BD Abroad: Hagen CDIO

The following combinations have been selected to represent Great Britain at Hagen CDIO/CDI/CDIU25 (09 – 12 July 2015):

CDIO

Hannah Biggs (36) from Gillingham, Dorset with her own Weltzin (chestnut, stallion, 16.1hh, 16yrs, s. Welt Bogen)

Emily Cousins (26) from Maidstone, Kent with her own and Ellie Cousins’ Solo Bachelorette (bay, gelding, 16.2hh, 16yrs, s. Welt Hit)

Lara Griffith (26) from Ampney St Peter, Gloucestershire with Dr Wilfried Bechtolsheimer’s Rubin Al Asad (bay, gelding, 17.1hh, 13yrs, s. Rubin Royal)

Anna Ross (42) from Allington, Wiltshire with Jane Sewell’s Die Callas (black, mare 16.2hh, 14yrs, s. De Niro)

The team at the Opening Ceremony yesterday - thanks to Lara for the pic via Twitter @LaraGriffith

CDI

Susan Pape (52) from Hemmoor, Germany with Harmony Sporthorses and her own Harmonys Don Noblesse (gelding, 8yrs, s. Dancier, competing small tour)

Laura Tomlinson (30) from Ampney St Peter, Gloucestershire with Dr Wilfried Bechtolsheimer’s Unique VII (bay, mare, 17.2hh, 11yrs, s. Carpaccio, competing big tour) and Dr Wilfried Bechtolsheimer and her own Duvals Capri Sonne Jr (black, stallion, 16.3hh, 8yrs, s. Rhodium, competing small tour)

Spencer Wilton (42) from End Lane, Berkshire with Jennifer Goodman’s Supernova (dark brown, gelding, 16.3hh, 12yrs, s. De Niro, competing big tour)

CDIU25

Ryan Todd (22) from Halifax, West Yorkshire with Julie Todd’s Charlex Eskebjerg (bay, gelding, 16.2hh, 14yrs, s. Carano)
Website with live scoring: click here

All-star cast head for Hartpury

Today marks the start of two exciting weeks for both para and able-bodied international riders, as selection for the Europeans draws closer. With Hickstead CDIO and Hagen CDI4* also on the horizon, Hartpury Festival of Dressage (8 – 12 July 2015) features a CPEDI3* and CDI3* jam packed with top riders, looking to make a lasting impression on the selectors.

For spectators, it’s a rare opportunity to see superstar champions, Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro perform in the flesh. They’ll be contesting in the Smith and Williamson grand prix against riders across 11 countries and some of British dressage’s biggest names, including Carl Hester and Niptuck, Gareth Hughes with Classic Briolinca, Fiona Bigwood with Atterupps Othilia and Sophie Wells with Pinocchio, to name a few. Held at Hartpury College, set amongst the beautiful Gloucester countryside, competition kicks off today with the CPEDI3* team tests, where Sophie Wells and Nicky Greenhill have started with a bang, winning their classes with impressive 70%+ scores.

However, Hartpury is not only playing host to international riders, the Festival of Dressage is living up to its name as it includes the final premier league fixture of the season. Attracting a flurry of riders such as Michael and Maria Eilberg, Olivia Oakeley, Andrew Gould, Alice Oppenheimer, Matt Hicks, Emile Faurie, Charlotte Dujardin, Dan Watson, Steph Croxford and Becky Moody for starters, it’s a not-to-be-missed event.

For the first time in Festival of Dressage history, you can keep up-to-date on the action via their live stream.

For more information on the event, including start times and results, click here.

Valiant effort from Brits at Vidauban

Britain’s Junior team kept their cool under the scorching Provence sun at the FEI European Dressage Championships for Juniors and Young Riders, Vidauban, 1 – 5 July 2015.

The quartet of young Brits, including two riders making their European Championship debut, achieved a creditable eighth place out of fourteen teams from across Europe. Erin Williams (17) and Bolsan B, her mother Clare’s impressive Sandro Hit nine-year-old were best of the Brits in the team test earning a personal best score of 69.62%.

