Visiting judge comments on improvement in standard

LOCAL riders are producing standard of dressage tests well up to a UK benchmark. Panel judge Bridget Berisford-Wright, making her fourth return visit to the island to judge two days of competition at Chemin Le Roi, was very complimentary about the tests performed as some very promising horses came before her.

'All the Guernsey riders seem to have raised their game plan and I think that some of the combinations will do very well when they compete at this year's regional championships,' she said.

In particular Sophie Bennett, riding Sue Fearis' Mariquitta, produced a flawless novice test on day two to be awarded the highest percentage over the two days of 75.17%.

Bennett, who has previously competed in the UK up to FEI Intermediaire one level, was making a successful return to the dressage arena after a break of nearly nine years and qualified the chestnut mare for the regional finals in the open sections at novice, elementary and medium.

Also completing her qualification for the regionals with some impressive performances was Nikki Lambourne on Master Connaught, who took the novice qualifier on day one with 71.85% and the restricted elementary ticket.

The top of the leader board for the summer series £400 prize fund was still dominated by Terry Lihou who maintained his first and second positions with Ballyfergus and his new ride @utomatic.

'This horse is one to watch for the future and a great contender for a combined training national title next year as it also has a very big jump,' said Jill Browning, secretary and organiser of the Chemin Le Roi dressage.

Hot on Lihou's heels on the leader board after putting in two excellent performances was Patti Anderson and Icarus II, who won the preliminary four on 70.45% and the novice 24 on 70.74%.

The junior riders, who were competing on equal terms with the seniors, also took some of the classes to earn themselves valuable points for the prize fund with Shelly Tostevin winning two classes, the preliminary 16 on Jumping Jack Splash, with a score of 70.50% and the novice 23 with Ottergayle's High Society.

Making her debut at Chemin Le Roi with Stonewood Sealegs, young rider Lucie Fox-Pegg produced a faultless preliminary 10 test to win the class on a very good score of 73.18%.

The novice and elementary classes were hotly contested with some very good numbers but it was Lambourne, this time riding Jubilee J, who took the novice 33, while the elementary 44 was a three-way tie for first place between Jubilee J, Aspen Gem and Ad Lib, who all finished on 63.60% and not even the collective marks could split them.

'It's really great to see the standard of dressage improving and the entries in the classes building up nicely,' said Browning.

'Next month we have the coveted combined training national qualifying classes and from the performances and standard I have seen today, I am hoping that Guernsey will very shortly produce a national champion in either the dressage or show jumping arenas.'