Hellings and Thurman-Baker Blaze to Victory at 2017 CDI Keysoe

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2017 CDI Keysoe

The 2017 CDI Keysoe is the first international taking place in the United Kingdom this show season and it was an all British affair and with the majority of the foreign riders based in Britain. However, that didn't make the indoor show less exciting. In the youth riders' division junior Alexandra Hellings and young rider Joanna Thurman-Baker blazed to victory.

In a field of 13 riders, Alexandra Hellings and her 16-year old Dutch warmblood gelding Uvender V (by Krack C) were unbeatable winning the team test with 70.05% far ahead of the pack. In the individual test she posted 71.140% for the trophy and she also captured the Kur with 73.667%.

"I was so pleased with him," Hellings told Eurodressage after her victorious weekend. "He has really grown in confidence throughout the week within the arena, I feel like our partnership is growing and he trusts me when we go into our test. In the team test we did a mistake free test, but I felt that we took more risks and went for things more in the individual, which did result in a few more mistakes but we gained a higher score. Then in the freestyle I just had so much fun riding to our new music as there were parts of Harry Potter in it, which is my all time favourite film. He really is an amazing horse to ride as he really tries for you."

Sonia Baines with Der Kleine Lord at the 2014 European Pony Championships Hellings has been trained by Sonia Baines for the past 10 years, beginning when Alex was 8 years old. Sonia has owned Uvender V since he was a 3-year old. On Der Kleine Lord, Hellings won individual test bronze at the 2014 European Pony Championships in Millstreet, Ireland, and returned on Team GBR two years later with Uvender V to represent her country at the 2016 European Junior Riders Championships in Oliva Nova, Spain.

"It's a real team effort and it's so nice to enjoy the process with Sonia. She really is amazing," Alex gushed about her coach. When asked about her year plans, Hellings said that, "of course the ultimate aim is always to try and get on the European team. However I am enjoying the process of training Uvi and learning together and what we achieve along the way is a bonus. I just want to keep on gaining as much experience as I can with Uvi."

Hellings is doing her last year of A-levels and aims to get into Sheffield University for a Maths degree.

Only eight riders contested the young riders classes but the 19-year old Joanna Thurman-Baker still impressively pulled a hattrick aboard her own 15-year old Hanoverian bred Highcliffe Apollo (by Der Lenz x Laptop). She thrice fended off Ellen McCarthy on British team routinier Donna Summer (by Dimaggio) with winning scores of 72.41%, 70.658% and 73.708%.

"Apollo felt brilliant at Keysoe," said Thurman-Baker. "He is a little horse with a heart of gold and he tries so hard for me. He gave me 100% in the team test and I was so over the moon to get 72%, with a 75% from the judge at C.

Joanna Thurman-Baker on Highcliffe Apollo at the 2016 European YR Championships Thurman-Baker won the 2014 British Young Riders Championships and rode her first European Championships in 2016 in Oliva Nova on Highcliffe Apollo.

"We have owned him for 10 years now and he has been a 'family pony' with my sister Samantha competing him internationally and at the national championships with my mother," said Joanna. "I first rode him internationally when I was 14 at Junior level, then my sister took over. I've claimed him as mine now, and we are so in sync with each other. I can tell his mood with just a flick of his ears!"

Joanna trains with her mom Diane and gets regular help from Carl Hester. In December she was submitted to the World Class Podium Potential programme.

"Having access to the very best vets, physios, farriers and trainers is phenomenal and the results are clearly showing," said Joanna about the advantages she's experiencing now through that programme. "To get personal bests in each class is a very exciting way to start the season! Next up I have the British National winter championships in the PSG Freestyle class. After that I'm aiming for Saumur, Roosendaal and then the European Championships."