Day five: Paralympian Sophie Wells claims her first British Dressage national title
Paralympic medallist Sophie Wells conquered the Albion medium open class – the last up for grabs on the closing day of the NAF Five Star British Dressage Winter Championships at Hartpury College, Glos. She rode the Fidertanz eight-year-old C Fatal Attraction to the only plus-70% score in the class with a fluent and confident round.
“His owner Charlotte Hogg will be so chuffed,” beamed Sophie. “’Jorge’ used to suffer from tension in the ring and I couldn’t produce the work I was getting in the warm-up, which was frustrating, but it’s now starting to happen.”
Alice Oppenheimer doubled her 2015 winter title haul when she won the Nupafeed advanced medium freestyle on her partner of two years, Tantoni Sir Soccrates. The pair posted an impressive 76.28%, 4% clear of Olivia Oakeley and Don Carissimo in second.
“He stayed really rideable,” said Alice of the British-bred eight-year-old by Sir Donnerhall.
Lewis Carrier broke the stranglehold of women’s domination at Hartpury. The teen, who works for the Eilbergs, rode his seven-year-old Diego V to win the Equitop Myoplast elementary restricted championship. The horse showed off his bounce and lift in the prize-giving (see video, above).
Returning to Hartpury after an eight-month stint at the college before deciding that it wasn’t the path for him, Lewis scored 68.23%, the only rider to go over the 68% mark. He hopes to bring the gelding up to small tour level and is training him at medium at home.
Ottilie Bardsley, 15, was victorious in the Petplan advanced medium restricted final with 70.98% riding Dublin. “He tries hard, when he knows he has to”, Ottilie said of the Dutch-bred 14.2hh gelding of the same age.
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The Petplan preliminary final was taken by 17-year-old Anna Tomlinson and Moreorless with 72.73%.
“He’s a dream, he’s so well to do with everything,” said Anna of the nine-year-old gelding by Goldenfields Silver Star.
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Rachael joined Horse & Hound in 2014, initially as a digital sub editor then became part of the news team as a writer in 2015. The philosophy graduate studied journalism at the Press Association before working as a local reporter at the Brentwood Gazette. Rachael is now a mum of two and still loves all things equestrian, including hacking, dressage and jumping with her cob Bert. Rachael left the H&H staff to go freelance in June 2019, but still contributes to our magazine and website, as well as our sister magazine Country Life, among others.