Under 25’s
National
Championships
at Sheepgate
Written by Daisy Jackson
I was fortunate to qualify both of my
own horses for the Under 25’s National
Championships at Sheepgate in
Lincolnshire last month. This was a great
opportunity for me to watch some of
my peers, catch up with friends and bag
myself some interviews for this month’s
roundup. There was some exciting
young talent shining through and it
really struck me that, within the past
three years, how the quality of horses
and standards of riding have increased
phenomenally. This really is so exciting
for the future of the sport. Sheepgate is
a fantastic show for both hobby riders
and young riders who plan to continue
a career in dressage; World Champion
Charlotte Dujardin competed at the
show in her early career which bodes
well for the young talent that competed
there this year.
Success for Anna Jesty
An incredibly successful few days were
achieved by 16 year old Anna Jesty
riding her own Aquiro, gaining a 3rd
and 2nd place along with winning both
the Farnam Products FEI Junior Team
and the Individual with 72.57% as well
as the FEI Freestyle to Music Junior with
a fine score of 74.25%. A thrilled Anna
said ‘‘He felt the best he has ever felt at
Sheepgate, he gave me such an amazing
feeling in all of his tests and even though
there were mistakes in all of the tests
he still pulled out some really good
marks.’’ The junior rider, who trains with
both Bruce King and Claire Speer, tells
Everything Horse UK about the fantastic
results achieved by the pair in the short
time they have been a combination and
on their journey to hopefully competing
internationally again next year.
‘‘I have had Gleavo for 14 months; he’s
a 12 year old KWPN gelding by Aquino
(Argentinus) out of a Donnerhall mare.
Previously we have won 2 regional
titles (Elementary and Medium), have
become the BYRDS Home International
FEI 2015 Champions, had a place on
the GB Junior squads for 2014/2015,
10
Image: Anna Jesty and Aquiro Photo credit Debbie Jackson
competed at the BD NAF 5* Winter
Championships as well as competing
internationally at Junior level. We are
currently working on getting Gleavo
competing at PSG locally and training
him up to Grand-Prix. I am due to
start studying the AASE performance
programme through Hartpury College
whilst working at Platinum Stud. In the
next couple of years as a Junior I hope
to compete abroad at some international
competitions, as well as getting onto a
higher Junior squad.’’
Novice 22
Also gaining a great result at the
Championships was Steph Kelly with
Clare Beswick’s Inca Gold winning the
Sue Carson Saddles, Novice 22, with
a brilliant score of 74.83%. Steph has
been riding the Imperio x Don Schufro
Gelding for a year and half now and it’s
clear the combination have something
special, achieving scores as high as the
mid 70’s. Although just five years of age
Inca Gold is already showing bags of
potential and gives Steph his all. She
says ‘‘He is amazing. He just wants to
give and give.’’ The combination have
qualified for the Nationals for Novice
Open and in the near future plan to
move up to Elementary and continue
qualifying for the Regionals.
Elementary 43
Wrapping up his 5th time competing
at Sheepgate with 6 podium spots
including a win in the Sue Carson
Saddles Elementary 43 was rider Angus
Corrie-Deane along with his string of 3;
Grayswood Orlando, Walters Fable and
Hagelkruis Valentijn. Continuing to be
placed throughout, Angus clearly made
his mark on the show and was thrilled
with how his rides performed and rose
to the occasion. From demonstrating
how a constant and quality test is
performed on a pony very comfortably
Everything Horse Magazine • Issue 25• October 2015