British Youth Riders in Action at the 2021 CDI Wellington

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2021 CDI Wellington Heckfield

Established British combinations and new partnerships alike impressed in the Youth classes at the inaugural Wellington CDI in Heckfield, Hampshire on 11 – 16 May 2021.

Pony Riders: Dahl Breaks Through

Mette Dahl, daughter of British and Danish Olympians Fiona Bigwood and Anders Dahl, led the charge in the CDI-P Pony classes, winning all three with Fiona Bigwood’s talented grey gelding, George Clooney BS (by Caesar 171 x Santano). She claimed the Pony Team test on 72.809% ahead of 13-year-old Ruby Hughes aboard Shirley Rixon’s stunning palomino Hilkens Showgirl (by Dreidimensional x Champion de Luxe) on 71.095%. Gracie Morgan with Ella, a grey mare who shares the same bloodlines as the winner – both ponies bred by Julie Lockey – was awarded 70.238% to complete the podium.

Mette, who has also been competing at junior level with her mom's Florina, as well as at national Grand Prix level on her dad's Sir Donato, continued her command by winning the Pony Individual test ahead of Demi Howard-Cartwright and the evergreen 18-year-old gelding, Fin C WE, with Lauren Geraghty and WS Jackson achieving 68.829% for third.

Sunday’s Pony Freestyle was another competitive affair once again headed by 14-year-old Mette and ‘George’. The pair scored 74.150% to take the class ahead of Derbyshire-based Lauren Geraghty and WS Jackson (by Chiskin Jaguar) on 73.125% and Gracie Morgan with Ella on 72.017%.

Children: Hughes and Howard-Cartwright on Top

The Ch-A Children classes showcased the talent of riders aged 12 – 14 years. Friday’s Children Team test was won in style by Ruby Hughes, daughter of Gareth and Rebecca, both also competing at Wellington. Ruby partnered Nancy Scott’s 14-year old KWPN gelding Bee Gee (by ??), with whom she won the 2020 National U21 title, to post a cracking score of 72.225%.

Saturday, it was the turn of Demi Howard-Cartwright to raise the flag following a winning 69.005% in the Children Individual with Nathalie Kayal’s successful Small Tour horse – the 14-year-old Dutch gelding, Cleverboy.

Demi took to Facebook to say; “[I] Had an amazing time and learnt so much at Wellington CDI. I couldn’t be more happy with some of my results as this was only my second international. Highlights being winning the Children Individual test on Nathalie Kayal’s stunning Cleverboy (by Kennedy) and coming second in the Pony Individual on Fin!”

Both days, Darcey Blaze Marcus (11) achieved the runners-up position with Yorkie Jobling-Purser’s experienced international and team pony, Valido's Starlight (by Valido x Capri Moon). Darcey rode two super tests, giving her an international debut to be proud of.

Juniors: Pidgley Presents Sultan des Paluds

The brand new combination of Annabella Pidgley (16) and Sultan des Paluds FRH (by Soliman x De Niro) were clear victors on all three days of the Junior competition. Wellington was the first international appearance of the four-month-long partnership that already looks strong in its foundations and an exciting prospect for British youth dressage.

On Friday, they scored 74.091% to win the Junior Team Test ahead of Gemma Owen and Sirius Black (by Stedinger x Rotspon) on 70.505% – another combination to show consistent form all week. Annabella’s former Pony Team compatriot, Holly Kerslake, with Extasia (by Zucchero), completed the top three (69.798%). The podium top-three remained the same for the Junior Individual this time the winning pair scoring 74.951%.

“[I’m] So proud of our Sultan at our international debut. He has been outstanding every single day and has taken me to new international PBs,” said Annabella on Instagram. “I feel so lucky to have this special boy and I can’t wait for what’s to come. Thank you so much to Cathrine [Dufour] for your ongoing training and to Charlotte [Dujardin] for warming me up and the support over the last two days. So humbled to have these two riders in my corner.”

Annabella and Sultan later aced Sunday’s Junior Freestyle for 77.567% to once again top the podium, this time with Mette Dahl and Florina 146 second (73.358%) and Gemma Owen with Sirius Black, third (72.708%).

Annabella has enjoyed success through her Pony years representing Great Britain at three FEI Pony European Championships and with talented horses coming through has already begun to make her mark in Juniors.

Eleven-year-old Sultan des Paluds (Soliman de Hus x De Niro), bought by Sarah Pidgley earlier this year, won a silver medal at the FEI World Young Horse Championships as a seven-year-old. The gelding has competed international Small Tour with his former rider, the Netherlands’ Kirsten Brouwer, and has much ability to partner Annabella through her future Young Rider and U25 career. Pidgley has also been competing Belafonte (by Belissimo M) and Hilus MHB (by Johnson) this year.

Young Riders: Burgess on a Roll

Caitlin Burgess, reigning Young Rider National Champion, headed the closely-fought Young Rider team test on a score of 70.980% with her long-time ride, Chocotof (by Lord Leatherdale). The pair know each other well and make a harmonious impression. Second went to Ireland’s Vicky Campbell with the expressive grey, Habouche – a nine-year-old Ampere-sired mare owned by Anna Ross. The Irish duo was awarded 70.735%.

Caitlin and ‘Stanley’ continued their winning ways into the weekend to claim both the Young Rider Individual on a PB of 72.010% and the Young Rider Freestyle on another PB of 75.892%. Great Britain’s Lara Kuropatwa with For Season, a handsome liver chestnut son of Fifty Cent finished behind Caitlin in the Individual on a super score of 70.294%, with Maddy Frewin and Woodlander Rhythm ‘N Blues (by Rockstar x Londonderry) on their heels with 70.049% for third.

Young Rider Freestyle runners up were Anna Dalrymple and the athletic French-bred Lusitano, Vagabond de Massa (by Rieto x Xaquiro), owned by Maxine Vainio. A new combination with only a handful of competition starts, they rose from fifth to second place over the three days showing much promise for the future.

“It was a perfect finish to a perfect week today!” proclaimed Caitlin on Facebook. “Another PB in the Freestyle with just under 76% to win again!

“Four years ago today, Stan had just started his rehab from a sacroiliac injury and we had only competed to Elementary. What a story we have made together and what a journey we are on… just a massive thank you to everyone involved. Stanley, you are the most incredible horse, I owe you everything.”

Another to reach the podium on day three of the CDIY was Charlotte McDowall with her 2019 FEI Junior European Championship partner, Alivia. Charlotte and the Olivi-sired KWPN black mare, now 16, produced a super test awarded 72.625% by the judging panel of Trond Asmyr (NOR) at E, Anne Prain (FRA) at C and Mary Robins (NZL) at M.