Tiger Tim roars to victory at Gypsy Cob dressage championships

SOMERSET rider Danielle Rhodes proved unbeatable at last weekend’s Nettex TGCA (Traditional Gypsy Cob Association) Championships, which truly celebrated what the breed has to offer between the dressage boards.

Many of the country’s top dressage cobs - feathers and all - came together at Solihull Riding Club in the West Midlands on Sunday, November 4 to battle it out for the honours.

“Sensible, yet active and with a super work ethic, gypsy cobs make fantastic dressage partners and this was evidenced throughout the day,” said a spokesperson from British Dressage.

Ms Rhodes, who travelled up from Bruton for the competition, went on to dominate the pure-bred divisions of the Elementary and Medium with Denise Kersley’s superb stallion, Tiger Tim. Their score of 71.68 per cent gave them a 5 point lead in the Elementary and they achieved 68.67 per cent for their Medium.

The 13-year-old black tobiano, by Denise’s stallion Bashful Bobby Dazzler who she bought directly from travellers, is himself a licensed TGCA stallion and has had an illustrious dressage career so far - proving that he can more than hold his own against the archetypal dressage horses.

Tiger Tim won the Novice Restricted title at the 2013 National Championships with his former rider Alysia Matravers, and has been ridden to much success with Danielle since. Their achievements include Elementary Silver victory at the Mount Ballan Summer Regionals earlier this year.