Manilla breaches new heights

Combinations bloom to new levels of success at the senior Home Nations, while non-traditional dressage types excel elsewhere

- ANDREA OAKES

Senior Home Nations, Kelsall Hill, Cheshire

“SHE’S really coming into her own,” said Gemma Moss of Manilla I. The pair blazed a trail for the winning Windsor quartet from the North West region, which emerged triumphant from 34 teams after two days of competition.

Competing alongside Natalie Chatley, Sarah Jacklin and Annabel Abell, Gemma rode the six-year-old to victory in both of her classes with plus-73% scores to become overall novice champion – a consistency she hadn’t achieved previously with Carmel and Bernadette McLoughlin’s It’s A Pleasure daughter.

“She’s not been easy to train so I wasn’t expecting two wins on the trot, but we made a breakthrough about a month ago,” said Gemma. “I had a difficult second pregnancy last year and a reasonably sized break, which didn’t do her any harm. She did well in the four-year-old classes but would often tie up afterwards, but that doesn’t seem to happen now she has matured.

“We’re still working on getting really good basics,” added Gemma. “She’s a brave mare and not fazed by a competition ring; she goes in there and grows.”

Jessica Griffiths, competing for the second-placed team Balmoral Castle from the North East region, was overall medium champion after two wins with RS Furst Love. The eight-year-old British-bred gelding has now claimed three individual championship titles, having previously won both novice and elementary.