Posted: 25th September 2015 | Back to news feed
Success for the Mount St John Stud continued on the third day of competition at the Le Mieux National Championships when Charlotte Dujardin masterfully guided Mount St John Freestyle to an emphatic win in the TopSpec Medium Open.
This relatively new pairing have undoubtedly formed a fantastic partnership and produced a faultless and hugely impressive test which was justly rewarded with a brilliant score of 77.86%.
Charlotte was delighted with the result, commenting: “I was really happy with my performance today. Freestyle is a new ride for me, I’ve had her from the beginning of the year and this is only her fourth Medium test ever. I was happy with the whole test from start to finish!” said a delighted Charlotte.
The combination has been unbeaten since the beginning of their competitive career together at the start of the year. They qualified for the National Championships at Keysoe summer regionals in August with a score of 75.77%, giving them a convincing victory.
Mount St John Freestyle is a six-year-old Fidermark-sired mare with a ‘fantastic temperament’. Despite finding the atmosphere rather electric whilst schooling the previous day, Freestyle showed her professionalism when it mattered. Charlotte said: “Yesterday she was a little bit hot and then today she was like a pro nothing fazed her. She’s never been in this type of atmosphere but she’s not a spooky horse. I’m really lucky in that sense, if anything, it just makes her lift and get a bit more excited. She’s a really easy horse and a real pleasure to ride.”
In the TopSpec Medium Open National Championship, world number one pony combination Phoebe Peters and SL Lucci were hot on Charlotte’s heals with a fabulous performance to give them 75.86%, more than four percent over third placed Laura Newton and Zebrano. This was a hugely emotional performance for Phoebe as it was her last ever test with the outstanding SL Lucci, as the pony is now for sale. A huge support team turned out to watch this pair and although emotions were running high before the test, Phoebe regained her composure to produce yet another flawless performance and round off her competitive career with Lucci in fine style.
Jayne Turney and Cruz lll Victorious in the TopSpec Medium Restricted at National Dressage Championships
Charlotte Dujardin’s stunning six-year-old pony, Cruz III stormed to victory in the TopSpec Medium Restricted at the LeMieux National Dressage Championships ridden by Jayne Turney (33).
This future superstar pony performed an impressive test to score 72.22%, fending off competition from his larger rivals, whilst Charlotte watched on from the ringside. Jayne, from Gawcott in Buckinghamshire and the diminutive power house, Cruz III claimed the competition by over two percent, much to her delight. Jayne beamed: “This is a dream come true for me, I really cannot believe it!”
Cruz has a 100% hit rate at these championships having won the Novice Open last year when ridden by Phoebe Peters.
Jayne was offered ‘Tom’ as a project by his owner and Jayne’s long-time friend, Charlotte and has carefully produced him ever since. “I got a phone call out of the blue from Charlotte saying ‘I’ve got a challenge for you’ and would I be interested,” explained Jayne. “And he’s been an amazing project - he’s brilliant! He’s hot, wants to do the job, is confident and brave, and is very bright – you can almost see his brain working!”
Tom, a flashy chestnut by former British team pony, Caesar 171, is stabled on Jo Jenkin’s yard just outside Buckingham. Jo plays an invaluable part in Jayne’s support team, along with Charlotte and Ian Cast. Jayne’s friendship with the pair began when they worked for Judy Harvey - ‘before they were famous!’ They are still very much a strong team. “Ian helps me a lot and is always on the end of the phone, and I train with Charlotte whenever I can,” Jayne said.
Like all good riders, Jayne is her own biggest critic and was quick to pick up on areas for further improvement: “I do get nervous and I do have high expectations of myself, but I’m learning to use that in a positive way,” she said.
In second place was Lewis Carrier and Diego V who put in a competitive performance to receive just a whisker below the 70% barrier, with 69.92%.
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