Ideal Saddles Combined Training Championships

The beast from the east returned this weekend but it didn’t dampen the spirits of the competitors attending the Ideal Saddle Company Combined Training Championships (17 March 2018).

Hosted at Field House EC, Staffordshire, the popular multi-discipline competition was a roaring success. The day started with the Prelim classes combined with 70cm and 80cm jumping and it didn’t take long for the competition to heat up, despite the snow and arctic temperatures.

The eventual winner of the Prelim 2 and 70cm Championship was Emma Brewer with her own eye-catching bay Honduras (by Castiglione). The duo aced their test in front of judge Liz Hadfield to score 75.17% ahead of the showjumping element. A great round and only one pole down meant that Emma and her Polish bred warmblood stayed just in front of runner up Olivia Walker with Equitrek Atom – only one mark split the pair.

It was youth to reign supreme in the Prelim 18 and 80cm as 13-year-old Holly Clarke (pictured) took the title aboard the lovely chestnut Gingerbread IV. Holly rode a fine test to score 76.15%, this was not only the highest score in the class but also the highest mark recorded across the entire Championships. A fine trip around the 80cm course resulting in no penalties left Holly and Gingerbread five points ahead of her rivals. Holly, who splits her time between dressage and eventing, will be one to watch at the NAF Five Star Winter Championships next month where she has qualified for no less than four classes. Completing the podium in the Prelim and 80cm class was Olivia Walker with her other ride QEG Lux and Gracie Catling who took third place with Dalyhill Rocker.

The Novice 24 and 90cm competition saw Teri England take the spoils with her eight-year-old Oldenburg gelding Coady Bay Logic. Terri rode four tests throughout the day and seemed to end up with the worst of the weather on each trip down the centre line. Battling the blizzards proved worthwhile as a super 73.26% test and a clear round was more than enough to emerge victorious. Bred by the Coady Bay Stud, Coady Bay Logic is by the Landgraf I son Landstreicher. Olivia Walker continued to show her consistency to place third with QEG Lux whilst Holly Clarke just missed a double victory, this time finishing as reserve champion with her diminutive Welsh pony Newoak Truffle.

The final class of the day proved highly competitive as seven combinations topped the 70% mark in the Novice 34 and 100cm Championship. Worcester-based rider Holly Bradshaw topped the podium with the 16.3hh gelding Archfield Echo; the pair topped the leaderboard in the dressage after scoring 72.62% before going on to jump an immaculate round in the Field House indoor. 29-year-old Holly has an equally as impressive record at British Dressage and British Eventing competitions having competed successfully at Regional and Winter Championships as well as CCI*, CCI** and CIC** competitions.

Congratulations to all competitors who travelled to Field House and braved the elements, as well as the organisers and stewards who also gave their time to make the show a huge success. British Dressage thanks Championship sponsor Ideal Saddles for their generous support of this super series.

Results

Prelim 2 and 70cm
1st – Emma Brewer and Honduras, 214.0
2nd – Olivia Walker with Equitrek Atom, 213.0
3rd – Martha Jobling Purser, 208.0

Prelim 18 and 80cm
1st – Holly Clarke with Gingerbread IV, 198.0
2nd – Olivia Walker with QEG Lux, 193.0
3rd – Gracie Catling with Dalyhill Rocker, 190.0

Novice 24 and 90cm
1st – Teri England with Coady Bay Logic, 168.5
2nd – Holly Clarke with Newoak Truffle, 165.5 (44)
3rd – Olivia Walker with QEQ Lux, 165.5 (43)

Novice 34 and 100cm
1st – Holly Bradshaw with Archfield Echo, 152.5
2nd – Daniel Titterton with Vision B, 151.0
3rd – Amelia King with Regal Mix, 150.0