Festival Focus - Keysoe International
Read the latest news from the first Petplan Equine Winter Area Festival of 2022, hosted by Keysoe International (13 – 15 January), kick-starting an amazing season of Area Festival dressage.
Petplan’s picks!
The first Petplan Equine Winter Area Festival fixture of the year saw a busy couple of days at Keysoe International with riders keen to get their new season campaigns underway. This Area Festival saw seasoned as well as new riders put their best test forward to gain their place at the Petplan Equine Winter Area Festival Championships in April.
After an amazing double win at the Petplan Equine Summer Area Festival Championships at Prix St Georges level, Jane Littlejohn returning to winning ways whilst stepping up to Intermediate I Silver, taking the win with 65.45% on Urban Knight. Speaking about 'Herbie', as he is known at home, Jane told British Dressage “he was his usual magnificent self, he did a lovely Inter 1 test and was absolutely beautiful to ride.” With a slight sat-nav error during the test, they still managed to dance their way to a qualification ticket for their second consecutive Petplan Championships.
First-time Area Festival qualifiers, Victoria Gilbey and Fenella II took to the arena to produce a wonderful test in the Novice Silver on 69.58% claiming second place spoils, "I work for Katy Holder-Vale, the breeder of the rising 5 year old mare, Fenella who's sire is Flammengold, who is owned by Katy's husband Peter," Victoria said. The team were surprised to be on the podium and quick to praise their marvellous mare, "I actually came out of the ring and was so pleased with what Fenella had produced she really was with me. I actually said to my team I don't mind what the score is we couldn't of done any more . Which is unlike me I like to pick holes in my tests when I come out." Katie and Fenella secure their ticket to Hartpury after competing in a strong 40-rider class, "It was an amazing feeling and makes all the hard work and training worth while. It was great that we were able to do a mounted prize giving made it feel very special."
It was another first time win for Sophie Palmer and Moylaw Alawhatsit, who despite only joining British Dressage in November 2021 notched up her qualification scores in record time to join the line up at Keysoe. "I'm just your average amateur rider so this has been a once in a lifetime achievement for us. My aim on the day was just to go and get a bench mark idea of the sort of scores we would get and how he found the atmosphere and then go away and approve on them for next time."
The duo took a double win in the Petplan Equine Winter Prelim Bronze and Novice Bronze with 70.35% and 68.75% respectably, "I never dreamt about being placed let alone winning. Then to win both just felt so unreal, I kept checking the results thinking there had been a mistake."
The eight year old gelding who was bought by Sophie as a freshly backed four year old, is certainly a showstopper at 17hh: "Goose is tricky in the warmup as he’s horse shy and the AF was busy so it’s hard to get him going to the best of his ability but he really stepped up to the occasion and was listening and so rideable and off my aids he did a lovely prelim test. The novice we made a mistake early on and broke our med trot but we kept going and it shows that 1 mark or mistake doesn’t mean you’re out of the placings so to always keep riding."
Sophie encourages everyone to have a go at this wonderful series and commented, "I’d definitely recommend to anyone who is considering joining but isn’t sure, to do it. There's no perfect time, it’s just about getting out there and giving it a go, there’s loads of support and everyone in BD just wants to see each other do well. My friends really encouraged me to join and I decided I needed to stop putting off doing things just because I was scared we weren’t ready, as were never going to be perfect, riding is all about learning and developing."
Anna Bostrand-Daly’s nine year old gelding, It’s Avo, secured the win in the Intermediate I Bronze with 66.96%, whilst also placing third in the Prix St Georges Silver. Talking about their day on social media Anna wrote, “Proud doesn’t cover it when it comes to this horse, he is simply a dressage machine and just gets better and better. We both dance with a big smiles on our faces and are just having a blast, the sash is just a bonus.”
“I just wanted to make the top three for a mounted prize giving but to then come out an take the win the day after for another lap of honor! We have so much fun together, he makes me smile everyday, even when he’s squealing and going crazy in his stable as we are not quick enough to get to the show.” We look forward to seeing more from this perfect pair in the future and at the Peptlan Equine Winter Area Festival Championships at Hartpury College.
Mother and daughter share, Equador I, put his dancing shoes on to compete for the first time in dressage, after having a very successful career in showing, to win the Prelim Silver on 73.06%. Proud daughter Charlotte told us, "we have owned Louie since he was a 5yo. My mother and I have produced him for me to compete in Lightweight Show Hunter classes, where we have enjoyed plenty of success. Louie and I have been lucky enough to compete at some of the countries biggest shows such as Royal Windsor, The Royal International and Horse of the Year Show."
With Elaine now taking the reins, she's enjoying the experience so far, "We had the most fantastic day from start to finish - the BD officials were so lovely and welcoming. Being new to the dressage world we were overwhelmed with all of the congratulations we received from fellow competitors after our win. We now look forward to the Winter Regionals in a few weeks!"
For many riders, it was their first outing to a Petplan Equine Area Festival, including Jack Pogar and Misty Bal Beano in the Medium Bronze, “It was my first time competing at a Petplan Festival and I didn’t even realised I had qualified until just over a week before, so was an amazing experience to do the Medium Bronze with the most fantastic team from the yard.”
Amanda Cargill-James, also took the leap into Area Festivals on Glynceirch Brynmor, “This was my first time competing at an Area Festival, and only my third time BD, on my lovely boy Bryn. I’ve been encouraged to join for quite some time from some very supportive friends, and I was lucky enough to finish in 9th Novice bronze.” We hope to see both riders out competing again soon!
Keysoe Equestrian Winners
Petplan Equine Winter Preliminary Bronze
Class 1a: Alexa Grace Woods and Maesmynach Perlen, 70.00%
Class 2a: Sophie Palmer and Moylaw Alawhatsit, 70.35%
Petplan Equine Winter Preliminary Silver
Elaine Blair and Equador 1, 73.06%
Petplan Equine Winter Novice Bronze
Class 5a: Katie Horgan and Decadence II, 72.08%
Class 5b: Sophie Palmer and Moylaw Alawhatsit, 68.75%
Petplan Equine Winter Novice Silver
Sophie Simpson and Fashionista, 74.31%
Petplan Equine Winter Elementary Bronze
Alex Greatorex and Carrick Toomes Ambassador, 68.53%
Petplan Equine Winter Elementary Silver
Angela Westgarth and Re- Joyce, 69.95%
Petplan Equine Winter Medium Bronze
Joanne Dagley-Cleworth and Uptimistic, 70.83%
Petplan Equine Winter Medium Silver
Jodie Smith and Amber V, 67.84%
Petplan Equine Winter Advanced Medium Bronze
Louise Gallavan and Sandros Fire, 71.03%
Petplan Equine Winter Advanced Medium Silver
Jenny Hamilton and Expert III, 66.75%
Petplan Equine Winter Prix St Georges Bronze
Angela Fenn and Dun-Lin, 66.23%
Petplan Equine Winter Prix St Georges Silver
Jenny Hamilton and Expert III, 68.09%
Petplan Equine Winter Intermediate I Bronze
Anna Bostrand-Daly and It’s Avo, 66.96%
Petplan Equine Winter Intermediate I Silver
Jane Littlejohn and Urban Knight, 65.45%