SOMERFORD PARK PREMIER LEAGUE KICKS OFF DAY TWO OF DRESSAGE
SOMERFORD PARK PREMIER LEAGUE KICKS OFF DAY TWO OF DRESSAGE
Day 2 Round Up
Becky Moody and Lancelot BS claimed Saturday morning’s Premier League FEI Prix St-Georges sponsored by Fairfax Saddles at Somerford Park. Lancelot BS a 9 year old gelding by Dream Boy was the second of Becky’s rides in the first class of the morning clinching the win on a score of 70.64%.
“He was actually quite spicy today, we started off with a very relaxed warm up, I don’t really know what happened but we got quite giddy! We did quite a lot of squealing and a little bit of bucking in the warm up.” said Becky.
“The test was a mixture of things if I’m honest, we did some really lovely things and good trot work, and then some tension in the canter.”
“He’s still quite green and new to this level. The trot extensions I was really pleased with and his balance is getting so much better – I felt I could ride a little bolder in them. It’s a work in progress as always.”
Becky went on to win the Premier League FEI Inter I sponsored by Saracen Horse Feeds with talented 8 year old Magic Dream, by Governor, whom Becky has had for 5 years.
“She’s a super cool mare, she is a chestnut mare but I love her.” said Becky.
“I was really pleased with the test, she is only 8 and still quite green at the level and the balance is something I struggle with a little, it’s taken a while but it’s coming together and that’s the first test that I felt I could be a little bit bolder in my extensions.”
“She shows a lot of talent for the Grand Prix work, she’s a lovely person and that makes it so much easier.”
Saturday’s British Dressage International Young Horse FEI Young Horse Preliminary 5y went to Sarah Higgins and MSJ Evolution with 72.4. The 6 year old went to Becky Moody and Don Galahad with 82.6 while Jade Whitelaw and Nancy I claimed the 7 year old with 64.49%.
Carol Wagstaff and Narocko won the British Dressage Young Horse British Dressage National 7 yr old Test wit 68.95%.
Charlotte Lutener won the Premier League Grand Prix 16 U25 sponsored by LeMieux aboard AB Barroco, with a final score of 66.38%.
“I think I worked a little bit harder than he did in the trot work, so we need to keep getting confidence with that! But he had a really solid canter so I was really pleased with that.”
“My final centre-line was much improved from the earlier piaffe and passage, so I just need to get that a bit further on in the test.”
“He’s a really cool horse, he’s really fun to ride. He has a lot of personality and is quite cheeky!”
We asked what Charlotte’s plans looked like for AB Barroco. “We’ll keep going with the Under 25 Grand Prix to get more confidence, for myself riding the tests as well and just keep enjoying it!”
Tom Goode and SCS L’Amour owned by Alice Wintle lead from the start in Saturday’s Advanced Medium (Gold) sponsored by Bret Willson Dressage International. The pair, who have been together for a year, scored 70.92%.
“She felt really with me today – she’s quite spicy and we’ve struggled with the changes but it all came together and today she produced a really nice test,” said Tom.
“The trot work felt really nice, really smooth, she has really nice half passes we got all our changes and she felt very relaxed.”
The Premier League Grand Prix sponsored by LeMieux was cinched by Sonnar Murray-Browne, who achieved a score of 71.98% aboard Erlentanz. The 18-year-old gelding has recently returned to competition following a break.
“2021 was the last time I competed with him” said Sonnar “I was just very grateful and pleased to be back with him.”
“He’s 18 now and feeling good, I didn’t have any expectations of him, I came here to enjoy the run and he’s been amazing.”
“I had a couple of mistakes because he knows the test so well and I came round to do the ones and he thought he was doing the trot transition so I trotted before my ones and usually the changes are his stand out features!”
On his team at home, Sonnar says, “There’s a massive team. Lucy looks after them at home for me, and Cintia our physio, who’s known Ernie since he was 6 years old, is a massive key part to everything. All of my owners who support me and said that he [Erlentanz] looks great, Carl for his endless help training and, just everyone who supports him.”
“Cintia is just always working hard to keep him in peak fitness and keeping his weaknesses strong. He’s 18 and he’s had a good career – he’s not going to be like he was at 11 or 12 years old…but she’s looked after him like he was one of her own. I’m very grateful for that, I don’t need to worry about him there.”
The FEI Pony Individual Competition title went to Jessie Clarke and Bunteeichen Nivaro, finishing on 68.51%. Jessie competed at this event in 2024 on the same pony, returning again this year after making the trip from Scotland.
“This is my first win within a Pony FEI class. The test today was really supple, he was really soft to the contact and just working really well with me.”
“We’ve been training especially hard for the movements in the test that he struggles with as well. We’ve been working really hard on simple changes.”
18-year-old Sophie Wallace came out on top in the FEI Young Rider Individual Competition with Fallatijn Van Kairos, with a final score of 71.13%
“I was really pleased with how today went. He’s an incredible horse and I’m very fortunate to be riding him. We went in and he was just with me the whole way through, which was really nice. We managed to improve on the pirouette from our last competition, which was really nice.”
“I just love riding his changes! He’s owned by Laura Tomlinson and the Bechtolsheimers, and I’m very fortunate to be riding him. I’ve now been riding him for 3 months, so quite new to me but I’m really enjoying learning everything with him…he’s teaching me a lot.”
The winning horse in the FEI Junior Individual Competition was Bocelli 6, ridden by Ella-Grace Dovey. The 18-year-old gelding and his rider ended up with a score of 68.92%.
“He went really, really well – he got a bit tense in a few places, and my walk pirouettes were a bit small, but apart from that it was a really, really nice test. One of my changes was late, but the other one was really good.”
“I’ve only been riding him for 6 weeks, but he’s been on the yard for a long time. He is funny – he loves his food, and he loves treats. The more sugar-free Polos you can give him, the better!”
With a score of 74.69%, 14-year-old Rose Punchard and Elason were the winners of the FEI Children on Horses Individual.
“He was a lot quieter in that test, much more with me, listening to me, and it felt really nice.”
We asked Rose about her standout moments from the test, “I’m going to say, our centre lines and medium trots.” And what have they been recently working on? “Counter-canter and simple changes.”
“Hugo [Elason] is 16, he’s really nice to deal with, he’s got a really lovely personality.” Says Derbyshire-based Rose.
Image: Sonnar Murrya-Browne and Erlentanz, Credit Jasmine Punter Photography
Tap https://horsemonkey.com/results/70533 for full set of results
Ends
25 May 2025
For further information contact debrahargravepr@gmail.com
Editor Notes:
Somerford Park is synonymous as a centre of equine excellence and we are thrilled to welcome an eclectic mix of riders to this year’s dressage including last year’s GP winner Michael Eilberg, Paris team bronze medalist Becky Moody, Tokyo travelling reserve Gareth Hughes, well recognised father and daughter Paul and Bobby Hayler, while Amy Woodhead is joined by her eventing sister Holly Woodhead.