News

The name's Bond, James Bond

  • Written By: British Dressage
  • Published: Thu, 12 Jul 2018 10:22 GMT

The standard for the first Shearwater Young Horse semi-final of the year was as impressive as always as three top notch classes played out in the International arena at Hartpury (Saturday 7 July).

Four-year-olds

In the four-year-old section the winners rosette was awarded to Becky Moody and the KWPN licensed stallion James Bond 2. Jo Cooper’s eye-catching stallion by Desperado thrilled the judges to earn 8.24. Bred by F. Baumler, James Bond was approved at the 2017 KWPN Stallion Licensing before moving to Becky Moody’s stable in November 2017.

“He’s a good all-round horse,” said Becky about her winning ride, “Everything he does is really lovely. He’s got a good temperament and engine, to ride he’s a fantastic horse and he’s great in the stable too.” Becky credited James Bond, also known as ‘Q’, as her favourite of the day as second horse Jack Diamond decided to promptly remove her from the saddle in the warm up!

Despite the initial episode, the Cooper/Moody partnership will have two throws of the dice at the Shearwater Young Horse Championships in September, as Jack Diamond also qualifies from third place with a score of 8.16.

Second place went to Judith Davis’s delightful mare, Hawtins Lirica, who earned 8.22 with Lucinda Elliot in the saddle. Whilst Matt Frost’s G-Star and Sara Lucas’s SJL Baks Zacco also qualify from equal fourth with 8.0.

Five-year-olds

Charlotte Dujardin enjoyed a win in the five-year-old class from an unusual position at the side of the arena as Rob Barker piloted River Rise Isabella to success. The Don Frederic 3 x Amsterdam mare oozed potential in her test scoring 8.66, the highest mark recorded across all three sections.

Enthusing about the super mare Rob said, “She’s phenomenal, she has no weak pace! Her talent is immense. I was really pleased with her test today, she stayed with me and it was good to gain more experience in the arena.”

Kerry Mackin and Izonik will return to Hartpury in the hope of going one better than their Reserve Four-Year-Old title last year; the tall black stallion gains his ticket with an impressive 8.54. Mathew Baker placed third to qualify Roland Tong and Angie Felton’s Kiss and Tell. Woodcroft Stud will have a representative at the Championships in the form of attractive Desperado son, Woodcroft Icon, who placed fourth with 8.16. Whilst a tie for fifth place sees Iwan and Nikki Barker, MSJ Furstin Diaz and Michael Eilberg and Swanmore Wynter and Jezz Palmer each gain their ticket to ride after earning 8.10.

Six-year-olds

Not to miss out of the action inside the arena, Charlotte Dujardin returned to win the six-year-old qualifier with her own and Carl Hester’s Hawtins San Floriana (San Amour x Florestan). Last year’s five-year-old Shearwater National Champion is no stranger to success and once again showed her talent at Hartpury where her test was awarded 8.64 from the panel of judges.

The top three was completed by Sara Gallop with Georgina West’s BKS Fantastia and Edward Creamer with his own Hocus Pocus IV, the scores were 8.54 and 8.44. Amanda Towle with her own Virtue V and Emma Woolley with the WSC Syndicate’s Hancock V will also enjoy a trip to Stoneleigh in September following two solid qualifying tests.

British Dressage thanks Shearwater for their support of the Young Horse Championships.


Results

4YO
Becky Moody with James Bond, 8.24

5YO
1st Rob Barker with River Rise Isabella, 8.66

6YO
1st Charlotte Dujardin with Hawtins San Floriana, 8.64