Patey Hats Medium Elite Championship
Katrina Cantrell went into an early lead in the Patey Hats Medium /Elite qualifier at the Horse and Hound Winter Championships at Solihull Riding Centre.
Riding her impressive stallion Woodlander Markies she scored over 71%,the mark putting the pair nearly 5% ahead.
Mark Ruddock and Broadlands Optimist headed the chasing pack with Maria Lucas and Mercurius ,third in yesterday’s medium championship a further 1% behind.
The draw for the second stage of the championships takes place at 6.30pm tonight (Tuesday 12 June)with the Elite riders,,who include Carl Hester Jane Bredin,David Hunt,Vicky Thompson and Lizzie Murray ,riding from 9pm onwards.
Each Elite rider is allowed just 10 minutes to get to know their new ride so tact will be of great importance.
Carl Hester has been part of the winning combination in three of the past four year, so everyone will be hoping to pick him but all will have a lot to do to beat the current leader who looks to be in with a great chance of taking home the brand new Patey hat offered as first prize.
Tonight also sees the final of the Nirvana Spa Young Dressage Horse Prix St Georges Championship. With the likes of Jazz Dancer (Vicky Thompson) ,a winner at last year’s National Championships, Kwadraat(Becky Moody),on last year’s medal-winning European Young Rider Team and Clive Halsall’s talented Roulette it looks a classto savour.
Nirvana Spa Young Horse Prix St Georges Championships
Hot favourites Vicky Thompson and Jazz Dancer duly won the Nirvana Spa Young Dressage Horse Championships, but only by the narrowest of margins.
A strong challenge from Jane Bredin and Lucky Star put the pair just one mark behind with Angie Rutherford and Kartouche in third.
Vicky owns Jazz Dancer in partnership with his breeder who also owns the sire Olympic Ferro.
This was their first outing since the nationals last year where they won the Prix St Georges championships and the nationals are very much on the agenda this time.
“I really fancy the holiday on offer in the Blue Water Intermediaire I KAr ,”said Vicky.
Jane Bredin and Lucky Star had earlier won the Spillers Medium music championships a class that Jane confessed was far more nervewracking than the prix st georges.
“Everyone expected the horse to do well in the music,”she explained,”the prix st georges was more of an unknown quantity as the horse is still inexperienced at the level.
Patey Hats Medium /Elite Championship
Katrina Cantrell’s Woodlander Markies ran out an easy winner of the Patey Hats Medium/Elite.
Holding a commanding lead going in to round two the smart Belizar stallion was paired with Henriette Andersen who scored 69% leaving the rest with no chance of catching them.
Katrina bought the horse at the Equilibra Sale in 1997 and brought him on with help from Vicky Thompson and Michael Beining.
“It was the icing on the cake getting a better percentage than Henriette,”she said,”particularly as Henriette has beaten me on her own horse Astonish in the past!”
The pairing of Mark Ruddock’s Broadlands Optimist and Dries Roefs filled second with Mercurius and Maria Lucas paired with David Hunt in third.
Lizzie Murray took home the bottle of champagne for the biggest score improvement from round one with Emma Dutton’s Murphy’s Diamond who was much more settled second time around.
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