British pony rider Jessie Kirby, junior rider Maddy Whelan and young rider Robyn Smith stood out at the first big UK dressage fixture of 2017, Addington Manor High Profile Show CDN, at Addington Manor Equestrian Centre in Buckinghamshire on 13-15 January 2017. The 2017 CDN Addington is the first competition for Brits to set out on their 2017 campaigns.
The 2017 CDN Addington offered classes ranging from Medium to Grand Prix level, including a pony division and a day of freestyles on Sunday 15 January 2017. The junior and young riders, however, lost their own division. Due to lack of entries in those classes last year, British Dressage decided to merge juniors with Advanced Medium and Young Riders with the Prix St Georges classes. The kids no longer get to ride in their own division but now have to compete with the seniors and professionals, a quite unlevel field of play that can work intimidating for the youngsters.
As the first show of the year Addington brought out a large field of riders including several new faces at the beginning of their dressage career.
In the pony team championship test, Jessie Kirby and Cruz III (by Caesar) aced the class with a 69.23% score. Cruz III is owned by Charlotte Dujardin and was previously competed by Jayne Turney. Kirby narrowly edged out Megan Barratt on the experienced 13-year old Valido's Starlight (by Valido x Capri Moon), who were second with 68.33% Olivia Wrennall and Donna Schuflo (by Don Schufro) came in third with 67.63%. In the individual test Irish Victoria Campbell claimed highest honour on her grey Be My Snowflake with 66.83%, referring Holly Kerslake on the Danish bred Welsh cob Valhallas Zorro (by Valhallas Lord Matrafal x Fjordglimt Sir Johnson) to second place with 66.46%. The newest face in the category is young Annabella Pidgley, daughter of British judge Sarah Pidgley. Annabella rode two ponies, Sara Aagaard Hyrm's former 11-year old German riding pony FB Gangster (by Golden Moonlight x Dressmann) and the 14-year old European Championship bronze medal winning Farbenfroh (by Farewel I x Rakt's Rocky). She scored 64.62% and 60.71% in the team test at her first big event of the year.
"I have had a really good pony weekend with lots of good company and lots of giggles," Kirby summarized her competition weekend. "This was our first competitive FEI test together and I was feeling a little nervous! Cruz (aka Tom ) was great and we managed to win! Still lots to work on but I am so excited for the season ahead as our partnership grows and we really get to know each other. It was fun to catch up with lots of friends and thank you to the Selectors for such useful feedback after my test."
The Advanced Medium class on Saturday 14 January, for which 8 British juniors were entered, was won by junior Maddy Whelan on Monsieur Pomerol, which she took over from Peta Claridge. The pair was to only to crack the 70% barrier and got the trophy with 71.35%. Whelan was member of the British team at the 2016 European Pony Championships on Ode to Shannon and seems to have made a smooth transition to junior level. Juniors Isobel Berrington placed fourth on Bing with 69.19%, while Rebecca Bell and Nibeley Union Hit (by Nibeley Union Jack x Sandro Hit) landed fifth place with 68.51%. In Sunday's Advanced Medium class Abbie Mae Newbury and her 8-year old Disneyland (by Diamond Hit x Weltmeyer) topped the board with 70.92%, while former pony rider Angus Corrie-Deane and his Walters Fable (by Keystone Walentino) were second with 67.50%. Newbury went on to win the freestyle with 73.82% in a field of six competitors.
"Absolutely love competing this boy," said Whelan about Monsieur Pomerol. "We came first in a very large class. Thank you so much to Jackie Beaven for warming me up and to Peta Claridge who lets me ride her beautiful Jammy. It's been a good day."
In the Friday Prix St Georges no less than 43 combinations competed. Lilly Hewitt was the best scoring young rider on her Sir Charlie Chaplin (by Sir Donnerhall) with 65.70% (13th). Anna Jesty and Aquiro scored 64.74% (20th), Elspeth Day on Delilh had 63.33 (29th) and junior Isbobel Berrington also gave young riders' level a go on Bing and scored 61.71% to finish 37th. The Saturday Prix St Georges with 32 combinations has Elspeth Day on Delilah as the highest scoring Young Rider. Day earned 65.75% (14th), while Lauren Phillips and Rascals Kingdom were 29th with 61.45%. In Sunday's Prix St Georges Scottish Robyn Smith, who is now in her last year as a young rider, steered her long-time partner Foold Uz (by Fulton) to a second place with a strong 70.18% behind professional Paul Friday. They also placed third in the Inter I.
"It was a great but very cold weekend at Addington," said Smith. "Foold Uz was an absolute legend and danced his socks off! Over 68% and third in the Inter I despite my brain malfunction and going wrong, which cost me the class, and 70.18% in the Prix St Georges for second. A great way to start the year with some lovely comments from the judges."
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