Yorkshire’s Becky Moody with her own and Julie Lockey’s Carinsio (pictured) scored victory in the LeMieux Grand Prix, chalking up their second Premier League Grand Prix win of the season. They were unanimous winners being scored an average of 71.03% by judges Sandy Phillips (H), Maria Colliander (C) and Peter Storr (M).
Becky and ‘Jack’, who won the Grand Prix at Myerscough Premier League back in March, are becoming increasingly assured at the level, Jack fulfilling the promise he showed as a celebrated multi young horse champion. Becky and the ten-year-old son of Painted Black will head to Hartpury and Hickstead CDIs in the summer.
On form rider Vicky Thompson-Winfield enjoyed a 100% strike rate with her striking palomino partner, Artist. The pair won Section 2 of Saturday’s Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I and Sunday’s Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges with 72.68% and 71.71% respectively. Owned by Samantha Francis who also owns Vicky’s big tour ride, Mango Jacaro, the nine-year-old Danish-bred gelding placed second in the Prix St Georges at Keysoe CDI earlier in the year.
Maria Eilberg enjoyed a successful show with her rides, taking a double of Inter I classes both with plus-70% scores. Friday’s Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I she won aboard Farah Al Khojai’s Sir Donnerhall gelding, Sarotti 57, and Saturday it was Royal Concert’s time to shine. Owned by Hermione Black, BD Chairman Penny Pollard and Maria, the good looking grey gelding, now 14 years old, took the class ahead runners-up Rob Waine and Bam Bam.
In the Pony divisions, Maddy Whelan and Holly Kerslake were the riders to take the honours. The Team Test on Saturday belonged to Oxfordshire’s Maddy (14) and her eight-year-old mare, Ode to Shannon. The talented 2016 Pony Europeans partnership, trained by Jackie Beaven, scored 72.78%.
Sunday was the turn of 13-year-old Holly from Devon with her eight-year-old Welsh stallion, Valhallas Zorro, who was imported from Denmark last year. The pair who’ve been selected to represent Great Britain at Rooendaal CDI next month, were awarded an average of 68.98% from judges Ann Nicell (H), Judy Firmston-Williams (C) and Debbie Wardle (M).
Clearly thrilled, Holly took to her Holly Kerslake Dressage Facebook page to say; “On our way home from Addington Premier League with my fab Boy Zorro...
Second behind my team mate Maddy in the Team Test with just under 70% with a couple of movements that weren't as good as they can be but very happy that my scores are becoming consistent in the arena with still so much more to come, lots of 8s for our simple changes too which we've been working on lately. Today Zorro won the Individual test with a couple of marks short of 69% and felt great! A little rest now before we start our prep for Roosendaal at the beginning of June.”