Aintree Regionals deliver top performances and championship success

The Aintree Summer Regionals (30 July – 2 August) earmarked a hugely successful few days for riders Harry Rouine, Sue Carson and Lily Laughton, who each took home multiple wins and direct qualifications to the LeMieux National Championships.

© Majestic Photography

For silver rider Harry Rouine, the regionals at Aintree delivered spectacular success as he took home two wins in the BETTALIFE Novice and HorseQuest Elementary Silver. In Friday’s elementary silver, in front of judges Fiona Lace, Sandra Edwards and Carole Thronton, Harry won the class on his own Winsome (Wavavoom x Dimaggio) 70.76%. Additionally, in the novice silver, Harry scored 71.08% in front of judges Andrea Smith, Richard Baldwin and Nick Bigland. Aboard the 14-year-old British Hanovarian gelding, who was bred by Lynne Crowden, Harry and Carrot have gone from strength to strength in the couple of years that they have been a partnership: “Our journey started two years ago, when he was a 12 year old with very low milage. He had never really done much, and I was a very novice rider who has only really ridden as a child at a riding school and hacked every now and then. Carrot was the beginning of my dressage career and has taught me far more than just how to ride; he’s taught me patience, resilience and the importance of always putting the horse first. To now qualify for our third National Championships in our short time together makes it all so worth it and I am extremely proud of him. He owes me nothing.”

When reflecting on his results at the Regionals, Harry stated that “to come away as both the Novice and Elementary Regional Champions with Carrot honestly still hasn’t quite sun in. Each time we went down the centre line, he gave me absolutely everything, even if there were one or two rider errors, he rode through them and that’s all I can ever ask for. The biggest highlight wasn’t necessarily the results themselves, but the feeling that our partnership is really coming together after everything we’ve worked through. My focus now is simply on improving the finer details rather than changing anything major. We’ll be concentrating on producing even more consistency, expression and harmony in the tests while making sure Carrot stays happy, confident, and enjoying his work. The Nationals are an incredibly opportunity, and I just want to give him the best possible chance to go there and perform at his best.

“I’d like to thank everyone who has supported us along the way. Dressage is very much a team sport behind the scenes, and I certainly wouldn’t be here without the people around me who genuinely support my journey. I’m incredibly grateful to Matt Frost for his guidance and training, Sarah Kingwells for her test riding advice, and everyone at home who keeps Carrot happy. Whatever happens at Nationals, I’m already incredibly proud of him.”

In the Elementary, Amber Flynn finished second aboard Jennifer Whittaker’s Fortuna BG (Farenheit x Dante Weltino) with 69.85%, and James Minster finished third with Chloe Chadwick’s Graigueaverne Forester (by Shenandoah Prince Holly) 69.75%. In the Novice, Anya Cooper finished second on her own British Hanovarian (bred by Gillian Hinnigan) Finissima (Finest x Demonstrator) with 70.48%, and Helen Hopewell finished in third with her own Ototo (Furst Toto x Desperado) on 69.09%.

Gold rider Sue Carson also had a standout show, taking home a double win in the Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges and D&H Intermediate I. Aboard her own SCS Luminere KH (Ferdinand x Houston), Sue took the win in the Prix St Georges with 67.94% in front of judges Fiona Lance, Richard Baldwin and Sandra Edwards, and scored 67.79% in the Intermediate I with the same judges. Reflecting on her success, Sue commented that she was “absolutely thrilled with Lenny’s results at the Aintree Regionals. SCS Lumiere KH or ‘Lenny’ as he’s known at home, is feeling and looking phenomenal. My personal highlight has to be his flying changes… I have now found the secret to counting the changes, which is to look to the sky or ceiling!

“Lenny is a real product of hard work and determination. I bought him as a just gelded and backed four-year-old and have produced him through the levels myself. It’s been a rewarding journey, and it is fantastic to see him now holding his own against such strong competition. He was stabled in the same stable as five Grand National winners including the famous Red Rum so it must have been lucky!

“In the lead-up to the Nationals, our focus will be on continuing to improve his strength, balance and overall way of going so he can perform to the very best of his ability. I train with Paul Fielder, and we are fortunate to have an excellent team around us. Our vets, farrier, grooms and physio all play a vital role in keeping Lenny happy and performing at his best. Dressage may be an individual sport, but it truly takes a team to compete successfully.”

