Summer regionals: Mount Ballan

Somerset rider Stephanie Sweet was the highest scorer at the Mount Ballan summer regional championships, 4-5 August 2015. Stephanie travelled to the Welsh venue to compete in the Dodson & Horrell novice restricted with her five-year-old ride Dolle Jung (Don Havidoff x Fürst Piccolo), and came away with her ticket to the LeMieux National Dressage Championships at Stoneleigh in September.

Dolle Jung (pictured) is an attractive chestnut gelding who was found in Germany only last January by his team of owner Sarah Banwell, rider Stephanie, and trainer Virginia Peters. Stephanie loved the horse the moment she put her foot in the stirrup, and going on the advice of Virginia, the horse was soon off the market.

“He’s a one-in-a-million horse and I feel very privileged to ride him,” said Stephanie after the show. “He’s a very genuine, nice horse, and is slightly sensitive which I like. His regionals test just flowed and I was thrilled because his canter-trot-canter transitions, which I’ve had to work hard on, came off. We even scored 9s for them!”

Stephanie is a freelance rider whose time is spent starting youngsters, riding out on the gallops and hunting, as well as in the dressage arena. She likes to employ this varied life with Dolle Jung’s training. “He’s treated like a normal horse, hacking and going in the field which really suits him.”

The Sheepcote Stud, located in Herefordshire, was well represented at the championships. 20-year-old Elijah Lovell took the honours in the BackinAction preliminary riding consistent partner Sheepcote Lets Go to earn a great score of 73.40% from the judges. Sheepcote Lets Go is five-year-old gelding by Lord Loxley and owned by David Pincus who, with his wife Serena, founded Sheepcote in 1980.

Serena and David’s daughter, Lucy, was once again on top of the podium with Sheepcote Doncalisto, her father’s nine-year-old Don Schufro son. They won the Fairfax Saddles prix st georges on a score of 70.92%. The pair already has national titles to their name as they’ve confidently progressed through the levels, and could be ones to watch at Stoneleigh.

Results

BackinAction Preliminary
Section a: Amy Pett with Chance T, 70.71%
Section b: Elijah Lovell with Sheepcote Lets Go, 73.40%

Dodson & Horrell Novice Restricted
Stephanie Sweet with Dolle Jung, 75.63%

Dodson & Horrell Novice Open
Section a: Brendan Tegg with Polos Pikasso, 72.13%
Section b: Jezz Palmer with Frumma, 72.59%

Nettex Elementary Restricted
Section a: Glenys Tucker with Woodlander Revolution, 68.80%
Section b: Sophie Quarterman with Knightswood Diamond Geezer, 71.35%

Nettex Elementary Open
Laura Wollen with Woodlander Buddy Holly, 75.21%

TopSpec Medium Restricted
Lewis Carrier with Diego, 68.92%

TopSpec Medium Open
Amy Woodhead with Delicato, 73.69%

Equine Construction Advanced Medium Restricted
Mark Cunliffe with Rastafari, 65.61%
Helen Askey with Boston HS, 65.61%

Equine Construction Advanced Medium Open
Kate Cowell with Dahling, 72.54%

Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges
Lucy Pincus with Sheepcote Doncalisto, 70.92%

Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I
Maya Goldberg with Torino, 70.18%

For full results click here