Edwards and Hutton Win 2016 British Winter Indoor Championships

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2016 British Winter Dressage Championships

The 2016 Winter Dressage Championships, held at Hartpury College in Gloucestershire on 6 - 10 April 2016, produced worthy winners over five days of dressage action. Rebecca Edwards won the Prix St Georges Kur to Music, whereas Charlie Hutton dominated the Inter I Kur to Music. The British Indoor Championships do not cover any Grand Prix level classes.

Teenage Becky Edwards Wins PSG Kur

Young Rider, 19-year-old Becky Edwards took top trumps in the Prix St. Georges Freestyle Championship. Atop of Leigh Edwards’ 12-year-old Dimaggio-sired gelding Don Archie, Becky scored an impressive 72.33%, just one of two to break the 70% barrier.

Leicestershire-based Ann Staines kicked proceedings off in sublime style with a test matched by beautiful orchestral music highlighted with emotional string sections. Although Ann’s ride, her own 13-year-old German-bred gelding, Royal Standard found the intense atmosphere at Hartpury College, Gloucestershire intimidating, she did well to recover and ease the tension to earn a strong score of 66.04%.

18-year-old Erin Williams pulled out all the stops for her freestyle with partner, Clare Williams’ 10-year-old Sandro Hit-sired gelding Bolsan B. With pirouettes on the centre line and tempi-changes on a 20 metre circle, tonight’s compere, Paul Hayler commented the Junior rider rode a ‘good and brave test’. Her boldness paid off, as the duo secured themselves a mark of 68.71% putting them into the lead before the first break.

Similar to many this evening, Elder Klatzko’s 15-year-old son of Longchamp Woodlander Little Richard was overcome by the atmosphere at Hartpury arena, showing resistance before the bell. However a calm and composed Elder proved to be unfazed as she rode for gold, starting with a pirouette on the centre line and closely followed by tempi-changes towards Swedish judge, Lars Andersson at C. Paul Hayler commended her courage and level of difficulty the canter work contained, however noted the gelding’s ‘spookiness and tension, which was a big shame as Elder couldn’t show his full potential’. The mark from the judges echoed these sentiments with a solid score of 67.13%.

Maria Eilberg and Sarotti 57, Farah Al Khojai’s nine-year-old Sir Donnerhall gelding, showed fantastic potential with some lovely moments, however the electric arena proved too much for the German-bred gelding and Maria made the sensible – yet unfortunate – decision to retire. The combination has been together less than a year, however we’re sure once their partnership has grown in confidence they’ll definitely be one to watch for the future.

Other than a couple of missed changes in her tempis, was next competitor Tahley Reeve-Smith, who produced a mistake-free and relaxed round. Piloting her own 13-year-old gelding, Special – sired by Sandro Hit – she rode to a medley of orchestral Beatles songs, producing beautiful extended trots and powerful canters, gaining a score of 69.92%, putting her into eventual third.

Riding to delicate piano tones contrasted by heavy string sections was Nathalie Kayal and her own DHI Bravo. A clean round, Nathalie and the ten-year-old Dutch gelding only made the move to PSG in November and, although he occasionally sought to Nathalie for confidence, the quality was great and the promise for the future was very much evident, with Paul Hayler commenting that it was a ‘super and mistake-free test’ earning a score of 70.58% for second.

Eventual winners, Becky Edwards and Don Archie, former ride of Charlotte Dujardin, were drawn third last. With fantastic forward and expressive changes and good clean pirouettes, the pair dually earned their 72.33% mark and first placing. Jo Barry and Corchapin followed them but showed some nerves on the big stage and couldn’t match Becky’s mark. The final rider Claire Moir with her own and Anne Haydon’s Davonport Bewes gave it a good go and came oh so close but 69.13% left them just off a podium finish.

So victory went to the teenager; “I’m so pleased!” exclaimed Becky. “It’s a new floorplan which I’ve ridden once at home and for the second time tonight; guess I’m ‘living on the edge’! I played safe for the regionals but knew I’d need to up my game here. I guess I could have put more technicality into it but we’re still getting to know each other.”

This evening’s compere, Paul Hayler expressed that the test was of ‘fantastic quality with super flying changes and pirouettes. The trot programme was also very strong’.

Becky continued; “There were a few mistakes but he was really relaxed and I can feel there’s lots more to come. Early in our partnership, he’d take charge and treat me like a passenger but we’ve put the work in at home instead of competing and tonight that paid off.”

Hutton Wins the Inter 1 Freestyle

On Saturday night 9 April 2016 the atmosphere didn’t disappoint as stand out performances entertained a full house creating an electric mood for the Inter I Freestyle. It was a win for the crowd favourite, Charlie Hutton on Judy Peploe’s Super Blue. The pair excelled with relaxed and correct two time changes and an expressive extended trot to an instrumental version of the hit ‘Sweet Child of Mine’ from a score produced by Gary Wood of Equitunes. Not only favoured by the crowd, Charlie scored highly with the judges to take the title with 72.46%.

Charles Hutton and Super Blue “He gave me everything and I’m so pleased. Going up the final centre line, I felt quite emotional because he tried so hard; rides like that you want to remember," said Hutton. "He’s a real trier, not a mega mover or world beater but he proves that you don’t need Valegro to win a championship. Time after time, I felt like giving up on him as I didn’t think he could do it but he’s always answered said ‘yes I can!’. He’s proof you should never give up. Tonight, Pepe and I brought our A game.”

