Winter Dressage Championships day three: double success for Lucy Pye

Both straight novice championship classes were decided today (8 April), with young female riders taking both at the NAF Five Star British Dressage Winter Championships.

Lucy Pye, who works for Paul Friday, filled the top two spots in the PDS Saddles elementary restricted freestyle to music.

The champion was Mike Kelly’s Frumma (pictured), a Richelshagen eight-year-old bred at Week Orchard Stud in the Westcountry. She scored 74.29%.

Lucy was just behind with 73.21% on her own Fiderlight, a Fidertanz x De Niro six-year-old.

“I had a good lead-up to the show as we went out on Sunday and won,” said Lucy, who has only been riding Frumma for six months.

Jayne Turney, who is trained by Charlotte Dujardin, claimed the Blue Chip novice open on Penhaligon’s Jupiter with 76.09%, nearly 3% clear of second-placed Mount St John Furstin Fugger (Lucinda Elliott).

“He was just so with me all the time,” said Jayne of the Rixons’ Starnberg six-year-old.

Starnberg is a son of Sir Donnerhall (by Sandro Hit) and it was more Sandro Hit blood that helped earn the Blue Chip novice restricted title for Hannah Bown. Her ride Sandro’s Storm, who scored 71.09%, is by the Sandro Hit son Sandro’s Dancer.

“He couldn’t have given me any more in there,” said the emotional rider. “To get here is a dream, but to win is unbelievable.”

Winner of the medium restricted Petplan Area Festival final was 19-year-old Alice Wotton and Belcanto Des Anges.

The pair, who were last to go, scored 73.08% to win by an impressive four-percent.

“I will feel better after a glass of champagne!” said Alice, who was shaking as she went into the prize giving.

In second was Emily Perry on Dondersteen with Claire Davies and Deliana R in third.

Related articles:

• Winter Dressage Championships day two: first national title for Tahley Reeve Smith
• Music is key on first day of Winter Dressage Championships
• H&H dressage editor’s Area Festival video diary: interuppted by the Olympic champion

Meanwhile Charlotte-Elizabeth Barber stormed ahead of the field to win the novice open Petplan Area Festival final with a huge 77.10%.

The pair had already broken the 70% barrier earlier in the day to win their first round arena with a score of 75.11%.

Second place went to Amy Tilston and Diamantico and in third was Kate Thorne riding Caveys Wizard.

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