15th Mar 2007

Desiderata Scoops Tyrell Trophy

(National British Dressage Championships 2006)

Local dressage trainer, rider and Sue Carson Saddles fitter Becky Whitcombe are celebrating after her mare, Desiderata, won the Tyrell Trophy, for the highest placed British Mare at the National British Dressage Championships 2006.

This prestigious award was presented by Olympic gold medallist and Grand Prix Dressage rider Anky van Grunsven at the National Dressage Convention in Addington on Saturday 11th November.

Desiderata is a champion performance tested, graded British Hanoverian mare, owned and ridden by Becky since she was broken. Becky successfully took her through the grades including being placed sixth in the International Young Horse Championships at Hickstead, third in the Advanced Medium National Championships and has won two Regional Prix St George Championships over the last few years.

However, since turning her talents to becoming a saddle fitter for bespoke saddle manufacturer Sue Carson Saddles, Becky has had very little time for competing and handed over the reins to the Sue Carson Saddles sponsored rider, Peter Storr in July. In only a very short campaign he and Desiderata were third in the Prix St George Championships, second in the Intermediaire Championships and Won the Intermediaire Music Championships with 73%, culminating in the successful scoop of the Tyrell Trophy.

Becky and the advanced dressage mare are widely recognised throughout the area and are often seen competing at the British Dressage Premier League shows. Desiderata who is by the stallion Don Primero was bought as a three year old by Becky from Christian Heinrich and, with the help of her trainers Carl Hester and Kalman de Jurenak, has been brought on to successfully compete at a consistently high level.