Para dressage excellence on display at Equissage Pulse Summer Championships

It was a hugely exciting couple of days at Hartpury for the Equissage Pulse Para Summer Championships (1 – 2 August), where riders from across the grades and sections competed for a National title.

Alisha Robbins and Fransham Fella | © Jasmine Punter Photography

Bronze Championships

Harriet Williamson had a standout show competing in the Grade 5 Introductory test. Harriet took a commanding two percent lead to win the class on 72.628% with her own King D II (Fairytale x Metall). Harriet and King have been a partnership for the last three and a half years, and have been a regular face on both the para and able-bodied competition circuit since. Harriet described her win as “incredibly special… a moment I’m immensely proud of”, and “another important milestone in my career”. Harriet then went on to further describe their championship experience: “He totally knows his job and held my hand throughout our test. To receive such positive feedback from the judges, including comments describing us as ‘bold, fluent and harmonious with a lot to like’, along with being awarded our first 9.0, made the achievement even more rewarding.”

“I’ve owned King for three and a half years and we have developed an incredible bond during that time. He truly is one in a million and has looked after me ever since a fall from another horse completely destroyed my confidence. Winning this title for the second time is incredibly special as it reflects the journey we’ve been on together and everything we’ve invested to get to this point.

“My ambition is to continue competing and to represent Great Britain internationally. I’m excited about what comes next for King and I and I’m incredibly grateful to our team at home, my partner Sam and trainer Jessica Wade, who we couldn’t do it without. I’d also like to thank everyone at British Dressage, the officials, volunteers and organisers at Hartpury for putting on such a fantastic championship. It’s always a privilege to compete at an event of this calibre.”

Looking forward to the future, Harriet and King will be looking to continue competing in para dressage alongside stepping up to Advanced Medium. Sitting in second place, Lisa Nicholls also impressed judges Sarah Leitch (C), Sophie Dickinson (H) and Alison Payne (B) to finish on 70.449% with her own Glamour Van't Prinsenveld (Spotlight x Calypso). Karen Hale claimed third place with her own For Fun Two on 67.449%.

Silver Championships

In the Silver Championships, Para Academy rider Alisha Robbins took home a double win, winning both the Grade 1 Silver Championships and Freestyle to Music Championships. In the Grade 1 Intermediate Test A, Alisha earned the winning score of 69.063% from the judges aboard her own Framsham Fella (One Sundance Kid x Caerberllan Duscot). In the Freestyle, Alisha claimed another title in front of Sarah Leitch (B) and Judith Harris (C), coming away with 70.333%. This double victory comes off the back of the duo’s hat-trick win at the June Wellington CPEDI2*, where they took a clean sweep in the Intermediate A, B and Freestyle competition.

“On the run up to the Silver Championships, we have been working hard on perfecting our square halts and elasticity in Fransham Fella’s frame which really started to show this weekend” Alisha mentioned, before going on further to say: “After being on the Para Academy for the last two years it has really bought our partnership together with Sophie’s [Wells] invaluable knowledge; along with my team at home, with coach Holly Norris and trainer Hannah Robbins, and my mother Sarah Robbins, to which none of this journey would of been possible.

“Originally bought as a happy hacker we started our journey at Bronze level three years ago to have a bit of fun and never thought we’d make it as far as we have. Especially having now won the Silver Championships two years in a row, we are over the moon and he really tries his hardest for us. I am looking forward to ending this competition season at Wellington CPEDI2* in October, where I hope to have the same success.” Following Alisha, Margaret Lupton finished in a close second place with her own Domino XI on 67.396%.

Gold Semi-Finals

In the gold section, Georgia Wilson took a commanding win in the Grade 2 Grand Prix Test B, scoring 73.167% aboard her new dancing partner Koningin Rave LH (Lord Leatherdale x Negro). In front of judges John Robinson (C), Sharon Butterworth (H) and Sandra Edwards (B), Georgia took the win by just over four percent. This only the pair’s third outing together, having previously completed the Grand Prix B test at both Kingswood and Radfords in June where they scored 71.00% and 77.67%. Originally bred in the UK by Georgia’s trainer Nicky Lickley and her husband Rob Lickley, ‘Katie’ and Georgia’s partnership began at the beginning of June when the Lickley’s got in touch with Katie’s previous owner, Sian Kuropatwa, to see if she was available.

“The following day we were in the car, drove down to Gloucestershire to try her at Lucinda Elliott’s. I fell in love with her immediately, she always makes me smile when I ride her.  She is on training livery at Kingswood now with Nicky, where she was born and I travel two to three times a week to train. I was very pleased with her test at Hartpury, it felt lovely to ride. We even got some 8.0s and 9.0s for our trot work from the judges. I am looking forward to competing at the Nationals, and we will be carrying on with training as normal, but will also be aiming for the October CPEDI at Wellington.”

Vicky Earnshaw followed in second place, earning 68.722% aboard Charlotte Arling’s British-bred gelding Midline Rioja (Woodlander Rockstar x Dream of Glory, bred by J Carrington) and Julie Payne completed the podium lineup with Cornelia Cook’s British Hanovarian Divinity (Don Frederico x Rotspon, bred by Heather Stack), who scored 65.889%

Freestyle to Music Championships

In the Freestyle classes, there were lots of fantastic winning scores posted across the grades. One of these scores from Bronze Grade 4 rider Lesley Mcnaughton-Wells, who piloted Libertys North Star to achieve a score 70.250% in front of judges Judith Harris (C) and Sarah Leitch (B). Alongside winning the Championship test, the pair also won “I was delighted to win the Championships on such a great score,” Lesley commented, “it’s the same music I use for my able-bodied Novice freestyle but just with a different floorplan. Martha (Libertys North Star) seems to love doing the freestyle tests – she was recently third in Novice Silver FSM at one of the Area Festivals in July.

