Phoebe Peters picks up another championship title ahead of Euros
Record-breaking young dressage rider Phoebe Peters added another championship title to her collection at the Hickstead Premier League, dressage masters and para dressage championships last week (23-27 June) in West Sussex.
The 16-year-old, who is preparing for the dressage pony European Championships in Sweden (5-9 August), took the Hickstead masters under-21 Championship title with the 14.1hh SL Lucci, by Lukas.
The combination posted a score of 79.4% to win the pony team test — which was the final selection for the pony Europeans — by an impressive 7%.
Their score was also good enough for the pair to take top honours in the under-21 championship section.
Rebecca Bell and Valido’s Sunshine were second on 72.39% with Clare Hole and Rembrant DBH in third on with 70.73%.
Phoebe said: “I am feeling very excited about the Europeans in August.
“Our preparation is going really well, Lucci will do one more show before we leave for Malmö.
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“He always enjoys a few days away competing; we’ve found its the best way of keeping both his brain active and also my test riding tuned in.”
Phoebe and Lucci hold the international world records in the pony FEI team test, scoring 80.12% at Compiègne last year, and the pony freestyle test with 84% – posted at the 2013 pony European championships in Arezzo.
In the junior team test at Hickstead, the 16-year-old rode Debbie Brookes’ 17.2hh bay gelding Denford Surprise, known as Parker (above, credit: Camille Peters Photography).
Debbie and her partner Eddie Stibbe own Lavender Hill Stud, near Naunton, Glos, where Phoebe is based.
Although the 2013 pony European dressage champion has been schooling Parker for several months, this was only their second test together and they won on a score of 70.14%.
The score was also good enough for the new combination to take fifth in the under-21 championship.
Phoebe said she was “thrilled” to win on both SL Lucci and Denford Surprise.
“I was really pleased with how Lucci went in the test particularly his extensions in all paces,” she said.
“We haven’t scored under 78% in the any test we’ve ridden since April so naturally I couldn’t be happier with him.
“My relationship with Debbie Brookes’ Denford Suprise is still very young and although this was only our second ever test together he really felt like enjoyed the occasion and tried his best for me despite our differences in size.”
She added that riding the junior class was “great fun” and she is looking forward to their next show at the Premier League at Hartpury, which is running as part of the Festival of Dressage (8-12 July).
British Dressage pony team selectors have this afternoon (Monday 29 June) announced the 2015 British pony European dressage team.
Phoebe will be joined by Rebecca Bell, 15, and Valido’s Sunshine with Valido’s Starlight as a direct reserve, Isobel Berrington, 15, and DHI Langar, and Clare Hole, 13, with Rembrant DDH.
First reserve is Angus Corrie-Dean, 15, and Grayswood Orlando and second reservee is Ottilie Bardsley, 15, and Kingsley Ciske.
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Lucy is an experienced news journalist, reporter and presenter. Since joining the Horse & Hound team in 2015, Lucy has reported from major global sporting events including the Tokyo Paralympic Games and multiple European Championships, as well as Badminton, Burghley and London, to name a few. She has covered current affairs and sports news across the full spectrum of equestrian disciplines and racing, as well as human and equine welfare, industry news and court cases.