(British Dressage) – Great Britain – Mother-daughter duo, Laura and Charlotte Fry earned three freestyle victories between them at the last winter regional of the year, held at Willerby Hill, North Yorkshire 1 – 4 March 2012.

Laura, who was on the British silver medal-winning team at the 1993 European Championships, posted the highest score of the show – 75.05% – to take the medium freestyle. She rode Julie Langlands’ 10-year-old Riviera L, a British-bred gelding by Royal Geneve to secure the class – and the pair’s second qualification for the NAF Five Star Winter Dressage Championships in April.

The next generation then added to the tally as Charlotte (16) rode her grandmother Rosemary Shewen’s Z Flemmenco (pictured), an eight-year-old Dutch-bred gelding by Flemmingh, to head the elementary open freestyle with 73.06%.

“I’ve ridden Flemmenco since last October. We’d known him for some time, always liked him, so bought him when he came up for sale,” explained Charlotte.

“He has an extremely lovely temperament and is very easy to train. He’s not very confident yet as he hasn’t been out a lot, so I have to ‘baby’ him a little. He’s really scopey though and gives a great feeling. He could be a potential junior horse for me next year.”

Charlotte also took the advanced medium freestyle with Leslie Connor’s 24-year-old gelding Ghandi. Formerly ridden by mother Laura, the evergreen Dutch-bred chestnut by Bustron proved that age is no barrier for him, and the pair scored 71.61% for a plus-2% lead

Charlotte, who is trained by Laura, said: “I’ve ridden Ghandi for about five years now. Mum competed him up to grand prix then when he retired, I started riding him. We gradually went up the levels, from novice, and he’s taught me so much. He’s brilliant for his age. He conserves energy all day, only does as much as he has to, but at a show he’s like a five-year-old!”

Melissa Chapman and her 18hh Dutch-bred gelding DHI Work of Art scored the only double of the show. The pair won the Medium Open and the Advanced Medium Open with 67.93% and 69.91% respectively.

List of winners:

KBIS BRITISH EQUESTRIAN PRELIMINARY
Darren Kaye and This Time Next Year, 71.67%

BLUE CHIP NOVICE RESTRICTED
Victoria Maw and Bon Rouge CH, 68.62%

BLUE CHIP NOVICE OPEN
Ryan Todd and Rembrandt II, 70.57%

EQUITOP MYOPLAST ELEMENTARY RESTRICTED
Anthony Readman and The Grafter, 69.69%

EQUITOP MYOPLAST ELEMENTARY OPEN
Darryl Thickitt and Epikuras, 70.83%

ALBION MEDIUM RESTRICTED
Bethany Shipley and Affinity, 65.95%

ALBION MEDIUM OPEN
Melissa Chapman and DHI Work of Art, 67.93%

BRITISH HORSE FEEDS ADVANCED MEDIUM RESTRICTED
Laura Woodcock and Rubin II, 65.96%

BRITISH HORSE FEEDS ADVANCED MEDIUM OPEN
Melissa Chapman and DHI Work of Art, 69.91%

BAILEYS HORSE FEEDS NOVICE RESTRICTED MUSIC FREESTYLE
Jessica Strawson and Wilability William, 72.04%

BAILEYS HORSE FEEDS NOVICE OPEN MUSIC FREESTYLE
Mark Ruddock and Headmore Dream On, 74.17%

GFS ELEMENTARY RESTRICTED MUSIC FREESTYLE
Jenny Salisbury and Born Fighter, 70.69%

GFS ELEMENTARY OPEN MUSIC FREESTYLE
Charlotte Fry and Z Flemmenco, 73.06%

SPILLERS MEDIUM MUSIC FREESTYLE
Laura Fry and Riviera L, 75.05%

NUPAFEED ADVANCED MEDIUM MUSIC FREESTYLE
Charlotte Fry and Ghandi, 71.61%

MAGIC PRIX ST. GEORGES MUSIC FREESTYLE
Paul Hayler and Aldborough Rubenhall, 73.33%

Photo Courtesy of British Dressage