Junior rider Clarissa Stickland, young rider Caroline Dufil and Under 25 Grand Prix rider Helène Legallais became the winners of the 2016 French Youth Riders Championships held in Le Mans, France, on 28 - 30 October 2016. A small but not insignificant field of eight junior riders, four young riders and six under 25 riders gathered in Le Mans for these Nationals.
The Junior Riders division was the biggest of three National Championships for rising dressage talent in France. Clarissa Stickland and her 14-year old Belgian bred Hanoverian Don Bencedor van het Lisperhof (by Don Frederico x Metternich) claimed the gold medal after placing second in the team test (68.216%) and winning the Individual (71.026%) and the Kur to Music (73.125%). Her score average of 70.789% was the highest in her age category and gave her the right to the champion's sash. Thomas David and the 10-year old Dutch mare Biolita DN (by Lingh x Voltaire) were second but could not keep hold of the same level of consistency as Stickland. David started strong, winning the team test with 68.838% and also came a close second in the individual with 70.895%, but could not keep hold of his nerves and dropped on the board to a last place in the Kur with 64.475%. His average of 68.069% sufficed for silver. Rookie junior Jules Cadusseau and the 10-yeaer old Belgian warmblood Gayento van het Bloemenhof (by Samba Hit II x Ritmeister) landed the bronze with 66.757%, 66.500% and 66.400% (average 66.552%).
In the Young Riders division, just four combinations had to battle it out and routinier Caroline Dufil bested the field aboard the Dutch warmblood bred Ardante (by Gribaldi x Inferno). She reigned supreme in all three rounds, scoring 66.763% in the team test, 67.895% in the individual and 69.400% in the kur for a golden average of 68.019%. Claire Berland and her chestnut Mecklenburg bred Amani (by Anrit x Wolkentanz II) grabbed silver with a score average of 67.263%. She posted marks of 66.263%, 67.000% and 68.525% on the board. Justine Ludot and Bellevue (by Belissimo M x Daidalos) ) earned bronze with an average of 65.377%. She had her best ride in the team test with 66.474% but gradually dropped in marks to 65.158% and 64.500%
In the Under 25 division, France's sole representative at the 2016 European U25 Championships in Germany in July, Helene Legallais on the Dutch warmblood Unique (by Olivi x Jetset D), aced her division on a national level. She scored an average of 67.338% after placing second in the first round with 67.421% and winning the second round with 67.256%. Legallais felt some strong competition from Nolwenn Baudouin on the 10-year old Dutch mare Bianca (by Jazz x Krack C), who won the first round with 68.605% but couldn't keep up in the short Grand Prix and finished second with 65.535%. She got silver with an average of 67.070%. The bronze went to Corentin Pottier on his new Under 25 horse , the 13-year old Hanoverian Lancelot (by Londonderry x Wanderbusch II). The duo scored 67.868% and 65.047% to average 66.457%.
Related Links
Pinto, Chevanne, Ducos Blanchet, Judet Cheret Win 2015 French Youth Riders Championships
Hel and Judet Cheret Win Gold at 2009 French Youth Riders Championships
