Spencer Wilton and Dolendo are National Champions!
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Last year’s runners-up, Spencer Wilton and Dolendo were crowned the national champions, having gained the highest combined scores in the grand prix and grand prix freestyle during the 2007 Blue Waters National Dressage Championships at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, 13-16 September.
Spencer rode Ann Cory's and Carl Hester’s 13-year-old 17.1hh Donnerhall gelding to victory in the grand prix and took the runner-up slot in the grand prix freestyle behind Maria Eilberg and Two Sox.
Last year, Spencer and Dolendo appeared on the international stage with much success and were working towards being selected for the British team for this year’s European Championships. However, Dolendo was out of action for the first half of the season and only returned to the competition arena at Hartpury CDI in mid-July, regaining last year’s form to win the grand prix special at Hickstead CDI at the end of July.
Spencer, who is leaving for France with Dolendo on Tuesday to compete in Saumur CDI next weekend, said: “We won the freestyle class here last year, but he has not done a freestyle test since then. What I’m most pleased about is that he is slowly improving and there is more to come. It’s not quite sunk in that we’ve won. Without Carl and his support, we would not be here now.”
Blue Waters Grand Prix Freestyle Championship
- Maria Eilberg and Two Sox
Maria’s trainer is her father Ferdi, who owns the 13-year-old 16.2hh Ehrentusch gelding. Maria has won two pony European silver team medals and two young rider European bronze team medals. She was British Under-21 Champion in 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2003. In 2004, she took the British Advanced Medium title with her other ride, Topscore.
Biotal Equine Gold Medium Restricted Championship
- Deborah Childs and Berrifield Spetter
Dresssage trainer and air hostess Debbie and her husband David have owned the eight-year-old 17.2hh Dutch-bred gelding by Krack C since he was two. Based in Malmesbury, Wiltshire, she trains with Jane Gregory.
NFU Mutual Preliminary Championship
- Sondra Darnbrough and Demi-Jour
Sondra’s trainer, Michel Assouline, part owns the five-year-old 18hh gelding by Dimaggio with Jane McGarel-Groves. Sondra, who is Canadian, has lived in Britain for five years and was Michel's headgirl for two of those.
NuuMed Potential International Dressage Horse
- Jo Barry and Vivaldi V
Jo, who is from West Lothian and trains with Carl Hester, added this win to the elementary open national title she took on the first day of the nationals. She is also the current novice winter freestyle champion with the five-year-old Dutch gelding by Rilke, whom she owns with Lady Hope.
For the full results and to listen to audio interviews with all the winners, visit www.bdchampionships.co.uk.
