Diversity and dedication Shine

From Friesians to former racehorses, natives to draughts, partnerships of every type showed what dedication and good training can achieve

- By ANDREA OAKES

FRIESIAN mares Jeldau Fan Fraithwen and Fraithwens Wytske Fan Ter Lune secured a hat-trick of titles between them in the baroque classes, in the hands of Gracie Catling.

“Jeldau felt very grownup and confident in her work,” said Gracie of the six-year-old, who took both prelim and novice titles with scores of 72%. “She came to me a year ago as a broodmare, having had two foals, so it’s been a real process transforming her from a mum to a competition horse.

“Wytske let her crown slip with one very cheeky moment at the judges’ table - which meant she had a one in her test,” she added of the 10-year-old, who nevertheless won the medium outright with 70%. “It just shows they're not machines.”

Nicola North claimed the veteran rider prix st georges (PSG) title with her 13-year-old mare Baptista-Ra. The pair's 69.27% winning score was a championship best at PSG and followed their highest-ever result at the level (72%) at Bury Farm, Buckinghamshire, the previous week.

“We're on an upward trajectory; fingers crossed it stays that way,” said Nicola, who teamed up with “Bee”, a Bretton Woods daughter, three years ago. “Bee produced a consistent, accurate test, showing all the qualities we've been working on at home - she was fabulous.”

Diminutive dressage star Glanhayl Rendition gave a towering performance to win the British native pony PSG title. Standing at just 13.2hh, the Welsh section C gelding is on his way to inter I, according to his owner and rider, Amy Peters.

“I'm just amazed to be at this level,” commented Amy, who bought “Tyke”, now 15, as a three-year-old. “I didn’t intend to keep him so long, but he’s so smart and clever, and he just keeps stepping up. He's a little horse in a pony’s body, a real character.