Dream drive for Dylan

Dylan Deutrom scores a hat-trick and more, while a home-bred secures a win to kick offthis highly-praised show

- JO PRESTWICH

DYLAN DEUTROM’S 440-mile round trip from Hampshire to Merseyside proved lucrative as he won four classes: two at prix st georges (PSG) level and one inter I with Sarah Church, Matt Hicks and Will Dean’s San Marco, and the inter II with Matt Hicks and Sarah Warry’s Sunlit Uplands, along with several placings.

San Marco (Status Quo x Gribaldi) had a quiet time through last winter after a bit of self-harming in the box.

“He plays the fool all the time and knocked himself piaffing in the box,” explained Matt.

“Dylan rebuilt his stable over two days with sloped walls and rubber matting. I don’t know how we’d manage without Dylan,” he added. “Not only is he a great rider, but he’s also Mr Fix-it; you name it – fencing and anything like that is child’s play to him and he’s a good mechanic as well!”

Sunlit Uplands followed up his inter II win with a second in the grand prix. Dylan has ridden the Don Henrico gelding for five years now and was first reserve for the under-25 Europeans this year.

“I was particularly pleased with his grand prix test, even though there were a couple of silly mistakes – for example, we did 17 ones instead of 15 – but he felt amazing and there is so much more to come,” said Dylan. “It was a long way to come here but well worth it – an amazing venue and outstanding organisation.”