Kwadraat on form at national championships

Becky Moody and Kwadraat on top form to take prix st georges title on the first day ofMercedes Benz National Dressage Championships

Six of the 16 national dressage titles were decided on the first of the three-day Mercedes Benz National Dressage championships, currently being held at the National Agricultural Centre at Stoneleigh,Warwicks.

Derby House Saddlery and Dressage Horse International prix st georges

Such were the numbers of entries that it was 7 1/2 hours after the first competitor entered the arena that the championship was decided.

Becky Moody and Kwadraat took the honours ahead of British-based Dutch international rider Leida Strijk and Klister with Daniel Timpson and Moskino in third.

Becky, who has represented Britain in five under-21s team competed in her final young rider team in June this year. Although a winner of Winter Championships this was her first major national title.

It was also a fitting win for Ian Woodhead of joint sponsor Dressage Horse International as Kwadraat was one of the first horses bought by Dressage Horse International and the winning combination still train with Ian.

Butcher’s PetCare Intermediaire II

First into the arena in the Butcher’s Pet Care Inter II, Shropshire-based Lucy Farrer and Baszo set the standard and held the lead the championship title. Lucy, a freelance instructor has produced the 14-year-old Danishbred gelding since a novice and the combination won the elementary title in 1994 but this is their first year at the big tour level.

“He hasn’t always found life as a dressage horse easy – physically rather than mentally – and I never though he would win another title,” said Lucy

Adam Kemp and Aderro Joyski took second place and despite a momentous rear from Bayford Hall Cossack, Dan Sheriff stayed in the saddle to ride the Russian-bred stallion into third place.

KBIS Insurance/Sheepgate Preliminary championship

Picture This, a Dutch Warmblood ridden by Suzanne Eeles claimed the preliminary championship. The four- year-old by show jumping sire Liostro belied his young years to produce his winning test in the championship atmosphere.

Suzanne, a freelance BHS instructor from Stockton on Tees in Cleveland, has produce Picture This for owner John Moorhouse since he was bought from Holland a year ago.

Picture This also competed in the Burghley Young Event Horse final at the beginning of the month and is also intended to produce him for the show ring next year.

“He is a great all-rounder and has a fantastic temperament,” said Suzanne. “We hope to show him in side-saddle and working hunter. Next season as well as dressage.”

Dodson & Horrell Novice (open) Championship

Daniel Greenwood, second rider at Heath Farm, the base of Emile Faurie, won a strongly contested novice open championship with the big moving six-year-old Holsteiner mare,Reuters La Primavera.

Bought by Emile as a three-year-old from the Holsteiner sales in Germany, Daniel has produced the mare who he describes “as the apple of my eye.”

“We were quietly confident as we knew she was capable of winning but to be able to pull it off on the day is very satisfying,” said Daniel, who has worked for Emile for seven years.

Sabrina O’Reilly and the Hanoverian mare Wenica, this year¨s national and international Shearwater winners held the early lead before being pipped at the post into second, while British-based Danish rider Ulrik Molgaard took third with the upstanding 17.2 German bred gelding Watch me Now.

Dodson & Horrell Novice restricted championship

The restricted novice championshipwas won by Lucy Norris and her own six-year-old Irish gelding That’s It, bought last year from Leicestershire horse dealer and event rider Vere Phillips.

Eighteen-year-old Robyn Wetherall took second with her part-bred Welsh Cob Gernat Surprise.

Click here to read ALL results.