DRESSAGE NAF FIVE STAR WINTER CHAMPIONSHIPS 17–23 August

DRESSAGE NAF FIVE STAR WINTER CHAMPIONSHIPS 17–23 August

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‘This is the big one’

An event rider continues his dressage domination as he achieves his most significant title yet, while a PSG history-maker leaves his rider in tears

By POLLY BRYAN

NAF Five Star Winter Dressage Championships, Hartpury, Glos

DANNIE MORGAN scored the biggest win of his dressage career so far when he claimed a euphoric victory in the Superflex inter I championship.

An intermediate eventer who now combines both sports, Dannie only took up pure dressage in 2016, but has since swept up the levels, accumulating eight national titles. This is, however, his first at small tour level.

“This is the big one – the title I have always wanted to win since I started coming to the winter championships,” declared Hampshire-based Dannie. “I’m having to pinch myself.”

Riding Lisa Morgan’s 10-year-old Jazz x Krack C son Knoxx’s Figaro, Dannie put a blip in the left pirouette during the previous day’s Magic prix st georges (PSG) behind him and pulled offa classy, mistake-free inter I performance to finish 2% ahead of reserve champions Nathalie Kayal and DHI Cleverboy.

“I was thrilled with the quality of Fig’s work yesterday, although having mistakes in the pirouettes was less than ideal. My aim today was for a clear round and although he felt slightly more tired today, I was able to keep him in good balance, despite the wet conditions,” he said.