Kate Cowell wins Grand Prix at Sheepgate

Last week, beneath the blue skies and blazing sun of the summer heatwave, Sheepgate Equestrian in Lincolnshire hosted the penultimate Premier League fixture of the 2018 season (29 June – 1 July 2018).

The show attracted competitors from across the UK including Malvern-based Kate Cowell who won Saturday’s LeMieux Grand Prix with her partner of three years, Samba Dancer (by Samba Hit II). They were awarded a score average of 68.53% by judges Jacques Van Daele (BEL), Kim Ratcliffe and Judith Harris on only the gelding’s second attempt at Grand Prix.

Samba Dancer (pictured), who is owned by Chris Richards and Audrey Lawrence, won the Cavalor Inter II at Myerscough Premier League in March and Kate (37) is delighted with the 12-year-old’s recent step up to the next level. ‘I’m thrilled with Samba Dancer, the plan was always to set the ball rolling and start the year off at Inter II and progress through to Grand Prix,’ said Kate. ‘He’s shown great aptitude and level of maturity’.

Another promising ride for Kate, Sirocco, was also on form achieving third place in both Friday’s and Saturday’s Saracen Horse Feeds Inter Is with scores of 69.78% and 70.09% respectively. Both classes were won by Becky Moody and Eureko.

Sirocco, a 12-year-old bay gelding by Sandro Hit and owned by Helen Illes has secured his place on the selectors’ radar and has recently been invited to represent Great Britain at Small Tour at Hartpury, Deauville and Hickstead CDIs.

‘Sirocco is showing more confidence and expression in the tests, and I’m so pleased his talents are being recognised,’ said Kate.

The highest percentage score over the three days belonged to young rider Kirsty Imm, also from Worcestershire, who contested the Pick Your Own Advanced classes. With her ten-year-old KWPN gelding Don-Davidoff CL (by Tuschinski), Henry Boswell pupil Kirsty (23) rode the Advanced 102 to score 74.40% on Friday and 71.03% on Saturday, winning both by a comfortable margin.

Multiple winner Claire Abel travelled home to Buckinghamshire with three Premier League classes to her name. She won the first day’s Advanced Medium 85 partnered by her talented 11-year-old Sandreo son, RoCoco (71.32%). Then, aboard her own Rowan Magic, an attractive Dutch-bred son of Roh Magic, she took Friday’s and Saturday’s Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges classes with marks of 70.53% and 69.56%.

Talented amateur Claire (50), who combines riding with running her own accountancy business, AccountAbel, has competed with ‘Roo’ for eight years. During this time they’ve gone from Novice to Small Tour, reaching three Winter Championships and four Nationals along the way, and they’ve represented Great Britain both at Hartpury CDI in 2015 and Saumur CDI (FRA) in 2016 where they achieved top-five places.

British Dressage thanks all the class sponsors as well as the team at Sheepgate for putting on a fantastic event. Congratulations to all the winners listed below, and to all those who took part.

Friday
Medium 69
Holly James with Classics Charmeur, 69.55%

TopSpec Medium 73
Amy Woodhead with Don Cara, 71.03%

Advanced Medium 85
Claire Abel with RoCoco, 71.32%

Equine Construction Advanced Medium 92
Paul Hayler with Balero, 71.67%

Pick Your Own – Advanced
Kirsty Imm with Don-Davidoff CL, 74.40% (Adv 102)

Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges
Claire Abel with Rowan Magic, 70.53%

Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I
Becky Moody with Eureko, 71.89%

Cavalor Intermediate II
Julie Hugo-Ross with Welcome O, 65.96%

Grand Prix
Steph Croxford with Mr Hyde, 67.90%

Saturday
Medium 69
Bobby Hayler with Escapade VCG, 69.39%

TopSpec Medium 75
Fiona Brennan with De Angelis II, 71.89%

Advanced Medium 85
Harriette Williams with Creto, 73.24%

Equine Construction Advanced Medium 98
Becky Moody with Odwig’s Echo, 71.14%

Pick Your Own - Advanced 
Kirsty Imm with Don-Davidoff CL, 71.03% - (Adv 102)

FEI Pony Team Test
Bonnie Bourne with Fin C WE, 69.32%

FEI Pony Individual Test
Holly James with Classics Charmeur, 70.33%

FEI U25 Grand Prix
Victoria Maw with Bon Rouge CH, 65.12%

Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges
Claire Abel with Rowan Magic, 69.56%

Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I
Becky Moody with Eureko, 70.57%

Cavalor Intermediate II
Naomi Phillips with Hey Arnold, 65.88%

LeMieux Grand Prix
Kate Cowell with Samba Dancer, 68.53%

Hickstead British Nat. Young Horse 5 Year Olds
Beth Bexon with Woodcroft Icon, 7.84

Hickstead British Nat. Young Horse 6 Year Olds
Louise Crutcher with Tantoni Fiametta, 7.40

Hickstead British Int. Young Horse 5 Year Olds
Beth Bexon with Woodcroft Icon, 7.5

Hickstead British Int Young Horse 6 Year Olds
Elizabeth Allen with Hanover II, 7.06

Sunday
Charles Owen Advanced Medium 92
Tyler Bradshaw with Gijsbert, 68.51%

FEI Pony Team Test
Olivia Whitelaw with Brouwershavens Viceroy, 67.99%

FEI Pony Individual Test
Olivia Whitelaw with Brouwershavens Viceroy, 68.09%

FEI U25 Grand Prix
Victoria Maw with Bon Rouge CH, 62.38%

Shearwater Young Horse 4 Year Old Qualifier
Alexander Harrison with Jecari, 7.8

Shearwater Young Horse 5 Year Old Qualifier
Amy Woodhead with Hero, 7.58

Shearwater Young Horse 6 Year Old Qualifier
Beth Bexon with Woodcroft Derello, 7.04

British Dressage Young Pony 4 Year Old Qualifier
Laura Woodcock with Bathleyhills Swift Romance, 7.5

British Dressage Young Pony 5 Year Old Qualifier
Kirsty Farren with Haasendonck’s Isabella, 7.4

British Dressage Young Pony 6 Year Old Qualifier
Jemima Jennings with Westcroft Coco Chanel, 7.34