Olympic perfection awaits Hester’s rising star

They put themselves firmly on the map at the FEI European Championships in Rotterdam, providing some of our best performances ever in this sport, including winning team gold for the first time.

Carl Hester was the man of the moment, ending the championships at the weekend by winning a second silver medal in the grand prix freestyle, riding the 10-year-old stallion, Utopia.

The result completed a spectacular week for Hester and the dressage team who as well as winning gold, also took silver and bronze during the championships.

Hester’s horse, which he co-owns with Sasha Stewart, has turned out to be a rising star.

They completed their test to a new music compilation to finish on a score of 84.179 per cent.

“The risk paid off, it was amazing,” said Hester.

“It was the first time I’d ridden Utopia and somehow we arrived in all the right places at the right time.

“Six weeks ago he suddenly found a new gear and after Hickstead I knew we had to get serious and get new music.

“For such a young horse to do what he did here, I couldn’t be happier with him, it’s so exciting.”

Each of the medal winners on the final day had personal bests with Adelinde Cornelissen (NED) and Jerich Parzival taking the title for the home nation with a score of 88.768 per cent. Swedish rider Patrick Kittel won bronze with Watermill Scandic HBC on 83.429 per cent, a score just 0.383 ahead of Britain’s Laura Bechtolsheimer and Mistral Horjis who finished in fourth place.

Another British rider and a newcomer to top level dressage, Charlotte Dujardin, marked her first freestyle grand prix competition on Valegro with a score of 79.357 per cent and a ninth-place finish.

The European Championships are the last senior dressage championships in Europe before the 2012 Olympic Games.

Britain’s young event riders were also on medal-winning form at the weekend,winning gold at the European Young Rider Eventing Championship at Blair Castle. Team member Willa Newton, 21, also won an individual silver medal.

In the final, showjumping leg of the competition, the British riders held their nerve to hold off a challenge from the Irish team. Their combined efforts gave them a total score of 169.2 points, nearly nine more than second-placed Ireland, with the German team taking bronze.

The British riders were Wills Oakden, Dani Evans, Willa Newton and Tom McEwen.

The individual gold title went to German rider Freya Fullgraebe and the bronze was won by David Hannigan.

The Tyler family from the Springwater Stud at Pickhill had a worthwhile journey to the recent Dartmoor Pony Society Champion Show held at Whiddon Down near Okehampton, taking the reserve supreme in hand championship.

The stud showed the four-year-old mare Springwater Pony by Moortown Hawkwing out of former show champion mare Springwater Symphony, which was reserve brood mare, reserve overall female champion and reserve in the Shilstone Rocks Championships for breeders outside Devon and Cornwall.

The stud also had a win in the open foal class and clinched the championship with Springwater Cosmos by Cayberry Final Salute.

The yearling filly Springwater in a Spin, by former youngstock breed champion Springwater Intermezzo, won her section and was reserve yearling champion. She also won three days earlier at the NPS Summer Championships.

Two-year-old filly Springwater Anna, also by Intermezzo, clinched the filly/gelding section for ehr age category.

Daphne Marshall from Barwick-in-Elmet was runner up with the seven-year-old Moortown New Romance by Hisley Cravat in the barren mare section.

Charlotte Jordan rode New Romance and was second in the lead rein and beginners first ridden.

Charlotte just missed qualifying for the Horse of the Year Show at the NPS Summer Championships after finishing second in the lead rein which was led by her mother, Rebecca.

Results

Tockwith Show (Shires), Judge Mr FW Stainthorpe, Yearling-Colt-Filly-Gelding: 1, Mr & Mrs F Pickles - Cumeragh House Mary Beth; 2, Messrs Dodgson & Young - Ribston Ivy. Barren Mare-Gelding-3 Years 7 Over: 1, P Bedford - Phoenix Ellie; 2, A Lees - Barrowshaw Sir James; 3, Messrs Dodgson & Young - Upper Delves Holly. Any Other Heavy Horse: 1, J Taylor - Fordelhill Lady Frances. Single Turnout (Agric): 1, Meadowside Gypsy Rose. Champion: Phoenix Ellie; Reserve - Cumeragh House Mary Beth; Shire Horse Society Silver Spoon - Phoenix Ellie.

Ripley Show (Heavy Horses), Judge Mr W Marland, Mare-Gelding (Any Age): 1, H Dunning - Grange Farm Flower; 2, A Lees - Barrowshaw Sir James; 3, Miss K Smith - Birchwood Bunty. Brood Mare with Foal at Foot: 1, BW Perirson - Northallerton Princess.Foal-Colt-Filly: 1, BW Peirson - Sir Allan. Yearling-Colt-Filly-Gelding: 1, Miss A Stott - Batley Harry; 2, Dodgson & Young - Ribston Ivy. Two-year-old-Colt-Filly-Gelding: 1, Miss K Smith - Birchwood Barron; 2, C Wilkins - Oaklodge Maisie. Ridden Heavy Horse: 1, Miss J Spink - Beattie; 2, Mrs L Darley - Ted. Decorated Harness: 1, R Whiteoak - Hunters Pride Bess; 2, R Worthington; 3, Beamish Museum Ltd.

Champion: Birchwood Barron; Reserve - Grange Farm Flower.

Regiments benefit from Bramham

Two charities are to benefit from a total of £30,395 raised at this year’s Bramham International Horse Trials.

The money will be divided between the Yorkshire Regiment Welfare for Wounded Warriors Benevolent Fund and the Household Cavalry Operational Casualties Fund. In an attempt to raise a further £10,000, Harrogate jewellers Ogden are selling bracelets in aid of the two funds. For more information go to www.ogdenharrogate.co.uk and shop online at Fashion Joins Forces.