Colourful Dressage Finale at Hagans Croft
Immaculate turnouts and accurate tests as league concludes
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Saturday, July 29 saw the final of Hagans Croft's Summer dressage league. Horses and riders were turned out immaculately and some very accurate tests were ridden in front of judge Lucinda Webb. The final was open to all competitors, although only those who had qualified were entitled to be placed within the league, therefore two separate prize givings took place.
The Intro class had fantastic entries throughout the league, therefore the top six placings were all up for grabs on the day and within the league. On the day, Mandy Blakely and four-year-old mare 'Frankie' saluted to a score of 78.04% and first place. Charlie Watson and 'Goldengrove Miss Markle had dominated the Intro league throughout and there was no surprise when they were awarded first place in the league. Craig Hills and 'CLF Oriella' finished in second place on the day with 76.65%. Second in the Intro league went to Katie Adams and 'Wheatfield's Charlie'.
It was then on to the Newcomers class, where it was very encouraging to see a good attendance each week, as this class was primarily added for those wishing to move up a level from a walk-trot Intro test to a Prelim test, which introduces canter transitions. Lauren Madine and 'Esker Hill Spiddal' took the win on the day with 75.34%, with some lovely comments left on Lauren's score sheet: 'A nicely presented test and a capable horse with well above average paces'. Second place on the day was battled out between Siobhan Clarke and Zach Watson, who both finished on the same score of 67.93%. They had the same collective mark - 69, although it was the walk mark which separated them into second and third place. Zach Watson and 'Liscormack Dolly' took second place with their walk mark of 16 and Siobhan Clarke and 'Apollo' took third with a walk mark of 14. This just shows how important it is to practice free walking on a long rein to achieve that relaxed stretch down from the horse.
Zach and 'Liscormack Dolly' went on to take the win in the Newcomers Prelim league, with Danni Froemling and 'Ralphie' finishing in second place.
It was another win for Mandy Blakely and 'Frankie', who finished up with 71.5% in the Prelim class, second place went to Katie Adams and 'Wheatfields Charlie' with 70.5%, who also took second place within the league.
Susan Scott and her colourful mare 'Meara' soared to the top of the league leaderboard to take overall first place in the Prelim league. This was their first league win and to say they were delighted with their red rosette is an understatement. Very well done!
Four competitors took on the Novice class, where a British dressage test was ridden. Robyn McFadden took the win on the day with her second mount 'Pyper', followed by Reese Hogg and 'Smythy' in second place, however Reese and 'Smythy' claimed the red rosette for the league.
The Elementary class and league was won by Victoria McCandless and 'Koolstyle', with some very encouraging comments left by judge Lucinda Webb: 'Such a wonderful horse. Enjoying his work... lots of very nice work shown.'
Second place on the day went to Robyn McFadden's third mount of the day 'Zephyr' with 64.8%, while second place in the league went to Reese Hogg and 'Smythy' - what a great result for this pair.
Jazmin Vollands and 'Mo Chara Nua' made light work of the British Dressage Medium test; they were awarded first place on the day for their score of 65.81%, which also secured them first place within the Medium League. Half passing their way into second place on the day and second place in the league was Victoria McCandless and 'Koolstyle'. It is wonderful to have the support of these horses and riders, to watch these tests ridden at this level.
Thanks go to all the competitors who supported this event throughout the five weeks. Thanks also go to judge, Lucinda Webb, scribes and stewards, who keep these events running so smoothly every week! Thank you to Ellie Johnston photography for covering the event - all photographs can be purchased from Ellie Johnston Photography's Facebook page.
Hagans Croft is now preparing to start their three-week competition entitled 'Show Jumping Summer Blow Out!' which starts on Saturday, August 19. This event has classes suitable for everyone and is pre-entry only, with entries closing each Thursday at 8pm. To enter, please visit Hagans Croft's website: www.haganscrofteqestrian.co.uk or download the Hagans Croft App onto your smart phone.
RESULTS
Saturday, July 29
Dressage League final
Class 1: INTRO: British Dressage, Intro C, 2016:
1) Mandy Blakely, Frankie 78.04%; 2) Craig Hills, CLF Oriella 75.65%; 3) Charlie Watson, Goldengrove Miss Markle 73.91%; 4) Courtney Lynch, Freddie star 71.96%; 5) Rachael Brown, Ally 71.74%; 6) Eleanor Wheeler, Yogi Bear 71.09%.
Class 2: NEWCOMERS PRELIM: British Dressage, Prelim 2, 2016:
1) Lauren Madine, Esker Hill Spiddal 75.34%; 2) Zach Watson, Liscormack Dolly 67.93%; 3) Siobhan Clarke, Apollo 67.93%; 4) Danni Froemling, Ralphie 65.34%; 5) Kara Cosgrave, Letterfinish Ollie 63.97%; 6) Sharon Madine, Lear Lady 63.1%.
Class 3: PRELIM: British Dressage, Prelim 7, 2002:
1) Mandy Blakely, Frankie 71.5%; 2) Katie Adams, Wheatfield's Charlie 70.5%; 3) Susan Scott, Meara 68.25%; 4) Helen Bickerstaff, Rennie 65 52%; 5) Ruth Kavanagh Smith, Popcorn 56%.
Class 4: NOVICE: British Dressage, Novice 24, 2010:
1) Robyn McFadden, Pyper 6942%; 2) Reese Hogg, Smythy 68.85%; 3) Robyn McFadden, Johnny 67.31%; 4) Jas Hogg, Prada 64.81%.
Class 5: ELEMENTARY: British Dressage, Elementary 44, 2002:
1) Victoria McCandless, Koolstyle 67.8%; 2) Robyn McFadden, Zephyr 64.8%; 3) Reese Hogg, Smythy 64.4%.
Class 6 : MEDIUM: British Dressage, Medium 71, 2002:
1) Jazmin Vollands, Mo Chara Nua 65.81%; 2) Victoria McCandless, Koolstyle 61.13%.
Dressage League Results July 2023
Class 1: INTRO:
1) Charlie Watson, Goldengrove Miss Markle; 2) Katie Adams, Wheatfield's Charlie; 3) Eleanor Wheeler, Yogi Bear; 4) Judith Bracken, Mary; 5) Claire Adams, Miss Lane Fox; 6) Claire Ervine, My Boy Ed; 7) Sophia Connolly, Hicks.
Class 2: NEWCOMERS PRELIM:
1) Zach Watson, Liscormack Dolly; 2) Danni Froemling, Ralphie; 3) Siobhan Clarke, Apollo.
Class 3: PRELIM:
1) Susan Scott, Meara; 2) Katie Adams, Wheatfield's Charlie; 3) Helen Bickerstaff, Rennie; 4) Ruth Kavanagh-smith, Popcorn.
Class 4: NOVICE:
1) Reese Hogg, Smythy.
Class 5: ELEMENTARY:
Victoria McCandless, Koolstyle; 2) Reese Hogg, Smythy.
Class 6: MEDIUM:
1) Jazmin Vollands, Mo Chara Nua; 2) Victoria McCandless, Koolstyle.