Coffee's at full strength

A striking part-Appaloosa catches the judge’s eye twice, while a 22-year-old Lusitano impresses in the advanced medium for Emma Pewter

- EMILY BEVAN

British Riding Clubs TopSpec Dressage to Music Championships, Bury Farm, Bucks

A NARROW defeat in the advanced medium just prevented Chantelle Oliver-Symonds and Stadmorslow Coffee N Cream from earning two champions’ titles. They took top spot in the 23-strong medium class, scoring 70.33% for their test, which was set to pop music by Shakira, Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello.

“I was kicking myself when I came out of the arena as I didn’t feel like I’d given him the best ride,” said Chantelle of Kings Leaze RC. “He broke in medium trot and his quarters were leading a bit in the canter half-pass so I was really shocked to find out we had won.”

Chantelle has owned the 14-year-old Appaloosa/Welsh section D for 10 years and describes him as “one of a kind”.

“You never know what you’re going to get with him,” Chantelle said. “Some days he can be really sharp and you need to work him in for 45 minutes to get good work whereas other days he’s so relaxed and barely needs working in.”

Flitch Way RC’s Emma Pewter and Rafael, a 22-year-old Lusitano stallion, came out on top of a tight advanced medium section. Their score of 71% meant they triumphed by less than 1% from Cambridge RC’s Evelyn Little on Bindro T

The “talented” Reier Van Marije nets the senior novice without points class with Christine Gay (70.12%) and medium champion Chantelle on Stadmorslow Coffee N Cream (70.08%).