Simply sensational Sheepgate!

Young talent impressed at the 15th running of the Sheepgate BYRDS Under 25 Championships in Boston, Lincs, (24 – 29 August), which once again saw record entries and mammoth scores, with live scoring and streaming throughout the six days of competition, sponsored by Pikeur.

Traditionally a hotbed of young talent, many top riders have made their mark at this show, including Charlotte Dujardin, Phoebe Peters and Charlotte Fry.

This year was no exception with 20-year-old Gaby Lucas from Brentwood, Essex, impressing the judges in the Top Spec FEI Young Rider Championship with her eight-year-old 18.2hh German-bred gelding Salo (pictured right), (by Sandro Bedo), who she found through Peter Tomlinson.

“Although Salo’s ginormous, the first time I sat on him I couldn’t stop smiling, he’s got natural cadence and a very sweet temperament,” said Gaby, a former pony, junior and young rider European team member, who has been riding since the age of two and now runs her own training yard. “I’ve been training with Sarah Turner for the past four months and it’s made a big difference -- although Sarah’s style is quite laid back, she’s taught me to ride for a 10, which we achieved for the first time at Sheepgate.”

Gaby also rode her own 11-year-old Zante, a, 16.3hh Danish-bred gelding, (by Flemmingh), who finished fourth overall in the championships.

The Farnam Products FEI Junior Championship proved a close run battle over the two days between 16-year-old Anna Jesty (Aquiro) and Jo Thurman Baker (Highcliffe Apollo), who both produced evenly matched high scoring tests, with Anna just clinching the title by less than one mark in spite of an uncharacteristic error of course.

“It was nail biting right to the end, but ‘Gleavo’ tried so hard so I’m really proud of him,” said Anna, who bought her 12-year-old German-bred gelding (by Aquino) in May last year and trains with Bruce King and Claire Speer.

“Having always evented and ridden more Thoroughbred types previously, he’s the first warmblood I’ve owned and gives you a different feel - Gleavo has the most amazing work ethic and power, but we include pole work, hacking and a bit of jumping in his training, which helps to keep him fit and happy.”

Anna, who works as a groom /rider at Platinum Stud in Hampshire and is studying for her advanced AASE at Hartpury College, also won the FEI Junior Freestyle to Music test scoring 74.25% with a compilation of contemporary hits put together by Amanda Birch Dressage Music.

The British Dressage Supporters Club FEI Pony Championship saw 15-year-old Lara Kuropatwa and her sister Olivia’s nine-year-old German-bred pony Mr Snowman achieve a personal championship best, scoring 73.72% in the team test and earning their first 10 (for the rein back).

“We’ve never won a major championship before, so I’m very proud of ‘Snowy’,” said Lara, who trains with Peter Storr. “When he first came to us as a four-year-old, he was quite strong and unruly, but as he’s matured, we’ve developed a real trust and we enjoy hacking out on our own a couple of times a week – Snowy has already exceeded all our expectations!”

Twenty-five-year-old Devan Woodgate from Epsom, Surrey, won the KBIS Insurance Ltd Under 25s Advanced Medium Championship scoring 70.39% with her 17.3hh seven-year-old British-bred gelding, who she has owned since he was three.

“Because of his size, we’ve taken it slowly and concentrated on doing a handful of young horse classes last year, coming fifth in the international six-year-old class at Hickstead, as well as winning the Dressage Masters semi finals at medium level,” said Gaby, who has been training with Charlotte Dujardin for the past year . “I’m only 5ft 4ins, but ‘Bling’ is a pleasure to ride and compete with such a willing and trainable temperament.

“The U25's at Sheepgate was his first time staying away at a show with a busy competition atmosphere, and he tried hard to do his best. He’s a big moving horse, although still lacking in strength for self carriage and balance. Bing did a lovely test earning 8s for his extensions, but I think we ‘re only just starting to scratch the surface with him and there’s still a lot more to come in the future which is exciting.”

Gaby, a semi-finalist in the Young Professionals award last year, says her aim is to compete Distaulgold in their first prix st georges early next year, with an eye on contesting international grand prix in the future.

The Wolds Exclusive Bling Under 25s Medium Championship title belonged to 18-year-old Lucy Pincus and her father David’s home-bred 15.2hh gelding Sheepcote Suncrest (by San Schufro)

Lucy and ‘Sunny’, winners of the PDS Saddles elementary open music freestyle at this year’s NAF Five Star Winter Championships, repeated their winning form at this show (the combination won the elementary title here last year) to take top slot scoring 73.03% on the first day and 71.96% on the second.

