Turning up the heat: Para stars shine at Hartpury

It was a hot one for our para riders at the NAF Hartpury International Festival of Dressage (30 June – 5 July), as riders took a clean sweep of victories as the fierce competition for a spot at the FEI World Championships heats up.

Grade V rider Sophie Wells impressed judges across the three days aboard Emma Blundell’s chestnut mare MSJ Gold Standard (Governor x Furstenball) to post a full set of personal bests, including besting her previous Freestyle record by nearly four percent. In the Grand Prix A the duo scored 74.051%, 74.395% in the B test and a sparkling 80.265% in the Freestyle competition. Alongside Gracie, Sophie made her international debut one of her younger horses, Ontario CL (Vitalis x Jazz), to finish second in both of his classes. Sophie and Ontario CL won the Elementary Gold NAF Five Star Winter Championships at Addington at the beginning of the year and finished second in the Medium Gold Freestyle to Music. In the seven-year-old’s international debut, the pair scored 71.872% in the Grand Prix A and 71.553% in the Grand Prix B. “Hartpury was a brilliant show”, commented Sophie, “the team always put on a great show and the facilities are the best. Gracie [MSJ Gold Standard] got a new personal best score every day and it is building every show; I really loved doing her music! It’s been a great season getting to know her and she’s so super to work with. Rio [Ontario CL] came along after a last-minute substitution; I had planned on him doing a 3* at some point this year, but he took it all in his stride. He has such a good attitude and to get over 70% in both tests is such a brilliant start to his international career”.

Behind Sophie, Alice Begg finished in third in the Grand Prix A and B classes aboard her eight-year-old mare Noraly (Secret x Everdale). The combination produced two strong scores, posting 67.667% in the A and 65.684% in the Grand Prix B test. In the Freestyle, however, Flossie England and her own Sankro (San Amour x Feiner Stern) finished in second with 66.895% and Elizabeth McBurney completed the top three lineup aboard her own Bangalore C (by 00 Seven) with 65.085%.

Alongside Sophie, Jemima Green also finished her World Championship campaign on an incredibly strong note, delivering three top podium placings and a personal best in the Freestyle class. Jemima posted a winning score in the Grand Prix A of 74.759%, with Lee Pearson hot on her heels aboard his own Breezer (by Bacardi), who posted a score 74.379% and completed the podium with Wendy Lomas’ Edith van de Helle (Lissaro van de Helle x Contendro I) with 69.310%. The Grand Prix B produced the same top-three combinations, with Jemima scoring 74.759% and Lee scoring 74.379% and 69.310% respectively. In the Freestyle, Jemima achieved a fantastic 76.067%, producing a four percent gap ahead of Lee Pearson in second place. Aboard Breezer, Lee finished with 71.900% and Sarah Suddaby finished in third place aboard her own Hit Song (by Bretton Woods) with 67.700%.

Mari Durward-Akhurst continued her fantastic winning form, taking a clean-sweep of triumphs in the Grade I division. In the Grand Prix A, Mari won the class by just under five percent with 77.042% aboard Diane Redfern’s Athene Lindebjerg (Gribaldi x Diamant). In second place, Elan Williams posted a strong score of 72.917% aboard her own Nalique (Ferdeaux x Cerano Gold) and Susanna Wade completed the podium with her own Premier Royal Mint (by Royal Hit) with 69.083%. In the Grand Prix B, Mari took victory with 74.708% and was closely followed by Elan, who finished in second place with 72.917% and Susanna Wade secured third place with 69.583%. In the Freestyle Mari once again secured a commanding victory, finishing on 78.114%, Elan finished second with 74.020% and Susanna finished in third with 66.794%.