European Championship newcomer Amber Barton (18) and her 11-year-old stallion Labiat, an attractive son of Le Primeur, thrived under the pressure of their first European team appearance, scoring 67.83%. The new partnership has achieved good results since coming together last year, and they're looking great prospects for the future.

Chloe Vell (17) and Kaja Di Valentina achieved a solid team test result of 67.67% despite some tension shown in the walk, in an otherwise mistake-free round. The pair’s last European team call-up was in 2013 for the Europeans at Compiègne in France, and they drew upon this experience to show some lovely highlights.

The youngest of the four, Charlotte Dicker (16), and her relatively new ride, Sabatini, are in the early stages of their partnership so their best is yet to come. They scored 63.86% yet showed glimpses of the brilliance they’re capable of. Charlotte and Sabatini, a talented 10-year-old mare by Stedinger and owned by Ian Mcrobbie, look to have successful times ahead.

Germany dominated the team championship, headed by Semmieke Rothenberger aboard Geisha, a 13-year-old Danish-bred mare by Gribaldi, scoring an outstanding 76.35%

In soaring temperatures reaching highs of 40 degrees, all four riders gave their all in the Junior Individual Test. Once more, Erin and Bolsan B lead the Brits with another assured performance. Erin expressed her delight via Facebook: “Another incredible day! ‘Sonny’ and I scored 68.31% in the individual test this morning! We managed to be best Brit yet again despite two large mistakes! I'm so proud of him this week. He's been so grown up and coped with this heat amazingly.”

Amber and Labiat scored 67.21%, Charlotte and Sabatini 65.57% and Chloe and Kaja Di Valentina, 64.23%.

The individual championship test went to Germany’s Hannah Erbe and Carlos 609, an eight-year-old Rhinelander gelding by Carabas, out of a Weltmeyer mare. The pair scored 78.02%. None of the British riders qualified for the freestyle championship which was won by Spain’s Juan Matute Guimon aboard Dhannie Ymas, an eight-year-old Hanoverian gelding by Don Crusador. Juan scored 81.60% to make history as the first Spanish youth rider ever to win an individual medal.

It was a team of firsts for the young riders heading out to France for the Championships at Vidauban. With the competition marking 18-year-old Becky Edwards and 19-year-old Robyn Smith’s first ever Europeans, the girls were reliant on the previous experience of team mates Charlotte Fry and Claire Gallimore who, although enjoying the championships for the first time as young riders, have gained great exposure to the competition as junior and pony riders.

First, to decide the team honours, were the team tests and it was Glaswegian, Robyn Smith who was first to go for GBR. Riding Gail Smith’s 17-year-old British-bred gelding, Foold Uz in a sweltering heat of 35 degrees, the pair scored a solid 68.13% - a strong start for the team. Originally first reserve for the young rider team, Claire Gallimore – who is currently based with the Bartels in the Netherlands – stepped up to the plate just two weeks before the competition as Anna Lawson withdrew her horse, Bryan, from selection. Riding her mother’s ten-year-old Scandic-sired mare, Annette Ballerina, she notched up a score of 66.78%.

“Bella felt amazing in the warm up and I was really excited to go in,” announced Claire from her Facebook page. “When we went into the arena she was a little bit spooky. The trot work was strong resulting in us being on 69% when I went into the walk however the work was too tense so I lost a lot of marks. The canter work was good but a few of expensive mistakes, resulting on us ending up of 66.7%. I was so proud of how Bella coped in the heat and feel that it was a positive first performance.”

Despite some costly mistakes, Becky Edwards and Dr Margaret Cox’s 14-year-old Portugese stallion, Ufano gave their all in the team test to score 66.52%. Last to go, Charlotte Fry and her partner, Rosemary Shewen’s athletic 11-year-old Flemmingh-sired gelding, Z Flemmenco (pictured) showed their experience at the championships – the pair competed last year as a junior combination – posting a personal best of 69.21%.

