The recently-sidelined Lynn Al Redha has made her comeback to top form as she claimed the feature event, the Advanced Medium class, on her stunning black stallion Tartan Special. Christopher Cyra and Woody Allen, who won this class when it was last staged one month ago, came second.
EEC’s Franck Fogarlo and Dans Boy took the winning rosette once again for the Novice class, scoring 71.9%, the highest tally for the evening. The ever-consistent duo Michele Woolmer and Utopia following closely behind in second place with 68.1%.
The final class won for EEC was Karin Lindbom and the talented school horse Minstrel, who produced a pleasingly rhythmic test to clinch the prize for the Preliminary Juniors with a top score of 65%.
Podium regular Madeline Drakeley and RS Manar were hot on their trail in second place with 64.2% and Fionn Conway, recently a new rider to affiliated dressage, and his mount Monsieur took third with 63.3%.
The Medium class, the second highest class of the evening, was a close battle between Desert Palm and the EEC, but it was Desert Palm’s Joanne Ivemey riding the classy Archimedes who came out on top, with stable companion team Alice Bethell aboard Stanhopes Tokalash coming third.
EEC’s Tracy Gill grabbed second and fourth place aboard Roma and Worthily respectively.
The Elementary class saw Royal Stables Christel Langlois and RS Kahraman finish their last elementary level class in winning style. RS Kahraman has now graduated to be a Medium level horse.
Back again in the placings were Desert Palm representatives Ivmemy and Bethell, who claimed second and third aboard Archimedes and Stanhopes Takalosh respectively.
Michele Woolmer from Zabeel won the Preliminary Seniors class, riding Cartier VZ. The pair have now proved their worth and will move up to the Novice class.
Dubai Polo and Equestrian Club’s Susanna Foustok and Tristan tied for second place with Wrsan Farm’s Mohammed Al Mhireche and Al Borait W’Rsan, with Christine Khairallah aboard Mr Gyps and Vicky Whitbread aboard Game Boy tieing for third.
The UAE National Teams Championship are fast approaching and the competition is heating up. Each team consists of four riders, three senior riders and one junior rider.
The top four teams at the end of the season will qualify for the Championships, and will compete against one another to take the National Dressage Team title for the season.
Currently, the top two teams are The Royal Stables (Charlotte & Madeline Drakeley, Christel Langlois and Eidith Christmas) followed very closely by The Dressage Divas (Tracy Gill, Janice Jackson, Celeste Pretorius and Amy Barrack).
Very close behind are Franck’s Ladies (Franck Fogarolo, Joanne Ivemey, Lilian Sternvad and Karin Linbom ), Hot 2 Trot (Laila Dew, Diane Crabtree, Christine Khairallah and Maitha Al Hajri) and Lurchs Lovelys (Karen Stewart, Kirsty Stroud, Jenna Angle and Jenny Balac).
The next few weeks will determine which teams have what it takes to make it to the Championships.
The next competition will be held on March 23rd at the Emirates Equestrian Centre and entry to watch is free of charge.