Laura Brindle and Fabian taste victory in the grand prix at Somerford Park’s Premier League Show
Laura Brindle and Fabian ran out popular winners of the Selwyn Travel Services Grand Prix at the ILPH Premier League at Somerford Park Farm, Cheshire.
In front of the enthusiastic crowd, the pair scored 66.36% to beat Nicola McGivern with her exciting new acquisition Active Walero into second, with Carl Hester and Donnersong relegated to third place.
“The winners presented a very harmonious picture,” said Stephen Clarke, who judged at C. “They showed plenty of expression and Laura was rewarded for bold riding.”
Now14, Fabian was bought as an eight-year-old by Laura’s sister, who successfully competed the Ubis gelding in juniors before giving the ride to Laura.
Donner Rhapsody won the IAE Engineering Intermediaire II at only her second attempt atthe level.
“It’s the first time I have taken a mare to this level,” he said, “and it’s been an interesting exercise – you couldn’t have two such different horses as her and her brother. He has presence and elegance whereas her strength is in her power – in fact, she was known as ‘junior carthorse’ as a foal because she was so strong!”
Young horse classes
The young horse classes were all well filled, with Richard Jones’ Wolkensdream winning both the PreVac Pro five-year-old and Shearwater International qualifiers with his wife Sabrina in the saddle
The PreVac Pro in particular was a strong class, with the top three in the section going through, such was the quality.
The four-year-old section went to one of the more local competitors, Lancashire-based Jaki Hulme with her own Vasco Van De Kwekenhoeve, who was bought unbroken last year from Astrid Bolton.
Korenbloem Papillon, owned jointly by rider Andrew Gould and Craig Rawlins, won the national Shearwater five-year-old class, having also picked up her PreVac Pro qualification with a second place.
The six-year-old sections were both slightly smaller, particularly in the more difficult international test, where Markus Baur rode Odetta to win with 75. The national version went to Rachel Rogers Beasley on Millrowes Say No More.
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