“Dinky [Z Flemmenco] and I posted a personal best in the Young Rider team test of 69.21% at the European Championships!” exclaimed Charlotte via her Facebook. “I had an amazing ride and Dinky felt awesome, even though I was riding in around 36 degrees he coped so well!”

A strong result for GBR in the team test but the immense standard of the competition meant that it was not high enough to claim a medal, placing us into seventh. Gold went to Germany, closely followed by the Netherlands in second and Sweden in third.

Over the further two days of individual tests, all four young riders improved on their previous days’ percentages. Despite the raising temperatures (40 degrees!), Becky and Ufano jumped eight places, landing in 27^th with their score of 68.34% with Robyn and Foold Uz following behind, scoring 68.31%. Claire and Bella were also on the up, showing great scope for the future with their mark of 67.78%. However, it was Charlotte and Dinky who were the star performers, notching up another personal best of 70.07% to claim 15^th and a place through to the freestyle where they scored 68.87%.

For full results, click here.

Results

Junior Team Championship

1^st – Germany, 224.51

2^nd – Netherlands, 216.37

3^rd – Denmark, 215.00

8^th – Great Britain, 205.13

Young Rider Team Championship

1^st – Germany, 221.42

2^nd – Netherlands, 221.10

3^rd – Sweden, 215.02

7^th – Great Britain, 204.13

Individual results of British riders

Junior team test

17^th – Erin Williams with Bolsan B (GBR), 69.62%

32^nd – Amber Barton with Labiat (GBR), 67.83%

34^th – Chloe Vell with Kaja Di Valentina (GBR), 67.67%

54^th – Charlotte Dicker with Sabatini (GBR), 63.86%

Junior Individual Championship

28^th – Erin Williams and Bolsan B (GBR), 68.31%

34^th – Amber Barton and Labiat (GBR), 67.21%

47^th – Charlotte Dicker and Sabatini (GBR), 65.57%

54^th – Chloe Vell and Kaja Di Valentina (GBR), 64.23%

Young rider team

18^th – Charlotte Fry with Z Flemmenco (GBR), 69.21%

25^th – Robyn Smith with Foold Uz (GBR), 68.13%

33^rd – Claire Gallimore with Annette Ballerina (GBR), 66.78%

35^th – Rebecca Edwards with Ufano (GBR), 66.52%

Young Rider Individual Championship

15^th – Charlotte Fry with Z Flemmenco (GBR), 70.07%

27^th – Rebecca Edwards with Ufano (GBR), 68.34%

28^th – Robyn Smith with Foold Uz (GBR), 68.31%

31^st – Claire Gallimore with Annette Ballerina (GBR), 67.78%

Young Rider Freestyle Championship

18^th – Charlotte Fry with Z Flemmenco (GBR), 68.87%

Issue 5 of BD magazine out this week

British Dressage magazine is the official publication for BD, including news, features and insights, as well as full competition schedules for the next six weeks.

In this issue:

• Chat with Charlotte – our Olympic gold medal winning cover girl answers 25 readers’ questions

• Action from Windsor’s CDI3* FEI Dressage

• Vet on call: understanding loss of performance

• Paragon partners: what makes the ideal para horse?

• Expert advice on feeding balancers

• Latest in tack trends

• Judges’ viewpoint: training and competing in young horse classes

Plus: Preview of the FEI European Championships, organiser and Port Royal EC’s co-owner Michelle Bainbridge’s Dressage Days, Vanessa Knight’s Paramatters, BD Action and Regional Activity, plus full diary dates from 1 September – 14 October 2015

Eight issues are available per year. British Dressage magazine is delivered free to every BD member and is also available as a subscription package to non-members.

Pavo Cup Pre-Selection returns to Hartpury

The Pavo Cup pre-selection is back for a fourth year, taking place during the Festival of Dressage at Hartpury College, Gloucestershire on 10 July 2015. The most prestigious young horse competition in the Netherlands, the Pavo Cup is a competition for talented four and five-year-old dressage horses,.