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

Tuesday 30 June

3* Grade I Grand Prix A

1. Mari Durward-Akhurst and Athene Lindebjerg, 77.042% (GBR)

2. Elan Williams and Nalique, 72.458% (GBR)

3. Susanna Wade and Premier Royal Mint, 69.083% (GBR)

3* Grade II Grand Prix A

1. Jemima Green and Fantabulous, 74.759% (GBR)

2. Lee Pearson and Breezer, 74.379% (GBR)

3. Lee Pearson and Edith van de Helle, 69.310% (GBR)

3* Grade III Grand Prix A

1. Erin Orford and LJT Nutbush, 72.100% (GBR)

2. Katie Reilly and Keystone Dawn Chorus, 69.967% (IRL)

3. Jessica Mckenna and D.C.I Cerruti, 69.067% (IRL)

3* Grade IV Grand Prix A

1. Nicola Naylor and Humberto L, 73.861% (GBR)

2. Nicola Naylor and Moulin Rouge, 71.750% (GBR)

3. Laura Scott and Cei Summer Days, 68.305% (GBR)

3* Grade V Grand Prix A 
1. Sophie Wells and MSJ Gold Standard, 74.051% (GBR)

2. Sophie Wells and Ontario CL, 71.872% (GBR)

3. Alice Begg and Noraly, 67.667% (GBR)

Wednesday 31 June

3* Grade I Grand Prix B

1. Mari Durward-Akhurst and Athene Lindebjerg, 74.708% (GBR)

2. Elan Williams and Nalique, 72.917% (GBR)

3. Susanna Wade and Premier Royal Mint, 69.583% (GBR)

3* Grade II Grand Prix B

1. Jemima Green and Fantabulous, 76.067% (GBR)

2. Lee Pearson and Breezer, 71.900% (GBR)

3. Sarah Suddaby and Hit Song, 67.700% (GBR)

3* Grade III Grand Prix B

1. Erin Orford and LJT Nutbush, 71.967% (GBR)

2. Katie Reilly and Keystone Dawn Chorus, 71.467% (IRL)

3. Jessica Mckenna and D.C.I Cerruti, 68.800% (IRL)

3* Grade IV Grand Prix B

1. Nicola Naylor and Humberto L, 74.459% (GBR)

2. Nicola Naylor and Moulin Rouge, 72.189% (GBR)

3. Sara Louise Bates and Tango, 66.811% (GBR)

3* Grade V Grand Prix B

1. Sophie Wells and MSJ Gold Standard, 74.395% (GBR)

2. Sophie Wells and Ontario CL, 71.553% (GBR)

3. Alice Begg and Noraly, 65.684% (GBR)

Thursday 1 July

3* Grade I Grand Prix Freestyle

1. Mari Durward-Akhurst and Athene Lindebjerg, 78.114% (GBR)

2. Elan Williams and Nalique, 74.020% (GBR)

3. Susanna Wade and Premier Royal Mint, 66.794% (GBR)

3* Grade II Grand Prix Freestyle

1. Jemima Green and Fantabulous, 78.440% (GBR)

2. Lee Pearson and Breezer, 74.987% (GBR)

3. Sarah Suddaby and Hit Song, 69.300% (GBR)

3* Grade III Grand Prix Freestyle

1. Erin Orford and Ljt Nutbush, 75.167% (GBR)

2. Katie Reilly and Keystone Dawn Chorus, 74.860% (IRL)

3. Jessica Mckenna and D.C.I Cerruti, 71.580% (IRL)

3* Grade IV Grand Prix Freestyle

1. Nicola Naylor and Humberto L, 77.750% (GBR)

2. Laura Scott and Cei Summer Days, 70.705% (GBR)

3. Sara Louise Bates and Tango, 68.970% (GBR)

3* Grade V Grand Prix Freestyle

1. Sophie Wells and MSJ Gold Standard, 80.265% (GBR)

2. Flossie England and Sankro, 66.895% (GBR)

3. Elizabeth McBurney and Bangalore C, 65.085% (GBR)

 FULL RESULTS 

Photo- Kevin Sparrow