“Sunny can be quite opinionated and sometimes he thinks he knows best, so as a rider, you just have to try and remain very calm and focused,” explained Lucy, who now heads for the LeMieux National Dressage Championships later this month, where they have qualified for the TopSpec Medium Open and Nettex Elementary Open Championships.
“I love riding Sunny because he’s quite cheeky, but enjoys his work - his natural flexibility makes the lateral movements easy and we gain a lot of confidence from each other.”

On form combination 12-year-old Maddy Whelan and her six-year-old British-bred 14.2hh Connemara/Thoroughbred pony mare Ode To Shannon (by Washington Postman), who train with Jackie Beaven, were outstanding winners of the Farnam Products Under 25s Elementary Championship scoring 73.14%.

“We’ve bought ‘Lissey’ 18 months ago -- before coming to us she was a Pony Club all-rounder who’d also done a bit of hunting, but Maddy’s taken things slowly and they’ve formed a close relationship which is a pleasure to watch,” said Maddy’s mum Lorna.
This combination are also heading to the LeMieux National Dressage Championships this month where they’ve qualified for the Nettex Elementary Open Championship and they plan to contest some FEI tests at Premier League shows later this year.

The Tottie Under 25s Novice Championship saw a convincing win for 23-year-old Sara Malpass, from Farnham, Surrey, and her seven-year-old 15.2hh Andalusian gelding Pitingo II, who made their first visit to this championships.

Sara, who suffers from Fibromyalgia, a long-term condition which causes pain, fatigue and muscle stiffness, works as head groom for her trainer Edward Creamer and is a freelance instructor.

“We wanted to come to Sheepgate because it provided the opportunity of three days to concentrate on training and competing as ‘Pingo’ can be quite sharp and naughty” said Sara, who qualified for the prelim championships at last year’s national and is returning to Stoneleigh this month to contest the Dodson & Horrell Novice Restricted Championship.

“He’s the first PRE gelding I’ve owned and quite different from my previous horses, but he’s taught me a lot. Although he can be quite hot, we manage his diet carefully and we’ve also worked on making sure he’s really loose over his back in training, which has helped improve his paces a lot.

“I took him for half an hour’s hack on the morning of our competition, which helped loosen him up and set him perfectly for our test later that day.”

More than 30 combinations qualified for the finals of the hotly contested Senots Ltd Under 25s Preliminary Championship, which saw 11-year-old Alice McCall and her nine-year-old British-bred 13.1hh Welsh Section B gelding Bochym Royal Casanova (by Barkla Royal Highlander) win by the narrowest of margins.

The combination from Newbury, Berks, are members of the South Berkshire branch of the Pony Club, and they’ve enjoyed taking part in Team Quest dressage competitions as part of the Ready, Steady, Ride team.

“We’ve only owned ‘Darcy’ for a year, but already Alice has gained a lot of confidence from him and they adore each other,” said Alice’s mum Jo. “We’d never been to Sheepgate before, but a lot of the BYRDS’ mums I know recommended going to the Under 25s Championships because it’s a great show.

“We didn’t expect to do so well – we were blown away when Alice came third in the semi finals because her dream was to climb onto the podium. The next day, we were bags of nerves until the last score of the championships went up and we discovered Alice and Darcy had won.

“I thought I'd dreamt it all until the next morning when I woke up and saw Alice’s haul of prizes and amazing rosettes which were bigger than her head – it certainly made our five-hour journey worthwhile!”

This was the last prelim for Alice and Bochym Royal Casanova, who train with Lindsey Jenkins, who now plan to move up to contest novice classes later this year.

Results

Monday 24 August

Fellowes Farm Equine Clinic Medium 69
1st Lucy Pincus & Sheepcote Suncrest, 73.03%
2nd Charlotte McDowall & BKS Grand Design, 72.73%
3rd Harriet Kipping & Camelot’s Black Knight, 70.91%

Sheepgate Tack and Togs Team Competition Medium 61
1st Joshua Hill & Bewunder 70.69%
2nd Izzy Chaplin & Taijdora 70.17%
3rd Chris Hammond & Ruban D’Or 66.05%

Laura Payne Sports Massage PSG
1st Catrina Leckie & Adventure 71.05%
2nd Hannah Doggett & Samara Fly 67.76%
3rd Sarah Frank & Ulrich Von Lichtenstein 64.08%

