The 2015 British Dressage Championships at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire kicked off in style on 17 September 2015 with the first two FEI level titles won by Alice Oppenheimer for the Prix St Georges and Michael Eilberg for the Intermediaire II in front of a bumper crowd. The British National Championships distribute titles per class and not for overall winners across a level. Only the form of the day counts for British national honour.
Oppenheimer Wins the Prix St Georges
After claiming two titles at the 2015 British Winter Championships in April this year, Alice Oppenheimer and Georgina Pole-Carew’s Tantoni Sir Soccrates cranked it up a notch to claim the Prix St Georges Championship. She rode Headmore Boadicia for the prize giving after being bucked off the last time by Sir Soccrates.
In a class littered with big names and strong combinations, Alice and the 8-year-old Sir Soccrates topped the tables with a whopping 75.08%, just 0.02% off a personal best.
“I knew immediately it was a good test,” said a delighted Alice. “It was a clear round and I felt that I could ask for more for the higher marks. I know he can perform every single movement in the PSG test for an eight and today he really went for it.”
The pair, who qualified for the finals at Wellington Premier League with an equally impressive score of 73.37%, has celebrated a successful year both nationally and internationally at small tour level, having not scored less than 70% on British soil in the past year.
“He’s just the most incredible horse to ride and we seem to have built a fantastic rapport, he knows what I’m thinking and I now know what he’s thinking. He’s always so with me.”
Becky Moody and Carinsio were the runners-up with a 73.58% score, followed by Lara Griffith on the Bechtolsheimer Family's Kristjan with 72.13%.
Eilberg Wins Inter II Championship
Michael Eilberg’s 2015 National Championships campaign got off to a flying start with a solid win in the Intermediate II Championship. Taking the class with a confident 69.87% on the British-bred Half Moon Dynasty, owned by Jon and Julie Deverill, Michael was pleased with the mare’s test.
“It was really good actually, a few little mistakes in the green areas but her potential is looking great. I was hoping for a good score especially with the way she was passaging down the last centre line and the pirouettes were a lot better than they had been in the past," said Eilberg. "One less mistake would have been nice – I got a three in the two time changes, I was trying to be careful she didn’t go into ones, so I was a little bit behind in the movements. She then came round the corner and the one time changes were really good, especially considering she was not doing them until right before we went in!”
The combination has only competed at one other competition this year, securing their nationals qualification at the Hartpury Premier League back in July in their first ever inter II test. Michael declared their national’s preparation as ‘short and sweet’! “She wasn’t quite at inter II level until the Hartpury date and then it wasn’t too long until we came here,” he added.
Looking to the future with this horse, Michael is aiming to progress up to grand prix as soon as the 11-year-old by Dimaggio, also known as ‘Molly’, has gained some more confidence. “She can get a little bit on her toes at times, as soon as she feels confident enough to take the difficulty of the Grand Prix on, then we’ll crack on with it.”
The partnership have been together since 2011 making this victory and the future ahead all the more exciting; “She came to me after doing a few young horse classes and I started her out at medium, it’s lovely then to get them up to grand prix and get that feeling,” a happy Michael said.
Former British Young rider team member Pippa Hutton landed second place in the Intermediaire II on her top ride Duela (by Dimaggio) with 68.66%. British U25 rider Bobby Hayler finished third on her father's grey Aldborough Rubinhall on 67.53%.
Photo © Kevin Sparrow
Related Links
Thursday scores of the 2015 British Dressage Championships
Eilberg and Half Moon Dynasty Win Inter I Kur at 2014 British Indoor Championships
Half Moon Dynasty Wins Future Elite Championship at 2013 British Horse of the Year Show
Oppenheimer and Sir Soccrates Top Developing PSG Horse Division at 2015 CDIO Vidauban