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Lara Griffith and Rubin Al Asad ©British Dressage
Lara Griffith and Rubin Al Asad impressed with a comfortable grand prix victory at Hickstead Premier League Show, West Sussex (23 – 27 June 2015).
The pair (pictured last September) earned a grand prix personal best of 72.12% to finish at the top of a large field of 31 entries, ahead of runner-up Jacky Stolper with Der Schufro and third-placed Gareth Hughes aboard Classic Briolinca.
Earlier this year, Lara and Rubin Al Asad (Rubin Royal x Wanderbursch II), an attractive bay gelding owned by Wilfried Bechtolsheimer, cemented their partnership with a hugely successful spell overseas in the sunshine state of Florida, where they secured their first international win in the grand prix special at Wellington CDI4*.
Lara (26), assistant rider to Laura Tomlinson, has been selected with ‘Rufus’ for the British team at Hagen CDIO next month. She is a member of the World Class Development Programme, as is Olivia Oakeley who also made an impression at the show in the small tour divisions.
Lara Griffith and Rubin Al Asad ©British Dressage
Olivia rode Anne Keen’s talent Don Carissimo to a thrilling double by winning a prix st georges and the intermediate I. The budding partnership earned 71.58% for their PSG performance and 74.39% for the inter I. Olivia expressed her delight on her Facebook page: “Absolutely over the moon with Darcy today, won the inter I with a new personal best of 74.39%! He was a star and really starting to see the improvements we are making at home, in the tests.”
Another rider to make his mark was Matt Frost, partnered by Dedi Leech’s towering son of Dr Doolittle, AMD Don Rosso II. Matt and ‘Donald’ not only enjoyed a decisive prix st georges victory with 75.35%, they were also hot on the heels of Olivia in Friday’s inter I with an outstanding score of 74.21%. Thursday’s inter I was won in fine style by seasoned international competitor, Emile Faurie, and Ramses XII. Ramses is a grey, 11-year-old Estonian stallion, recently acquired by Emile. The pair’s performance was awarded with 72.28%.
On the final day of the five-day show, it was the youngsters who took to the stage. The superstar pony SL Lucci, superbly ridden as ever by 16-year-old Phoebe Peters, ran away with the Pony team test. The pair scored 79.44%, more the seven percent ahead of the rest of the field. Phoebe also went on to head the Junior team test riding Denford Surprise, a 16-year-old gelding owned by Debbie Brookes. Her performance on the lofty son of Concord showed all the signs of her making a seamless transition to Juniors in 2016.
Hickstead Dressage Masters
The Hickstead Dressage Masters grows in popularity each year, and this year was no exception. Pioneered by Dane Rawlins, the series provides a competitive league for riders of all levels, with the championship final taking place each year at this show. Suzanne Lavandera and Keystone Daganay were on top form to win not one, but two titles – the Dressage Masters Elementary and the Dressage Masters Medium scoring 76.38% and 75.43% respectively. Suzanne and Keystone Daganay, a sporty seven-year-old stallion by Dimaggio, produced two powerful tests to take both by a considerable margin.
Winners
Tuesday 23 June
Hickstead Dressage Masters Preliminary
Tara Hayes and Bantis Holy Joe, 70.96%
Hickstead Dressage Masters Novice
Brendon Tegg and Polo’s Picasso, 70.93%
Hickstead Dressage Masters Elementary
Suzanne Lavandera and Keystone Daganay, 76.38%
Hickstead Dressage Masters Medium
Suzanna Lavandera and Keystone Daganay, 75.43%
Wednesday 24 June
Hickstead Dressage Masters Advanced Medium
Mette Assouline and Ad-Ratino, 74.85%
Prix St Georges
Mette Assouline and Royal Tea, 69.65%
Intermediate I
Maria Griffin and D-J, 73.29%
5YO National British Young Dressage Horse qualifier
Sarah Millis and Bodleian, 82.20%
5YO FEI British Young Dressage Horse qualifier
Sean Burgess and Keystone Cando, 83.60%
Thursday 25 June
Intermediate I
Emile Faurie and Ramses XII, 72.28%
Prix St Georges
Matt Frost and AMD Don Rosso II, 75.35%
Prix St Georges
Olivia Oakeley and Don Carissimo, 71.58%
Intermediate II
Laura Tomlinson and Unique VIII, 70.35%
6YO National British Young Dressage Horse qualifier
Tatiana Mountbatten and Sir Soleil, 79.60%
6YO FEI British Young Dressage Horse qualifier
Vicki Thompson and Bolero, 80.20%
Friday 26 June
Intermediate A
Susanna Hyypia and Avemmo, 66.18%
Prix St Georges
Victoria Appleyard and Sir Willy, 72.72%
Intermediate I
Olivia Oakeley and Don Carissimo, 74.39%
Grand Prix
Lara Griffith and Rubin Al Asad, 72.12%
Saturday 27 June
Young Rider Team Test
Victoria Appleyard and Sir Willy, 71.12%
Junior Team Test
Phoebe Peters and Denford Surprise, 70.14%
Pony Team Test
Phoebe Peters and SL Lucci, 79.44%
Dressage Masters Small Tour (PSG Freestyle)
Claire Abel and Rowan Magic, 69.46%
Dressage Masters Big Tour (GP Freestyle)
Alex Hardwick and Donauwein, 75.50%
Grand Prix Special
Denise Hallion and Werverlwind, 63.82%
Intermediate B
Alex Hardwick and Royal Chester, 67.98%
For full results see the show website
Source: media release by British dressage
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