Sheepgate Open Freestyle Challenge Novice
1st Joshua Hill & Double Check 74.72%
2nd Maddy Whelan & Beaurepaire Frodo 73.33%
3rd Emma Neil & Sheepcote Romeo 70.28%

Sheepgate Open Freestyle Challenge Advanced Medium
1st Joshua Hill & Bewunder 73.67%
2nd Martin Humphrey & Damerisk 69.83%
3rd India Sheridan & DHI Smart Move 69.67%

British Dressage Supporters Club FEI Pony Team/Ind
1st Lara Kuropatwa & Mister Snowman 73.72%
2nd Sophie Williams & Ferrari 70.13%
3rd Charlotte McDowall & BKS Grand Design 67.76%

Farnam Products FEI Junior Team/Ind
1st Anna Jesty & Aquiro 72.57%
2nd Joanna Thurman Baker & Highcliffe Apollo 68.78%
3rd Emma Bond & Lime Walk 67.50%

Top Spec FEI Young Rider Team/Ind
1st Gaby Lucas & Salo 69.67%
2nd Catrina Leckie & Adventure 69.54%
3rd Victoria Maw & Bon Rouge 69.01%

KBIS Insurance Ltd Under 25s Advanced Medium Championship
1st Devan Woodgate & Distaulgold 70.39%
2nd Victoria Maw & Bon Rouge 69.47%
3rd Anna Jesty & Aquiro 68.86%

Tuesday 25 August

PSG/Int I
1st Victoria Maw & Bon Rouge 67.50%
2nd Hannah Bailey & Show Boy 65.66%
3rd Sarah Frank & Ulrich Von Lichtenstein 64.31%

Lazy Jacks Medium 69/Advanced Medium 94
1st Harriett Kipping & Camelot’s Black Knight 72.58%
2nd Hannah Smith Hilliard & Del-Isla 69.24%
3rd Chloe Hunter & Day Light 67.50%

Sheepgate Tack and Togs Team Competition Medium 69
1st Joshua Hill & Bewunder 74.55%
2nd Harvey White & Talika 74.24%
3rd Izzy Chaplin & Taijdora 72.27%

British Dressage Supporters Club FEI Pony Championship
1st Lara Kuropatwa & Mister Snowman 70.55%
2nd Sophie Williams & Ferrari 69.39%
3rd Maddy Whelan & Ode To Shannon 69.36%

Farnam Products FEI Junior Championship Team/Ind
1st Joanna Thurman Baker & Highcliffe Apollo 72.03%
2nd Anna Jesty & Aquiro 68.88%
3rd Emily Bradshaw & Remarkable 67.50%

Top Spec FEI Young Rider Championship Team/Ind
1st Gabby Lucas & Salo 70.26%
2nd Gabby Lucas & Zante 70.20%
3rd Jo Thurman Baker & Highcliffe Apollo 69.67%

Wolds Exclusive Bling Under 25s Medium Championship
1st Lucy Pincus & Sheepcote Suncrest 71.96%
2nd Joshua Hill & Bewunder 69.95%
3rd Georgina Weedon & Romannos Rafiel 69.22%

FEI Freestyle to Music Pony FSM
1st Lara Kuropatwa & Mister Snowman 76.50%
2nd Angus Corrie Deane & Hagelkruis Valentijn 72.75%
3rd Anna Johannson & Heiligenbergs Pushed Again 65%

FEI Freestyle to Music Junior
1st Anna Jesty & Aquiro 74.25%
2nd Emily Bradshaw & Remarkable 72.13%
3rd Hazel McCorriston & SOS Unforgettable Uland 71.75%

FEI Freestyle to Music Young Rider
1st Catrina Leckie & Adventure 72%
2nd Heidi Fellows & Prototype 68.50%
3rd Sarah Frank & Ulrich Von Lichtenstein 64.88%

Wednesday 26 August

Sue Carson Saddles prelim 15 section A
1st Dani Sibbals & Master Rockafella 71.96%
2nd Hannah Garner & Black Ger 70%
3rd Georgia Webb & Arcas 67.83%

Sue Carson Saddles prelim 15 section B
1st Euphemia Nash & Lucky Quay 70.22%
2nd India Keates-Robinson & Ebony X 69.35%
3rd Charlotte Neal & Peasedown Pablo Picasso 68.04%

Sue Carson Saddles prelim 15 section C
1st Betsy Smetham & Glyncoch Red Rascal 74.35%
2nd Catrin Stewart & Gryngallt Panache 73.91%
3rd Lauren Spradbury & Pomelo V 68.26%