Together, KWPN and Hartpury Festival of Dressage have organised the Pavo Cup pre-selection giving the opportunity for riders/owners to show off their gifted youngsters to the Pavo Cup judges on home ground, with the best qualifying for the semi-finals, held at the KWPN Championships in Ermelo, the Netherlands.

Horses are evaluated in groups of two as they perform various dressage movements in front of an experienced panel of KWPN judges. Four-year-olds are required to show the walk, trot and canter in both directions, as well as a few strides of medium trot, medium canter and leg yield. Five-year-olds must show the basic gaits, plus extended trot, extended canter and shoulder-in. Horses are judged in their basic gaits, carriage & elasticity, overall impression and functionality & correctness of conformation.

The most successful studbook on the WBFSH rankings, many breeders and riders in the UK have fallen for the charm, rideability and quality of KWPN horses. With Valegro, Uthopia, Totilas, Parzival and Undercover all bred under the KWPN flag, the Pavo Cup pre-selection is a must-see event to catch potential future superstars.

For more information on the competition, including eligibility, requirements and tests, visit the KWPN website.

Picture, courtesy of KWPN, features Dan Greenwood with Jenny Welham's Exige M, winners of last year's Pavo Cup pre-selection

Notice of AGM 2015 and voting papers

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual General Meeting of BRITISH DRESSAGE will be held at The Oak Tree, Stoneleigh Park, Kenilworth, Warwickshire on 17 September 2015 at 6.45 pm for the purpose of considering the matters set out below.

AGENDA

Special Business

The following two resolutions will be proposed as Special Resolutions:

1. To amend the Articles of Association of British Dressage so that (i) the articles 2.1, 11, 12, 15.1.2 and 18 be removed and substituted with the articles tabled before the meeting and (ii) article 21 is deleted and the numbering of the remaining articles be adjusted accordingly.
2. If special resolution 1 is not passed, to amend the Articles of Association of British Dressage so that the articles 2.1 and 21 be removed and substituted with the articles tabled before the meeting.

Ordinary Business

The following will be proposed as Ordinary Resolutions:

1. To re-elect Rules and Fixtures Director.
2. To elect Judges Director. Download a ballot paper
3. To receive the Financial Statements of British Dressage for the year ended 31 December 2014 and the Directors’ and Auditors’ Reports thereon. Download the annual report
4. To appoint KPMG as the auditors of British Dressage and to authorise the Board to fix their remuneration.

By order of the Board

Jason Brautigam
Chief Executive
Meriden Business Park
Copse Drive
Meriden
West Midlands, CV5 9RG
Company number: 3443026

Dated: 1 June 2015

Any member of British Dressage entitled to attend and vote at the meeting convened by this Notice is entitled to appoint a proxy to attend and vote in his or her place. A proxy need not be a member of British Dressage. The completed proxy form must be received at the registered office not later than 48 hours before the date and time that the meeting is due to commence. Proxy forms can be obtained by writing to the Chief Executive with a stamped addressed envelope.

Voting opens today (6 July) and all eligible members that we have a valid email address for should have received an email with their personal link to vote on-line. You can vote using a paper ballot by downloading a form and posting to Mi-Voice.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM) - EXPLANATORY NOTE

Introduction

British Dressage’s current articles of association (Articles) provide for 1/3 (one third) of the directors to retire at each AGM, meaning the directors are on a continual three year cycle.

The board of British Dressage would like the directors to be on a four year cycle, to correspond with the Olympic calendar. To achieve this, the board recommend that the Articles are amended under Special Resolution 1 (details provided below). In the event that Special Resolution 1 is not passed, a second special resolution (Special Resolution 2) is proposed which only amends the term of office of the international director (details provided below).

Special Resolution 1

Download - THE DRAFT OF THE PROPOSED AMENDED ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION (HIGHLIGHTING AND INCORPORATING THE PROPOSED CHANGES) FOR SPECIAL RESOLUTION 1.

This special resolution amends the Articles so that each director’s term of office is increased from 3 to 4 years. With the exception of the international director, these changes take effect from this AGM, which means all existing directors will remain in office for 3 years from the date of their appointment and only directors appointed after the AGM will hold office for 4 years.