“She is a delight to compete with and tries her best. This is her second year competing at the Championships with me. I also competed at CHAPS Championships last year, where we won the Novice Home Produced Ridden Final. Martha is just 8 years old, and has definitely come on this year under saddle.”

Looking forward to the rest of the season, the pair are due to compete at a second Area Festival later on this month and have been selected to represent Scotland at the Senior Home Nations, which is taking place at Pickering Grange (28 – 30 August).

Additionally, Isabella Benfield declared a fantastic win aboard her own Lamborghini III (Gunner KS x Andretti), who took the win on a near eight percent lead in the Grade 3 Silver Intermediate test to finish on 68.333%. “Lambie went really well in the indoor arena in a big atmosphere & concentrated & listened to me during our FSM Silver Championships”, Isabella commented, “his medium trot is my favourite movement to ride because he is so powerful.  We have been on an incredible journey this year with 9 amazing wins at three CPEDI2* competitions. For the rest of the season, we are looking to compete at gold level nationally & hoping to move up to International 3* level next year. I would like to say a massive thanks to my trainer, Angus Corrie-Deane, who has encouraged us with such positive energy which is impacting on us both in the whiteboards.” The pair also competed in the Gold Semi-Finals, where they finished second on 63.722%.

Finishing in second place behind Isabella in the Freestyle, Kyla Mantilla Ross and her own Libgate Spirit (Silver Heaven x Ninfield Minds Supreme) completed on a score of 62.500%.

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

Bronze Championships

Grade 3 Introductory Test

1. Emma Saul and Daisy XV, 67.333%

2. Olivia Astley Two Oaks Layla, 66.417%

3. Mark Griffin and Chilly Breeze, 66.083%

Grade 4 Introductory Test

1. Lisa Griffin and Chilly Breeze, 63.968%

2. Elizabeth Johnson and Annagh Rody, 63.016%

Grade 5 Introductory Test

1. Harriet Williamson and King D II, 72.628%

2. Lisa Nicholls and Glamour Van't Prinsenveld, and 70.449%

3. Karen Hale and For Fun Two, 67.244%

Silver Championships

Grade 1 Intermediate Test A

1. Alisha Robbins and Framsham Fella, 69.063%

2. Margaret Lupton and Domino XI, 67.396%

Grade 2 Intermediate Test A

1. Lacey Ohara and Blue diamond, 68.947%

2. Lacey Ohara and Chileno Azores, 64.123%

Grade 3 Intermediate Test A

1. Laura Tennant and Lamour, 71.087%

2. Alexandra Stewart and Beau VIII, 69.365%

3. Vicky Nurcombe and Wallstreet Hit, 68.889%

Grade 4 Intermediate Test A

1. Lesley Mcnaughton-Wells and Libertys North Star, 68.600%

2. Fiona Maynard and Valhallha, 67.133%

3. Keeley Squires and Landis high society, 66.800%

Grade 5 Intermediate Test A

1. Loretta Joynson and Tresais Lancelot, 65.536%

2. Helen Geddes and Johnny Bo Roos, 64.762%

3. Loen Groom Dalito and V H Trichelhof, 62.143%

Gold Championships

Grade 1 Grand Prix Test B

1. Mari Durward-Akhurst and Watermill Cruise, 71.875%

2. Elan Williams and Nalique, 70.208%

3. Susanna Wade and Premier Royal Mint, 69.453%

Grade 2 Grand Prix Test B

1. Georgia Wilson and Koningin Rava LH, 73.167%

2. Vicky Earnshaw and Midline Rioja, 68.722%

3. Julie Payne and Divinity, 65.889%

Grade 3 Grand Prix Test B

1. Jess Pritchard and Earnshaws Kiss Me Quick, 63.889%

2. Isabella Benfield and Lamborghini III, 63.722%

3. Anna Morris and Zibelle, 63.500%

Grade IV Grand Prix Test B

1. Laura Scott and CEI Summer Days, 71.306%

2. Katie Radzik and KORSGÅRDS TEMPT – HIT, 68.829%

3. Laura Gulliver and Serupgards Sassicaia, 68.694%

Grade V Grand Prix Test B

1. Sophie Wells and LJT Egebjerggards Somoa, 74.605%

2. Sophie Wells and Ontario HL, 73.114%

3. Liz Mcburney and Bangalore C, 67.149%

Freestyle Championships

Grade 4 Freestyle Bronze

1. Lesley Mcnaughton-Wells and Libertys North Star, 70.250%

Grade 5 Freestyle Bronze

1. Loen Groom and Dalito V H Trichelhof, 70.125%

2. Sarah Oram and Swatch In Ballygriffin, 69.375%

Grade 1 Intermediate Freestyle Silver

1. Alisha Robbins and Framsham Fella, 70.333%

Grade 2 Intermediate Freestyle Silver

1. Lacey Ohara and Chileno Azores, 50.667 %

Grade 3 Intermediate Freestyle Silver

1. Isabella Benfield and Lamborghini III, 68.333%

2. Kyla Mantilla Ross and Libgate Spirit, 62.500%

Grade 4 Intermediate Freestyle Silver

1. Amy Mayho and Evie Trinity Lass, 62.438%

Grade 4 Grand Prix Freestyle Gold

1. Sara Bates and Tango VII, 73.250%

Grade 5 Grand Prix Freestyle Gold

1. Sophie Wells and Ontario HL, 75.313%

FULL RESULTS