Sue Carson Saddles novice 22
1st Steph Kelly & Inca Gold 74.83%
2nd Angus Corrie Deane & Walters Fable 74.48%
3rd Amy Wilde & Foxcourt Fieryspice 74.31%

Sue Carson Saddles elementary 43
1st Angus Corrie Deane & Walters Fable 71.55%
2nd Holly Colegate Hardaway & Ratino 69.14%
3rd Sophie Mills & Woodlands Anabel 68.97%

Under 25s Preliminary Semi Final section A
1st Harriet Adams & Annagh Bobby Joe 72.61%
2nd April Joynson & Bryntegllwynau Rocky Robin 72.16%
3rd Alice McCall & Bochym Royal Casanova 72.05%

Under 25s Preliminary Semi Final section B
1st Maisie Hodge & Coednewydd Beauty Star Albert 71.93%
2nd Lauren Sweetland & Westhills Wravall 70.57%
=3rd Molly Bissett & Valentino + Ellie Jenkins & Un Muchacho 69.43%

Under 25s Preliminary Semi Final section C
1st Janine Habbin & Cleo 73.07%
2nd Millie McBride & Bounty 70.80%
3rd Betsy Smetham & Glyncoch Red Rascal 70.34%

Under 25s Elementary Semi Final section A
1st Maddy Whelan & Ode to Shannon 72.94%
2nd Charlotte McDowall & BKS Grand Design 70.81%
3rd Tyler Bradshaw & Dajano 69.93%

Under 25s Elementary Semi Final - section B
1st Hannah Knight & Knights Parnashe 73.68%
2nd Bea Burnham & Azara 71.84%
3rd Jade Guyton & Fiderstan 71.54%

Medium Freestyle to Music
1st Harriet Kipping & Camelot’s Black Knight 73.83%
2nd Bridget Tate & Dyffryncothi Bridget 72.17%
3rd Angus Corrie Deane & Hagelkruis Valentijn 70.67%

Advanced Medium Freestyle to Music
1st Georgina Hyson & FRS Can Swing 71.50%
2nd Hannah Bailey & Show Boy 68.67%
3rd Sabrina Pagliarini & Lynwood Shareholder 59.17%

Thursday 27 August

Baille Haylage prelim 15 section A
1st Rebecca Lawson & Apricor Amishca 72.61%
2nd Ellie Wilson & Barford Jack In A Box 72.39%
3rd Megan Assouline & Jamaj 71.96%

Baille Haylage prelim 15 section B
1st Catrin Stewart & Gryngallt Panache 82.39%
2nd Zoe Lunt & Bowland Forest Dandelion 78.70%
3rd Zoe Florence & Hirstmund Merlot 75.22%

Bossy Bibs novice 38 section A
1st Jersey Garrett & Penherber Chaconne 70.81%
2nd Lydia Graham & Rubin’s Masterpiece 70.16%
3rd Zoe Golding & Enzo SR 70.16%

Bossy Bibs novice 38 section B
1st Harri Williams & Siglan Ernie 73.55%
2nd Polly Anne Robinson & Frankie Boy of Danthorpe 72.58%
3rd Siobhan Gilligan & Renoir SR 70.97%

Senots Ltd Under 25s Preliminary Championship
1st Alice McCall & Bochym Royal Casanova 71.59%
2nd Millie McBride & Bounty 71.52%
3rd April Joynson & Bryntegllwynau Rocky Robin 70.91%

Under 25s Novice Semi Final section A
1st Bea Burnham & Azara 74.57%
2nd Tyler Bradshaw & Dajano 74.05%
3rd Sophie Parkinson & Here Be Dragons 73.28%

Under 25s Novice Semi Final section B
1st Emily Pugh & Woodlands Prelude 73.19%
2nd Angus Corrie Deane & Walters Fable 72.33%
3rd Daisy Jackson & Premier Into The Black 68.62%

Under 25s Novice Semi Final section C
1st Laura Woodcock & Salvator 74.40%
2nd Clare Bennett & BKS Brandini 69.57%
3rd Natasha Rumble & Westcroft Dragonfly 68.97%

Farnam Products Under 25s Elementary Championship
1st Maddy Whelan & Ode To Shannon 73.14%
2nd Verity Tyrell & Z Vivaldo 72.21%
3rd Hannah Knight & Knights Parnashe 70.20%

