(British Dressage) – Britain’s young riders were on great form last weekend at the Biarritz CDI3*/YH/J/Y/P with the union flag featuring in the placings on a number of occasions. Five riders with six horses made the journey to South Eastern France for the Pony, Junior and Young Rider team, individual and freestyle competitions.

2012 Young Professional Award winner Alex Hardwick’s season continues on a high and a win on the first day in the Young Rider team test cemented it as one of her best years so far. Riding Rotspon’s Rockin (pictured), whom she joint owns with mum Sally, Alex won an extremely tight contest with just less than 0.3% separating the top three with a final score of 67.84%. With her second horse, Donauwein, she was fourth with 66.81%. In the individual test, despite cracking tests from both horses, Alex had to settle for second with 69.60% with Rotspon’s Rockin behind Switzerlands’s Estelle Wettstein with Le Primeur. Donauwein was again fourth but with an improved mark of 67.23%. Alex took Rotspon’s Rockin forward to the freestyle and again settled for runners up position behind Estelle with the French rider winning with some great artistic scores in the high 70% region. Alex finished with 70.27% – with one judge having her first – but to achieve a plus 70% in international competition is always a great accomplishment.

In a small but competitive Junior section, our riders certainly held their own. Chloe Vell caught many eyes at the recent Espayo National Championships with her win in the Suregrow Advanced Medium Restricted Championship riding Kaja di Valentina and a second in the team test for the combination showed they’re still on form. The other British junior was Sarah Thomas riding her own Marinetty TSF and a score on day one of 63.81% gave them third meaning we had two podium finishers. On day two, it was a reversal of placings with Sarah coming out second and Chloe third – neither could come close to Jasmien de Koeyer from the Netherlands who dominated with a 71.47%. Only Sarah went forward to the freestyle and it was second again with 64.37%.

In the Pony competition, Rebecca Bell, riding her mother Caroline’s mare Valido’s Sunshine, and Robyn Smith with Siepke’s Celtic, owned by mum Gail, both produced some great tests in an international field of 14 riders from 6 nations. In the team Test, Rebecca finished sixth on a strong 68.33% – with one judge having her second on 71.92%. Robyn was just behind in seventh with 67.51%. In the individual competition, Rebecca and Valido’s Sunshine put the previous test experience to good use and managed to go one place better into fifth with 68.29% while Robyn was seventh with a slightly improved mark of 67.95%. In the final freestyle, Rebecca managed a podium finish as well as breaking the 70% barrier with a 71.05% to finish third behind riders from France and Switzerland.

To download a pdf of the results, click here.

Britain’s young riders were on great form last weekend at the Biarritz CDI3*/YH/J/Y/P with the union flag featuring in the placings on a number of occasions. Five riders with six horses made the journey to South Eastern France for the Pony, Junior and Young Rider team, individual and freestyle competitions.

2012 Young Professional Award winner Alex Hardwick’s season continues on a high and a win on the first day in the Young Rider team test cemented it as one of her best years so far. Riding Rotspon’s Rockin (pictured), whom she joint owns with mum Sally, Alex won an extremely tight contest with just less than 0.3% separating the top three with a final score of 67.84%. With her second horse, Donauwein, she was fourth with 66.81%. In the individual test, despite cracking tests from both horses, Alex had to settle for second with 69.60% with Rotspon’s Rockin behind Switzerlands’s Estelle Wettstein with Le Primeur. Donauwein was again fourth but with an improved mark of 67.23%. Alex took Rotspon’s Rockin forward to the freestyle and again settled for runners up position behind Estelle with the French rider winning with some great artistic scores in the high 70% region. Alex finished with 70.27% – with one judge having her first – but to achieve a plus 70% in international competition is always a great accomplishment.

In a small but competitive Junior section, our riders certainly held their own. Chloe Vell caught many eyes at the recent Espayo National Championships with her win in the Suregrow Advanced Medium Restricted Championship riding Kaja di Valentina and a second in the team test for the combination showed they’re still on form. The other British junior was Sarah Thomas riding her own Marinetty TSF and a score on day one of 63.81% gave them third meaning we had two podium finishers. On day two, it was a reversal of placings with Sarah coming out second and Chloe third – neither could come close to Jasmien de Koeyer from the Netherlands who dominated with a 71.47%. Only Sarah went forward to the freestyle and it was second again with 64.37%.

In the Pony competition, Rebecca Bell, riding her mother Caroline’s mare Valido’s Sunshine, and Robyn Smith with Siepke’s Celtic, owned by mum Gail, both produced some great tests in an international field of 14 riders from 6 nations. In the team Test, Rebecca finished sixth on a strong 68.33% – with one judge having her second on 71.92%. Robyn was just behind in seventh with 67.51%. In the individual competition, Rebecca and Valido’s Sunshine put the previous test experience to good use and managed to go one place better into fifth with 68.29% while Robyn was seventh with a slightly improved mark of 67.95%. In the final freestyle, Rebecca managed a podium finish as well as breaking the 70% barrier with a 71.05% to finish third behind riders from France and Switzerland.

To download a pdf of the results, click here.

Photo Courtesy of British Dressage by Marilyne Manane – Alex Hardwick