(British Dressage) – Carl Hester and Uthopia brought the house down this afternoon at the Espayo National Championships in winning the Espayo Freestyle title and becoming National Champion for a lucky seventh time.
There wasn’t a seat to be had around the main arena for the final quintet of horses but there was one combination many really wanted to see. Ever the showman, Carl didn’t disappoint the gathered fans of all ages and he rode Uthopia to a near-perfect performance using the music Tom Hunt had prepared for them for the Olympics for a fantastic 81.50%, first ever +80% score at the Nationals. Laura Bechtolsheimer gave her best shot with loyal partner Andretti H to their foot tapping Reggae music but they just couldn’t match Carl with 76.58%. Michael Eilberg and the British-bred Half Moon Delphi, still in their first season of Grand Prix, also gave it a good try with some promising work to score 76.35% for owners Jon and Julie Deverill.
So Carl finishes the week with a staggering 63 national titles and his seventh National Champion accolade cementing his position as a sporting icon in Britain.
“It’s been great to be able to bring ‘Uti’ here to support those who weren’t able to come to London plus it was fantastic to be able to ride to Tom’s music once again. I’m so pleased with the test today – I stayed in time with the music unlike London where I seemed to be either too fast or too slow. He’s as fit as ever and was really in super self-carriage today. He felt confident and even though there were a few mistakes, it was lovely.”
Shearwater Potential International Dressage Horse Championship
The final of the Shearwater Potential International Dressage Horse Championship was a topsy-turvy affair to say the least. Paul Hayler with his own and Peter Space’s Lonswelt claimed the 4 year old title with Dan Sherriff as runner up with the huge Dance of Decadence, owned by Rachel Ablett. In the 5 year old class, Erik Theilgaard took the title ahead of hot favourites Becky Moody and Carinsio. Erik impressed with Kristina and Karin Rausing’s big-moving Shadow Line.
The four came forward for the final judging in front of a capacity crowd. Under the watchful eyes of Susanne Baarup and Eddy de Wolff Van Westerrode and ridden judge Andrew Gould all were put under the microscope. It was the final ride which proved the most influential and the judges were brave with their final assessment. In a tense few moments, they made the bold decision to award Becky Moody and Carinsio the overall Supreme Champion title. And then Daniel Sheriff was handed the reserve title. So, it was the two second placed horses who ruled the day based on their rideabilty and general way of going.
A delighted Becky said; “It’s been an interesting few days! He’s an awesome horse and I really believe in him. If I’m honest, I was hoping to come out on top yesterday but it’s so satisfying for him to put up today. I think it’s his rideablity that made the difference today, he’s loose and supple and even he becomes tense he still shows off well. We were runners up last year but that we always knew we couldn’t win as Farouche set the benchmark but to claim the supreme title this year is simply fantastic.”
Owned by Partick & Anne Moody and Julie Lockey, Carinsio is by the prolific stallion Painted Black and Becky is looking forward to bringing him on for the future; “He’ll contest six year old classes next year as well as Medium and Advanced Medium. I just need to get him out more to chill and take in the atmosphere. He needs to learn to stand still! He’ll stand to halt in a test but outside that it’s a challenge. He’s a long term prospect and I’ll give him time to fulfil his potential. He’s so easy that it’s tempting to push him too much.”
Runner up Daniel was equally delighted, if not a little surprised. “This is only his second show as he’s so big we’ve given him as much time as possible to mature. His temperament shone through today and I’m really pleased the judges were so brave in their decisions. To come to a show like this is an honour and we’re so excited about this horse’s future.
Suregrow Advanced Medium Open
Fresh from the euphoria of the London Olympics, team gold and individual bronze-medallist Laura Bechtolsheimer was delighted to win a national title.
Laura won the Suregrow Advanced Medium Open Championship on Polar Bear, her charming home-bred eight-year-old; a gelding by her former Junior team horse Polarion out of a Landadel mare. The pair scored 74.58% to head the high class field of 26 finalists where the top six competitors all broke the benchmark 70% barrier.
“I’m a real proud mum,” smiled Laura after the prize giving. “I’m very pleased with him; he’s taken it all in his stride. With the Olympics this year I haven’t had much time to compete Polar Bear. We did just enough to qualify – two shows, followed by the regionals which he won.”
Polar Bear is on the World Class Equine Pathway, a programme devised to identify and support the development of horses that have the potential to be medal winning horses. “I took him to an Equine Pathway training day two weeks ago, but apart from that and qualifying for today, he hasn’t been out much this year. He certainly hasn’t competed somewhere like this before.”
Laura is clearly fond of the charismatic gelding who stands a stately 17.3hh: “He’s a big horse and when he’s on side he feels amazing. He’s lovely and it’s so exciting to have had him from the start,” she said. “The horses and I will have a short break now before the winter and next year we’ll [Laura and Polar Bear] maybe do small tour.”
Stretch & Flex Elementary Open
Lucy Cartwright and Samba Dancer stole the show in the Stretch & Flex Elementary Open with a score of 73.06%, over three per cent ahead of the rest of the field. Lucy, who is based near Cheltenham has ridden Samba Dancer; owned by Christine Richards and Audrey Lawrence; for over a year and this was their second Nationals together.
Samba Dancer, a six-year-old gelding by Samba Hit II, produced a high quality test which Lucy was very pleased with: ‘it was a great test, of course there are things that could be perfected, but as he is only six and he will get stronger.’ Lucy trains with Carl Hester, who was also her employer for six years.
Samba Dancer certainly enjoyed his lap of honour and Lucy said ‘each one he does he gets naughtier! He has learnt what’s to come. In some ways it has helped – as a five-year-old he was a little too laid-back but he has become a bit hotter when he gets in the ring which adds more to our test riding.’
Lucy said Samba Dancer will now have a well-deserved rest at home (he also won the Shearwater six-year-old at Hartpury in July) and then over the winter they will work on the advanced movements with a view to moving up a level next season.
Second place wen t to the in-form Jo Hamilton and Corchapin (70.00%), with Michael Bates and Samphire II in third (69.56%).
For complete results click
here.
Photos Courtesy of British Dressage