Friday 28 August

Blue Chip Elementary 40
1st Hannah Knight & Knights Parnashe 72.90%
2nd Sophie Delia & Freedom 68.71%
3rd Siobhan Gilligan & Renoir SR 68.06%

Sheepgate Pony Derby Qualifier prelim 18
1st Catrin Stewart & Gryngallt Panache 71.04%
2nd Kendal Bow & Freedom 70%
3rd Emma Neil & Sheepcote Romeo 69.17%

Sheepgate Open Freestyle Challenge prelim
1st Natasha Rumble & Westcroft Dragonfly 71.94%
2nd Naomi Young & Landis Black Pepper 71.94%
3rd Maisie Hodge & Coednewydd Beauty Star Albert 71.39%

Sheepgate Open Freestyle Challenge elementary
1st Hannah Bailey & Show Boy 73%
2nd Alex Jo Parsons & Cyden Molenhorn's Lespirit 72.12%
3rd Bridget Tate & Dyffryncothi Bridget 71.54%

Tottie Under 25s Novice Championship
1st Sara Malpass & Pitingo II 71.95%
2nd Angus Corrie Deane & Walters Fable 70.75%
3rd Bea Burnham & Azara 70.40%

Sheepgate Tack & Togs Team Competition prelim 15
1st Mollie Sears & Dimna 75.65%
2nd Briony Cutler & Hilkens Charismatic 73.91%
3rd Betsy Smetham & Glynoch Red Rascal 72.83%

Sheepgate Tack and Togs Team Competition novice 23
1st Cerys Richards & Bryndefaid Angus 70.19%
2nd Emma Neil & Sheepcote Romeo 68.89%
3rd Holly Colgate Hardaway & Candover Raindrop 68.70%

Sheepgate Tack and Togs Team Competition elementary 45
1st Hannah Knight & Knights Parnashe 70.86%
2nd Bonnie Bourne & Twyford Salamander 70.52%
3rd Rowan Bryson & Lazulith 70.17%

Saturday 29 August

Euro-Star novice 27
1st Betsy Smetham & Glencoch Red Rascal 73%
2nd Jessica Finney & Georgiane Dante 71.09%
3rd Kendal Bow & DPUK Blue Moon 70.25%

Sheepgate Tack and Togs Potential Young Horse/Pony
1st Georgia Twaddell & Treliver Divine 76.11%
2nd Laura Woodcock & Salvator 75.56%
3rd Annie Lloyd Aylett & Lauris Diamond 74.72%

Sheepgate Open Freestyle Challenge prelim/novice
1st Naomi Young & Landis Black Pepper 75%
2nd Megan White & Skylark 73.91%
3rd Harri Williams & Siglan Ernie 70.65%

Sheepgate Open Freestyle Challenge elementary/medium
1st Katie Hills & San Rubiosa 70.45%
2nd Hannah Bailey & Show Boy 69.55%
3rd Alex Parsons & Cyden Molenhorn's Lespirit 67.24%

Sheepgate Tack & Togs Team Competition prelim 19
1st Naomi Young & Landis Black Pepper 77.05%
2nd Mollie Sears & Dimna 77.05%
3rd Briony Cutler & Hillkens Charismatic 76.36%

Sheepgate Tack & Togs Team Competition novice 38
1st Tyler Bradshaw & Dajango 81.29%
2nd Emma Neil & Sheepcote Romeo 80.32%
3rd Holly Colgate Hardaway & Candover Raindrop 77.58%

Sheepgate Tack & Togs Team Competition elementary 43
1st Hannah Knight & Knights Parnashe 76.38%
2nd Tyler Bradshaw & Dajango 71.90%
3rd Katie Hills & San Rubiosa 71.55%

Sheepgate Freestyle to Music prelim
1st Tabitha Leicester & Greencottage Kings Ransom 69.44%
2nd Ellie Wilson & Barford Jack In A Box 68.89%
3rd Stephanie Parsley & Glenives Princess Sylvia 66.67%

Sheepgate Freestyle to Music novice
1st Emma Neil & Sheepcote Romeo 74.17%
2nd Lizzy Flint & Northwoods Top Model 73.89%
3rd Daisy Cotton & Newoak Gold Rush 73.61%

Sheepgate Freestyle to Music elementary
1st Hannah Knight & Knights Parnashe 75.19%
2nd Matilda Haley & Bernwode Duvalier 69.23%
3rd Nina Ceruty & Sraghmore Willow 66.73%

For full results visit www.sheepgate.co.uk