Karol and Ots Crowned National Champions at Markel/USEF Young & Developing Horse Championships

Endel Ots and Lucky Strike
Endel Ots and Lucky Strike

Wayne, Ill. – Aug. 28, 2016 – The Markel/USEF Young and Developing Horse National Championships concluded at the Lamplight Equestrian Center on Sunday, capping off the week of competition with the final group of champions. Kicking off the morning was Endel Ots and the Hanoverian gelding Lucky Strike (Lord Laurie-Heidi, His Highness), who impressed the judges to earn an 8.58. The pair is coming off of a summer competing in Europe at the Longines FEI/WBFSH World Breeding Dressage Championships in the Netherlands. The gelding, who is co-owned by Endel and his father Max Ots, received an 8.64 in Friday’s Preliminary test and with his win today, they clinched the 6-Year-Old National Championship.

“I thought he was a super boy, and I couldn’t be happier and prouder of my horse,” Ots said. “It was a little bit hotter today and I thought he stayed with me very well, and he was there for the lead changes.”

Ots will give him a well-deserved break after their busy summer of traveling, and he hopes to come out in the Developing Prix St. Georges division during the winter season in Wellington, Florida.

Endel Ots and Lucky Strike
Endel Ots and Lucky Strike

“I’m so thankful for [U.S. Dressage Young Horse Coach] Christine Traurig’s help and support this summer, and in Europe,” Ots concluded. “I couldn’t have done it without her. She has been above and beyond.”

Coming in second place was Cesar Parra on his Westphalian gelding Don Cesar with an overall score of 8.436. The pair earned an 8.28 in their Preliminary test and an 8.54 in their Final test.

“It was really exciting,” Parra said. “I was very happy with him, and I was happy with the score and the comments that the judges had; they were very encouraging.”

Cesar Parra and Don Cesar
Cesar Parra and Don Cesar

Michael Bragdell maintained his third place position from his score of 7.98 on Friday on Hilltop Farm Inc’s Hanoverian stallion Sternlicht Hilltop. Bragdell made a few tweaks to his ride after the judge’s recommendations on the first test, and he earned an 8.06 in their 6-Year-Old Final Test.

“He really stepped up to the plate for me,” Bragdell said. “They really loved his canter today and I felt the canter was much better than Friday. The connection flowed better today in the test.”

Michael Bragdell and Sternlicht Hilltop
Michael Bragdell and Sternlicht Hilltop

In the Markel/USEF Developing Grand Prix Championship, Jane Karol and her 9-year-old Oldenburg mare claimed the tricolor ribbon with an overall score of 66.91 percent. The pair placed second in the Intermediaire II on Friday, and came back to win the Developing Grand Prix test with a 68.75 percent.

“It’s a surreal feeling. It’s wonderful, incredible,” Karol explained. “We all work so hard, and when something like this happens, it’s wonderful. I did think we had a chance [to win], but I also knew there were wonderful horses and riders competing alongside us. She was so wonderful today, that we did.”

Jane Karol and Sunshine Tour
Jane Karol and Sunshine Tour

Karol of Concord, Massachusetts, placed third at the Dutta Corp./USEF Intermediaire I Dressage National Championship in Wellington, Florida, in December. She has been focusing on maintaining balance in the halfpass zigzag as well as building on energy throughout her tests.

“We’ve been working on getting the activity and expression, along with the relaxation,” Karol said. “I tend to go for the relaxation before the power because I don’t want to lose the relaxation.”

The pair plans on competing at their regional championships next month in the Intermediaire II and Grand Prix before heading to compete in their first open Grand Prix CDI in Wellington during the winter season.

Jane Karol and Sunshine Tour
Jane Karol and Sunshine Tour

Holger Bechtloff and Clapton JP, a 9-year-old KWPN gelding owned by Peggy Mill, led the division on the first day, but after placing second in the Developing Grand Prix test with a 66.50 percent, the duo was named the reserve champions.

“Today’s ride was very much the same [as our previous ride],” said Bechtloff. “We are in the funny stage where we’re either under-reacting or over-reacting. We need a certain quickness for certain things, and then more relaxation for other things. We don’t have this on or off switch really down yet. We are really electric at moments, and then we are a split second behind in other moments. But where he is as a 9-year-old, I’m very happy with him.”

Holger Bechtloff and Clapton JP

Clapton JP has competed throughout his young horse career at the national championships, and Bechtloff of Wellington, Florida, explained how spookiness caused issues when he competed in the 6-year-old and Developing Prix St. Georges divisions in previous years.

“He is now mature enough that he is now focusing on me, so outside things do not register with him anymore,” Holger said. “He was listening all the time. He’s an overeager pleaser and he tries his heart out.”

Petra Warlimont rounded out the top three on Susan Alvey’s 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding Highschool MCF. The duo came into the final day of competition in fourth place with a score of 62.061 percent from the Intermediaire II, and their score of 64.875 percent on Sunday improved their placings.

“I got a piaffe at X; that was the first time in two years, so I’m really proud of him,” Warlimont laughed. “Usually we go splat! He was very with me and he has a huge heart.”

For full results, visit http://www.foxvillage.com. For more information about Lamplight Equestrian Center, visit http://www.lamplightequestriancenter.com
Markel/USEF Young & Developing Horse National Championship Results

6-Year-Old
Rider/Horse/Preliminary Test/Final Test/Total
1. Endel L. Ots/Lucky Strike/8.64/8.58/8.604
2. Cesar Parra/Don Cesar/8.28/8.54/8.436
3. Michael Bragdell/Sternlicht Hilltop/7.98/8.06/8.028
4. Angela Jackson/Figaro H/7.22/8.16/7.784
5. Daniela Banner/Leviana/7.28/7.66/7.508
6. Jana Wagner/Willow/6.94/7.54/7.300
7. Hannah Hewitt/Fidens/6.68/7.50/7.172
8. Nicole Harrington/Siri/6.88/7.16/7.048

Developing Grand Prix
Rider/Horse/FEI Intermediate II Test/USEF Developing GP Test/Total
1. Jane Karol/Sunshine Tour/64.167/68.750/66.917
2. Holger Bechtloff/Clapton JP/65.351/66.500/66.040
3. Petra Warlimont/Highschool MCF/62.061/64.875/63.749
4. Noel Williams/Sir Velo/63.684/62.542/62.999
5. Abraham Pugh/Elfenperfekt/59.535/65.042/62.839
6. James Koford/Doctor Wendell MF/59.842/64.500/62.637
7. Debbie Hill/Showdown/61.272/60.833/61.009
8. Pam Aide/Bon De Niro/54.737/59.667/57.695[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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