After a year’s hiatus, with Hartpury taking the title on board for a Christmas special, the British Grand Prix Championships returned to the National Championships at Somerford Park – with the added bonus of a special new home and atmosphere to boot.
In a field packed with team and nations cup riders, the Somerford crowds were treated to a stunning morning of competition in the late September sunshine.
Fresh from success in Hagen at the European Championships, team medalist and Tokyo reserve Gareth Hughes took centre stage and the winners spoils with the Kroll family’s KK Dominant. Their supreme performance for 73.34% made their first placing unanimous amongst the Grand Prix judges panel, Peter Storr, Kirsty Mepham, Andrea Smith, Clive Halsall, Jo Graham.
“I’m really pleased,” Gareth praised his winning ride after celebrating a lap of honour in the LeMieux arena, “he’s a lovely little stallion who’s been Grand Prix a few years but unfortunately with what’s been happening over the last 18 months with Covid and then Tokyo and the Europeans, ‘Danny’ has had to take a bit of a back seat.”
Despite Gareth’s packed calendar, the missing 2021 mileage on the 12-year old gelding by Diamond Hit and out of a Rubin Royal mare served little negative effect. The pair’s average marks throughout the test barely dipped below 7, with highlights in the canter piriouettes, extensions and centre lines. “He’s done one Grand Prix this year at Wellington and they I’ve been away most of the summer but he’s gone in there and been a star. He tries so hard; this year its quite hard as as riders we can see the score which isn’t always helpful but you know what you’ve got to do.
With these horses you’re aiming for a clean test and when you get that, you know where you’re sitting. I knew he had a good chance of getting the score he did and if we came here today and get it, where that left him in the class was a win for him.”
Gareth showed much of the team spirit that has earned him both success and respect in the industry, stating: “I can’t do this without the team behind me – I’m just the shop window – never has it been more so. My wife Rebecca, daughter Ruby, our head girl Steph, Angharad, Paige…there’s so many who make it happen.”
Second place went to Emile Faurie with Theodora Livanos’ seasoned star Dono Di Maggio (by Dimaggio x Santander H), the successful pairing completing their Grand Prix on 71.32%.
Becky Moody, rounded out an impressive podium with 70.62% for her smart test on board Famke PF (Houston x Cabochon).
The top three amongst the judges was mirrored by an informed audience, with the scores almost identical.
Dujardin and Imhotep Win Inter I Kur to Music Title
Charlotte Dujardin and Imhotep gathered their fourth small tour title in just three days of competition. Owned by Carl Hester and Coral Ingham, Imhotep was crowned Inter I Supreme Champions. The impressive chestnut has certainly inherited bounce, stamina and expression from his sire, Lottie Fry’s Olympic partner, Everdale and show no signs of fatigue to today – only a willingness to perform in what was his first ever Inter I Freestyle appearance. A mistake in the first line of two time changes was rectified later with a clean set to give the duo a score of 78.625%.
“Pete is on fire!” exclaimed Charlotte. “Considering he’s done three tests, I thought he might come out a little bit tired, but absolutely not, he’s still full of energy and bouncing his way round. I was so happy with him, that’s the first time he’s done an Inter I Freestyle so I was really pleased with him. I had a little mistake in the twos but I managed to get another line in in the end. I’m just absolutely thrilled with him to be honest. I’m just so excited for next year. I’ll play with him through the winter. He doesn’t struggle with anything but I just need to work on the ones. I’m up to eight at the moment – he’s got such big changes and trying to compress them to fit them in has been a challenge but we’re nearly there.”
Carl has earmarked this horse as a potential for the Paris Games in 2024 and if he can continue his small tour prowess into Grand Prix, he may just be on the money.
The small but prolific Hawtins Stud and Judith Davis continued their great few days at Somerford with a runners up spot for Lucinda Elliot and Hawtins Duchessa (by Decamerone x Don Frederico) on 75.425% while Andrew Gould produced a magical freestyle with Genie, the Zhivago x Sandro Hit stallion owned by Tatiana Milne-Skillman.
Text by British Dressage, edited by Eurodressage - Photo © Kevin Sparrow
Results - 2021 British Dressage Championships
Intermediaire I Kur to Music
- 1. Charlotte Dujardin - Imhotep - 78.625 %
- 2. Lucinda Elliot - Hawtins Duchessa - 76.525 %
- 3. Andrew Gould - Genie - 75.425 %
- 4. Sarah Rogers - Viva Lotta - 75.3 %
- 5. Lucinda Elliot - Hawtins Soave - 74.55 %
- 6. Daniel Sherriff - I’m Bayford Hall Incognito - 74.175 %
- 7. Kate Lister - Fiskus - 73.65 %
- 8. Alice Oppenheimer - Headmore Dionysus - 72.975 %
- 9. Sarah Higgins - Waldessarini - 72.5 %
- 10. Alice Oppenheimer - Headmore Bella Ruby - 71.875 %
- 11. Matt Frost - Helga - 71.825 %
- 12. Beth Bainbridge - Habouche - 71.7 %
- 13. Emma Blundell - Mount St John VIP- 71.05 %
- 14. Michael Eilberg - Figlio - 70.925 %
- 15. Eilidh Grant - mount st John Doornroos - 70.75 %
- 16. Sara-Jane Lanning - Sigurd - 70.675 %
- 17. Henry Boswell - Folt - 70.1 %
- 18. Tyler Bradshaw - Gijsbert - 69.975 %
- 19. Jess Bennett - JB Dukaat - 69.375 %
- 20. Emily Ormerod - Freya FST - 68.975 %
Grand Prix
- 1. Gareth Hughes - KK Dominant - 73.34 %
- 2. Emile Faurie - Dono Di Maggio - 71.32 %
- 3. Becky Moody - Famke PF - 70.62 %
- 4. Amy Woodhead - Mount St John Fairytale - 69.68 %
- 5. Emma Hindle - Diesel - 69.6 %
- 6. Louise bell - Into The Blue - 68.64 %
- 7. Becky Moody - Carinsio - 68.34 %
- 8. Anna Ross - Newton Domino - 67.96 %
- 9. Sarah Higgins - Alfranco - 67.1 %
- 10. Jessica Dunn - Alicante valley - 66.76 %
- 11. Lisa Marriott - Valucio - 66.28 %
- 12. Kate Cowell - Samba Dancer - 66.14 %
- 13. Daniel Watson Aster - Butterfly - 66.14 %
- 14. Nikki Barker - Durable - 64.68 %
- 15. Alice Oppenheimer - Headmore Diffinity - 64.66 %
- 16. Nicola Buchanan - Half Moon Dark Magic - 64.48 %
- 17. Steph Croxford - Mr Benn - 64.28 %
- 18. Lucy Amy - Rudy - 63.78 %
- 19. Dylan Deutrom - Sunlit Uplands - 62.46 %
- 20. Nathalie Kayal - Homerun - 59.92
Related Links
Dujardin and Imhotep, 2021 British Small Tour Dressage Champions
Dujardin and Woodhead Win First Titles at 2021 British Dressage Championships