(British Dressage) – Five great, close fought competitions gave five well deserved winners in the Nirvana Spa Para classes at the NAF Five Star Winter Dressage Championships. The culmination of many months qualifying, plus the pressure of Paralympic selection, meant the riders had to pull out all the stops to have the edge – especially as the judge at C was Norway’s Kjell Myhre who’ll be on duty at Greenwich.

Sophie Wells (pictured right) dominated the Grade IV with her two rides but it was the younger Valerius who came out on top ahead of the more experienced Pinocchio, owned by Dr Jackie Walker. Valerius partnered Sophie for her three European gold medals last year so his star-quality is apparent but lacks the competition experience of ‘Noki’. Even the judges disagreed…Kjell Myhre had Valerius to win while Chris Porterfield preferred Pinocchio. An overall score of 73.71% was the winning mark with Sophie’s second score a fraction behind on 73.47%. Clearly happy with her two boys, Sophie commented; “I’m so happy that the two are now on a par and competitive with each other. Valerius gave me the best feeling ever so far today – he’s really grown up and is more fluent and expressive. And my star Pinocchio has returned after a few weeks’ break after an operation on his tooth. He’s been back in work for three weeks so I’m happy with his performance but there we’re a few things to work on.”

Sophie and Noki have a few miles to cover in the next few days; she’s off to Richmond in North Yorkshire on Friday in search of vital points to qualify for the British Para Championships at Hickstead, key for selection and then it’s back to Hartpury for Saturday’s feature class, the NAF Magic Inter I Freestyle. All in all, about 600 miles in the lorry!

The Grade Ia competition was one of the smallest but the most hotly contested! Anne Dunham continues to prove she is hungrier than ever in taking the class with her partner of five years, Teddy, owned by Sally Anne Brown. Anne opened the class with her new partner LJT Lucas Normark, recently back to competition from a sarcoid operation and the Knapstrupper stallion scored 67.88%. Team mate Emma Sheardown was next with Purdy’s Dream and they were fluent for 68.73%. Then came Sophie Christiansen with her new partner, Janeiro 6, fresh from their successful trip to Deauville CEPDI. They scored 70.63% to take the lead but Anne, riding at the end of the grade Ibs to give her chance to warm up, stole the title with the ever-consistent Teddy with 73.50%.

A delighted Anne said; “Teddy was an absolute star today. He was relaxed, on the ball and I could not have asked for any more. I’m just so pleased with him – he loves to be the star attraction! Lucas went the best he has since his operation three weeks ago. He was clam, attentive and rhythmical. The Norwegian judge really liked him which is encouraging for the future but we’re still a new partnership and learning about each other.”

In the Ibs it was normal service resumed following Lee Pearson’s injury-forced break from competition for much of last season. Today he partnered his ‘second string’ Zion (pictured right), the horse who was the cause of said injury! But he was on his best behaviour today to score 74.35% and take the title. Alison Moore was second with Just Z on 66.09% with Susannah Wade just behind in third with Frank All Sorts who finished on 63.15%.

It was an emphatic victory in the Grade II for 2011 dual European gold medallist Natasha Baker and Cabral who continue their good form this season with a 72.98% – over 6% ahead of second placed Alex McNamara and Rubinhall.

Natasha said; “I was really pleased with his medium trot and pirouettes today as we’ve been working really hard at home on them. He was such a good boy and will now get a well-deserved week off! Our season so far has gone to plan – he’s excelled himself really! He just gets better and better and we’re much more consistent as a partnership.

Cabral is qualified for the Para Championships at Hickstead and Natasha plans to do some able-bodied competitions ahead of that to keep him focused. An excited Natasha added; “I’m really excited to have some time to focus on my younger horse, Bam Bam who is a fantastic future prospect.”

Another familiar and in-form combination headed the Grade III Nirvana Spa – Deb Criddle and LJT Akilles. Their score of 72% gave them almost a 10% margin over Daniel Manning and Wizard E with Liz Davis third with Iouar Bonheddwr. A pleased Deb said; “He felt a little flat when I went in the arena but picked up. We tried a new warm up strategy today to have him just right for the test – more work to keep him soft and moving through his back. I’m pleased with how it went as I could really adjust him during the test and it’s the first time I’ve felt I could. We’ll go home and continue our work on the basics – I know he can do it all but we still have a lot to develop as a partnership.”

Photo Courtesy of British Dressage