MINETY dressage rider Olivia Oakeley dazzled the judges at her first competition of 2011.

Seventeen-year-old Olivia won three classes at Addington Manor’s affiliated dressage competition last month on her own gelding, Donna Summer.

The dynamic duo triumphed in the Junior Team test, earning a well-deserved score of 70.541 per cent to beat Cirencester rider Pippa Hutton. Oakeley also went on to win the advanced medium and Young Rider and Junior FEI classes with impressive scores of 70.294 and 70 per cent respectively.

Olivia was recently selected for the British Equestrian Federation’s World Class Development Programme for dressage. The programme aims to nurture, inspire and develop riders to become good competitors. It offers world-class training and funding to aid riders progress to higher competition levels.

Olivia said: “It’s a really pleasing start to the year and I’m delighted with how Donna Summer performed over the weekend – he was fabulous.

“He felt very fresh and a lot stronger than at the same time last year. I think my riding is really coming on, too, so I can make the most of how well he’s performing.

“Hopefully we have a promising year ahead of us and I’m really looking forward to the rest of the season.

“This year, I’m hoping to be selected for the Junior European team, with a medal or national title being the ultimate goal.”

Olivia has recently been training with dressage dynamo Carl Hester at his yard in Newent; Hester was also in attendance at Addington Manor and came second in the Grand Prix with Fernandez on a score of 74.255 per cent. He also won two classes with Tatler.

TICKETS have gone on sale for the annual Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials. The prestigious eventing showpiece will be held early this year from Thursday, April 21 to Monday, April 25 to coincide with the Easter weekend.

The 2011 Horse Trials will follow the new format introduced last year, with the dressage running on Friday and Saturday and cross country on the Sunday.

The show jumping climax will be held on the Monday Bank Holiday.

Tickets are available online from the Box Office and from 01454 218375. Tickets will also be available for cash only on the gate. Dressage days will be charged at £12 per person; Cross Country Sunday is £23pp and the show jumping final day will be £10pp. As usual, children 12 years and under go free.

The Grassroots event will be held alongside the main event giving the opportunity to see some of the up-and-coming horses and riders.