As the board considers it important to avoid a change to the international director a year before the Olympics, it was decided that his change of term should take immediate effect. This means the international director will hold office for 4 years from the AGM he was appointed, meaning he will retire at next year’s AGM (after Rio).

In addition, the terms of office for the honorary roles of President and Vice-President are proposed to be amended to bring their terms of office in line with the Olympic calendar:

· President: The President’s term of office is proposed to be increased from 3 to 4 years. Like the directors (other than the international director), this will be effective after the current President has served the 3 year term he was initially appointed for.

· Vice-Presidents: A 4 year term of office is proposed to be introduced for the Vice Presidents. As the Vice Presidents did not have a fixed period of office under the Articles, this is proposed to be effective from this AGM. The current Vice Presidents will therefore hold their first term of office until the AGM in 2020.

Finally, to bring the President’s rights in line with the Vice-Presidents’, it is proposed that the President, by virtue of his appointment to that role, be given life membership.

Special Resolution 2

Download - THE DRAFT OF THE PROPOSED AMENDED ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION (HIGHLIGHTING AND INCORPORATING THE PROPOSED CHANGES) FOR SPECIAL RESOLUTION 2.

If Special Resolution 1 is not passed, Special Resolution 2 is an alternative special resolution to amend the Articles to extend the international director’s term of office only.

The amendments provide that the international director will be subject to a new 4 year term of office which will apply immediately, to ensure that the international director’s term of office corresponds with the Olympic calendar. As such, the current international director will be entitled to hold office until the AGM in 2016 (after Rio).

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD

Jason Brautigam
Chief Executive
Meriden Business Park
Copse Drive
Meriden
West Midlands, CV5 9RG
Company number: 3443026

Dated: 01 June 2015

If you would like a hard copy of the Documents, please contact Angela Green, PA to the Chief Executive at British Dressage on +44 (0) 24 7669 8844.

Important downloads

To download this notice of AGM - click here

To view the candidate profiles - click here

To download a ballot form - click here

If you require a form by post, please send a self-addressed stamped envelope to request one to: Angela Green, British Dressage, Building 2020, Copse Drive, Meriden Business Park, Meriden, West Midlands CV5 9RG.

New championship for those who protect and serve

Dressage and service personnel are steeped in history and tradition. After all, dressage was developed by the military to make horses more obedient and responsive in battle and on parade, so it’s very fitting for British Dressage (BD) to announce a new championship in partnership with Forces Equine.

Forces Equine is for equestrians in HM Forces, Government Services or Public Services and their dependants and proactively helps forces riders and their families meet, interact and compete within their equine communities. They have a long standing association with British Showjumping and now are working closely with British Dressage to bring a new championship for intro to elementary horses and riders.

Forces Equine founder Debi Heath French commented; “We are honoured to be in partnership with British Dressage and having a series together to run with our new Forces Equine Dressage League. Our members have wanted this for some time and have already been involved with Team Quest so this gives a new goal to aim for. With a salute to the future, we ride to serve and look forward to a successful partnership with BD.”

Open to existing BD members or anyone who’s new to the sport, riders must be members of Forces Equine Riding Club and a minimum of BD Team Quest members to qualify. Horses must be minimum Associate registered which enables them to compete at intro and prelim levels. Combinations who wish to qualify for novice or elementary must be fully BD registered or purchase class tickets. As a welcome, BD is offering each rider two free class tickets to help them qualify.

To qualify, combinations must secure two 60% or higher scores in any regular BD or Team Quest affiliated competition between 1 January 2015 and 31 September 2015. Once the scores are attained, riders must notify BD and once validated, they will be given an invite to the final. The finishing plans are being worked on for a fitting finale which will be announced in the coming weeks.

Paul Graham, BD Sport Operation Manager added; “We’re delighted to be working with Forces Equine on their new Championship. It will be great for the sport to welcome a new group of riders and the concept has worked well in show jumping so we’re looking forward to a mutually beneficial new venture with Forces Equine.