler, 71.46%

Grand Prix Freestyle
1st Louise Bell with Into the Blue, 74.17%

Grand Prix Special
1st Sara Gallop with Summerhouse Bandreo, 69.51%