British Youth Turn Out Top Form at 2024 CDI Addington

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2024 CDI Addington

--Text British Dressage, edited by Eurodressage

Britain’s youth riders displayed the results of dedicated winter training at the first domestic international fixture of the season, with Children to U25 Grand Prix classes taking place at Addington CDI on 14 – 17 March 2024.

In the youth divisions riders from Great Britain faced each other, with a few Irish combinations sprinkled here and there and one Dutch junior. In the U25 division one British based Spaniard and Australian showed against British rivals at this very British affair in Addington.

Gray On Top in Pony Division

Aberdeenshire-based Abigail Gray cemented her position as Britain’s leading pony rider with a confirmed clean sweep of classes on board her own George Clooney B.S (Caesar 171 x Santano). Britain’s 2023 Pony European Championships anchor opened her account with 73.667% in the Team competition, before matching that score in the Individual test and then producing 76.034% in the Freestyle – the highest mark achieved in the CDI youth classes.

Speaking on social media Abigail commented, “an international hat-trick for George! So proud of him. A new international PB in the Team test of 73.67% on day one, 73.92% in the Individual test on day two and finally on day three we scored 76.03% in the Freestyle. I made a few mistakes in the freestyle so had to adjust my floorplan during the test to try and redo a movement. Huge thank you to Sarah Higgins Dressage and Hannah Moody for all your training and support."

Children: Newcomer Wins

Avah Heath achieved two wins in the Children on Horses classes with her own New Forest pony Koningshoek Jackpot (by Tongerenhof Topas x Ruighenrode’s Dwight); the combination were top of the tables in Friday’s Preliminary B (74.197%) before going on to repeat their success in Saturday’s Team test (72.500%).

The Individual test on the final day of competition at Addington was claimed by Evie Head with Rob and Nicola Lickley’s Gracia , their winning score in front of Eduard De Wolff Van Westerrode (NED), Nick Burton (GBR) and Mary Robins (NZL) was a super 72.287%.

Duel at Junior Level

Junior stalwart Myles Graham brought Caroline Bell’s medal winning mare Nibeley Union Hit to Addington and delivered two secure performances to win the Team and Individual competitions with 72.071% and 72.108%. The duo went on to place second in the Freestyle with 74.800% despite technical glitches in the music causing a stop-start test, which Myles and ‘Una’ dealt with professionally. The strength and depth at Junior level was backed up by twice runner up Isla Sully, who shone throughout the week with the Lusitano gelding Vagabond de Massa; they would be the winners of the Freestyle competition, riding to a fantastic mark of 75.333%.

Young Riders: Double for Lickley

Isobel Lickley was a dual winner at Young Rider level, showing her new ride First Ampere (by Ampere x Weltruhm) at their first international as a combination; The twelve year old Hanoverian is a former World Young Horse Championship finalist and Bundeschampionate medallist co-owned by Gestüt Nymphenburg and the Lickley family. They kicked off their week with 67.010% in the Team test, followed by a sublime 72.696% in the Individual competition, where Izzy was also second with Rob and Nicola Lickley’s mare nine-year-old mare Katniss. The winning score in the Freestyle contest was 72.600%, delivered by India Durman-Mills and Escade, who were consistent throughout the week with second in the Team test and third in the Individual. Speaking on Instagram a delighted India said, “We saved the best till last taking the win today in the Young Rider Freestyle. To be placed every day plus take home a sash and a rug from our first CDI this year is totally overwhelming. Eddie has been an absolute legend all weekend but I think you can tell he’s ready for a well-deserved rest now.”

U25: Corrie-Deane vs Pidgley

It was the battle of the Brits in the U25 classes, where Angus Corrie-Deane and Annabella Pidgely split the accolades. In the Intermediate II test Angus scored 68.873% to take the top spot with his own Jack Johnson 2 (Johnson x Scandic), who went on to place second twice with strong performances. Angus said, “he [Jacob] improved from 68.87% to 71.33% over the three days, showcasing the hard work that we have put in over the winter. It is going to be a long season but with his willingness to improve day in day out I think it’s going to be the best season we have had together. Thank you to every member of my support team wherever in the world you are. Although it is just him and I in the arena, we could not do it without you.”

Young Rider gold medallist Annabella brought her dancing partner Vamos Amigos (by Vitalis x Hotline) to the party and earned two victories, scoring 70.812% in the U25 Short Grand Prix and 73.77% in the Grand Prix Freestyle.