Fans of Olympic rider Richard Davison will be thrilled with his return to the competition scene after the sale of his top horse Hiscox Artemis to Switzerland, following a win in the Grand Prix on Sunday 10 March 2013 at Myerscough Premier League nationa dressage show in Lancashire, Great Britain.
Richard rode Hiscox Aliano, a 12-year old Holsteiner gelding, to victory on 70.60% against a class which saw ten of the UK’s strongest combinations line up to battle for the title at the North West venue. Gareth Hughes took second spot in the Grand Prix with DV Stenkjers Nadonna on 69.01%.
Under 21’s squad rider Erin Williams was heading home to Derbyshire with two rosettes on her bridle after winning twice on Sunday – 72.39% with the 9-year old palomino Dynasty in the Pony Team test and 70.54% with 13-year old Hanoverian Fleurie in the Junior Team test. Both mares are owned by Clare Williams and ridden by Erin, who trains with Sonia Baines (nee Webster). Young Rider Olivia Oakeley put whopping scores on the board winning Saturday's YR team test with 73.55% aboard her 12-year old Hanoverian gelding Donna Summer (by Dimaggio).
Carl Hester’s magic seems like it could be rubbing off on another up and coming star with a win for Samantha Thurman-Baker and her ride Douglas IV in the PSG (section B) on Friday. This was the first competition for the pair since Carl handed the ride over to the 19 year old rider from Oxfordshire, whom he now trains at his base in Gloucestershire. Douglas IV is owned by Aram Gregory – who also owns Carl’s current international ride Dances with Wolves.
Samantha was clearly thrilled with the 17.3hh 11-year old Danish Warmblood, taking to facebook to post "Douglas was a star, got 72.81% to win! So pleased with him and a massive thank you to Carl Hester and Aram Gregory for giving me this opportunity!" People are already taking note of Sam’s talent as showcased last year during the National Convention when she rode Carl’s mount, the hot-to-handle Dances with Wolves.
She has been described as a ‘true superstar’ and ‘someone special’, and young dressage riders everywhere are bound to be taking notice of the story about a girl from Oxfordshire being trained and mentored by the legend who had so much to do with a certain Miss Dujardin's gold medal collection. Could this be another fairy tale in the making?
Emile Faurie was hot on Sam and Douglas’s tails in the Grand Prix securing second place with 71.93% riding Smash Hit, a 10-year old stallion owned by Julie Bradley.
Text by British Dressage, edited by Eurodressage
Related Links
Scores of the 2013 CDN Myerscough
Scruton, Williams, Hayler Lead at 2012 Kick Off CDN at Myerscough College
Gareth Hughes Reigns Supreme at 2011 CDN Myerscough College