NORTH-WEST Aintree EC, Merseyside
Jacke Mathieson’s dream horse Wolkenderry won the advanced medium 96 at Aintree.
The Wolkentanz x Londonderry gelding was bought in Holland as a two-year-old just over the border from his birthplace in Germany.
“I saw him in the field, black with a perfect white star, and brought him home,” said Jacke, who credited Dianne Breeze with being behind her win. “She’s been training me since she returned from Dubai and she pushed me to get out competing again. Next stop is PSG and that’s been a lifelong ambition.”
Wolkenderry stood as a stallion until he was gelded three years ago, although frozen semen is still available, and one of his sons, the 18.2hh Wroyal Occasion, won the silver section of the novice 39 with South African British Dressage (BD) debutant Keryn Legg in the saddle.
“The horse was bred by Vicky Moran but grew too big and I ended up buying him,” said Jacke.
The medium 69 was won by Sheila Coram with Hope
And Glory. The Demonstrator gelding had evented before Sheila bought him to replace the horse she’d just lost.
“He was on the same yard I was on and I always thought he was such an elegant horse with a lovely temperament — in fact nothing not to like, but I never thought I’d end up with him,” said Sheila, who trains with Sarah Rodger and Ann Harrison. “His owner was off to uni so I had a sit on him and loved him. We haven’t been out much over the summer due to ‘grandmother duties’ so it’s great to compete again.”