In the Prix St Georges, Mark Walters finished in second place with his own British Warmblood gelding RFW Fatal Attraction (by Franklyn Sugar) on 67.60% and Victoria Fenwick finished in third with Susan Price’s British Warmblood Penhaligon Freigeist (Frieschtz x Furst Romancier, bred by Theresa Oaks) on 66.86%. In the Intermediate I, Chloe Vell finished in second place with Rebecca Jackson’s Hennessy B (Don Tango B x Elmshorn) with 66.86%, and Tracy Tomlinson finish in third place with Nicola Owen’s Floristo (Floriscount x De Niro) on 65.83%.

Additionally, Lily Laughton also delivered three days of outstanding performances to gain three more Nationals qualifications aboard EQP Deidre, Viva Valentine and Angelica V. Lilly took the top spots in both the HorseQuest Elementary Gold and BETTALIFE Novice Gold with Dr Amanda Crouch’s homebred Viva Valentine (Viva Gold x Ampere) with 75.16% and 74.09%. Additionally, Georgia Keegan’s British Hanovarian EQP Deidre (Dreamboy x Danone, bred by Equiperformance Ltd) finished just behind Viva Valentine in both classes with 74.57% and 74.09%. In the Absolute Equestrian Collective Preliminary Gold, Lily collected another qualification to the Nationals on another of Dr Amanda Crouch’s homebred mares, Angelica V (Dynamic Dream x Ampere), with 75.67%.

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

Results – top three

Thursday 30 July

D&H Intermediate I Gold

1. Sue Carson and SCS Luminere KH, 67.79%

2. Chloe Vell and Hennessy B, 66.86%

3. Tracy Tomlinson and Floristo 65.83%

D&H Intermediate I Silver

1. Charlotte Clarke and Eto, 64.80%

2. Olivia Commins and Scuderarri, 64.66%

3. Charlotte Donovan and Just It’s Mie, 64.07%

Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges Gold

1. Sue Carson and SCS Luminere KH, 67.94%

2. Mark Walters and RFW Fatal Attraction, 67.60%

3. Victoria Fenwick and Penhaligon Freigeist, 66.86%

Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges Silver

1. Alex Ingoe Connolly and Seagry DonnaDiva, 68.48%

2. Charlotte Clarke and Eto, 67.60%

3. Rebecca McNair and Boreas, 67.45%

Advanced Medium Gold

1. Matt Burnett and Za Za Zoom, 68.84%

2. Robyn Smith and Gentle Caledonia, 68.70%

3. Greg Sims and First Dance T, 68.43%

Advanced Medium Silver

1. Paul Keenan and Firey Romance, 70.42%

2. Sally Morgan and Negroni JR, 68.70%

3. Scott Welsby and Salazar VIP, 66.81%

TopSpec Medium Gold

1. Anna Burns and Duende Roo, 72.27%

2. Greg Sims and Call Me Da Sergio, 70.79%

3. Ryan Todd and Merikanto SLF, 70.69%

Friday 31 July

TopSpec Medium Silver

1. Emma Jones and Muireall Turfhorst, 68.98%

2. Scott Welsby and Salazar VIP, 68.94%

3. Mollie Whitham and Next Level, 68.43%

HorseQuest Elementary Gold

1. Lily Laughton and Viva Valentine, 74.09%

2. Lily Laughton and EQP Deidre, 73.23%

3. Helen Dutton and Forest Fairy Caledonia, 69.55%

HorseQuest Elementary Silver

1. Harry Rouine and Winsome, 70.76%

2. Amber Flynn and Fortuna BG, 69.85%

3. James Mister and Graigueaverne Forester, 69.75%

Saturday 1 August

BETTALIFE Novice Gold

1. Lily Laughton and Viva Valentine, 75.16%

2. Lily Laughton and EQP Deidre, 74.57%

3. Steffie Bryant and Nottinghill Turfhorst

BETTALIFE Novice Silver

1. Harry Rouine and Winsome, 71.08%

2. Anya Cooper and Finissima, 70.48%

3. Helen Hopewell and Ototo, 69.09%

Sunday 2 August

Absolute Equestrian Collective Preliminary Gold

1. Lily Laughton and Angelica V, 75.67%

2. Greg Sims and Kilan’s Double07, 73.80%

3. Mark Walters and Vincento 11, 71.67%

Absolute Equestrian Collective Preliminary Silver

1. Jill Stevenson and Parthago HBF, 70.80%

2. Nicola Noone and Diamonds Leap, 69.73%

3. Jodie Sharp and Orendy, 69.40%

FULL RESULTS