First to go was the preceding night’s gala evening winner, 19-year-old Becky Edwards, this time aboard Dr Margaret Cox’s Portuguese stallion, Ufano II. They made a bold and confident start to the evening’s competition presenting obedient work in all three paces. British Dressage training director and compere for the evening, Paul Hayler, commented on the ‘super trot work’ suggesting another high score for the teenager. Rewarded with another seventy-plus score of 71.03% and a big pat, the talented Ufano and his rider left the arena on a high.

One for the music fans was Richard Barrett riding Mark Philpott’s Walid 4. Dancing to music from the popular musical Les Miserables and boasting an exciting floorplan that stood out from the field. The canter work on a serpentine was a highlight with brave canter pirouettes on the centre line showing off the combination’s technical ability. They moved into the lead with a score of 71.42%.

Popular with Paul Hayler, was Mount St John’s Emma Blundell and Keystone Diaz who entered to bold and menacing music. Paul spoke of their ‘well matched partnership’ which was displayed in an obedient and technical test giving them a solid score of 70.08% - a personal best for the combination at this level.

Next in was the striking British-bred mare Hawtins Floriana ridden effectively by Bryony Goodwin. The horse’s big extended trot stood out in a busy floorplan with constant turns demonstrating technical elements keeping the horse attentive. Well suited to the horse’s paces, the music was loud and bold appealing to the judges to give them an equal leading score of 71.42%, only to be pushed back into second once split by the artistic mark.

Upping the technical difficulty, Louise Bell’s own ride, Into the Blue looked on top form finishing boldly with a canter half pass to a flying change to a one and a half canter pirouette straight on to the halt and salute. They also broke the seventy percent barrier with 70.71% to lie in fifth place for the final break of competition.

The closing competitors impressed to end the competition on a high. Lucy Cartwright and her own Waterloo performed to emotive music, very well matched to the horse’s paces. ‘A super horse, the test had both highs and lows but it was well ridden’ said Paul Hayler. With a green mistake in the three-time changes they scored 69.17%. Next in was last night’s runner-up, Nathalie Kayal riding DHI Homerun to stirring piano music, they produced exuberant canter pirouettes in front of the judges on the centre line finishing seventh on 70.79%.

The penultimate combination, Maria Griffin on Adrian Baker’s DJ, demonstrated active changes across the diagonal in a mistake-free test to a dramatic musical finish. Maria gave a whinnying DJ a huge pat as they left the arena visibly beaming.

Finishing proceedings was Maya Goldberg, she rode Ferdi Eilberg’s Dutch gelding Torino into the arena causing silence as the crowd awaited an exciting conclusion. Maya’s varied floorplan was put to Paolo Nutini’s ‘New Shoes’, well-matched to the horse’s even, expressive extended trot across the diagonal. They upped the degree of difficulty with tempi changes down the long side.

So victory belonged to Charlie Hutton and behind the scenes ahead of the prize giving it was a quick change as he was performing a ‘Hero’ pas de deux with wife Abi. So it was off with the gaucho costume and on with the top hat and tails to hop on to ‘Pepe’ for the lap of honour.

Results - 2016 British Winter Championships

Prix St Georges Kur to Music

1. Edwards, Becky - Don Archie - 72.33%
2. Kayal, Nathalie - Bravo - 70.58%
3. Reeve Smith, Tahley- Special - 69.92%
4. Moir, Claire - Davonport Bewes - 69.13%
5. Williams, Erin - Bolsan B - 68.71%
6. Stolper, Jacky - Luciano Pavarotti - 68.13%
7. Peyton-Gilbert, Lesley - World Exclusive - 68.08%
8. Eardley, Stef - Ruxton Pinacolada - 67.17%
9. Klatzko, Elder - Woodlander Little Richard - 67.13%
10. Skeffington, Rachel - Keystone Denada - 66.17%
11. Barry, Jo - Corchapin - 66.17%
12. Staines, Ann - Royal Standard - 66.04%
13. Widdowson, Natalie - Gorgeous George IV - 63.96%
14. Shepherd, Karen - Pepperwood Mister Mole - 62.29%
Eilberg, Maria - Sarotti - RET

Inter I Kur to Music

1. Hutton, Charles - Super Blue - 72.46%
2. Griffin, Maria - D-J - 71.83%
3. Barrett, Richard - Walid - 71.42%
4. Goodwin, Bryony - Hawtins Floriana - 71.42%
5. Goldburg, Maya - Torino - 71.29%
6. Edwards, Becky -Ufano - 71.13%
7. Kayal, Nathalie - Homerun - 70.79%
8. Bell, Louise - Into the Blue - 70.71%
9. Blundell, Emma - Keystone Diaz- 70.08%
10. Gallop, Sara - Summerhouse Bandreo - 69.58%
11. Cartwright, Lucy - Waterloo V - 69.17%
12. Stolper, Jacky - Luciano Pavarotti - 68.42%
13. Widdowson, Natalie -Gorgeous George IV - 67.54%
14. Eardley, Stef - Ruxton Pinacolada - 64.13%
15. Martin, Ben - Dimaggik - 63.46%